Found old weathered shotgun.

[Crawdigger]

Was out MD'ing a new spot this afternoon and was scanning the area ahead of me when something caught my attention against a tree. A quickly determined that what I was looking at was a gun. My first thought was to look around for who left it. As I approached it I realized it had been there for some time.
This is where a home once stood but I'm not sure of the time period yet.
Anybody out there a gun expert?
Thanks for the help!

 

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[PeteWmass]

well - I guess in a "commie" state at least you would get your gun back - why bother putting serial numbers on...

 

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[RON (PA)]

When you mentioned the stock was new & held on with tape, I had to look again.

Great find.. I bet someone is kicking themselves for losing it.

 

[nsdq]

yeah nice find............... makes you wonder

 

[BabyNeedsANewPairO'Shoes]

Turn it over to the local PD. If there is a legible serial number they ought to be able to find out who it's registered to.

Glad I live somewhere where that wouldn't work.
(oops, sorry if that is interpreted as political )

 

[romeo-1]

I would be bringing that back to life...wouldn't take much to get it shooting again! Nice find!

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I would be bringing that back to life...wouldn't take much to get it shooting again! Nice find!

I agree! I would put some time into restoring that one. Maybe display it over your mantle!

 

[Bass]

Cool LSU! Just my 2 cents, but I would be shocked if that gun has been sitting for more than 12 months. Especially in your warm and humid state! I've seen guns left in a basement with no gun oil, left sitting for 6 months that looked almost that bad. I think that's a recent loss. Within the last 12 months. 24 at the longest, just my opinion.

i agree with parsonwalker. That gun hasn't been there for very long. The only way the police can trace the serial number is if that serial number was reported as stolen.

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[treblehunter]

Cool LSU! Just my 2 cents, but I would be shocked if that gun has been sitting for more than 12 months. Especially in your warm and humid state! I've seen guns left in a basement with no gun oil, left sitting for 6 months that looked almost that bad. I think that's a recent loss. Within the last 12 months. 24 at the longest, just my opinion.

I'd have to agree almost, I bet it has only been there a matter of days. JMO maybe a month.

 

[flatbutton]

H&R made that model from 1962 to 1981. it was known originally as the model 158. in 1974 it was changed to model 58, so your gun was made between 74 and 81. I had one when I was teenager and broke the butt stock firing some 3" magnums through it. Maybe that's what happened to yours. I agree with parsonwalker and treblehunter, that gun wasn't out there very long. That's one of those finds where you say, d*** look at that, what the h***? and just hope it wasn't used in a crime,stolen or both. Anyways, just to be safe, I'd notify local law enforcement! Cool find man, Congrats!

 

[tj.cama]

You find that a lot in my area. Trespassers enter land illegally, shoot a buck, chuck the gun and come back at night for the deer. My two cents (having over 5 years experience in LE) contact your local PD. In my state you would be arrested for illegal possession of a firearm if its not registered to you or a direct family member.

 

[treblehunter]

Those guns in the 70's sold for about 60.00 bucks. I like tj cama's theory, I think it to be a throw away, question is, what was the crime? Things are very hard to find in the dark in the woods. It is extremely difficult to be at a spot during the day in the woods then go back at night and find that same spot in the dark. Somebody might be back looking for that gun. I'd be real careful in that area. Years ago I came across a pot grow in the woods, whoever had the grow had a triple beam scale and a 45 hid there also. I never went back to that area deer hunting ever again.

 

[NoBootyYet]

Harrington-Richardson Md. 58......very sturdy, and inexpensive single shot shotgun, Also came with interchangeable rifle blls. in 30-30, or ,22 hornet in some models. Not manufactured any more, although the company is still in business and makes a similar firearm they now call "The Handy Rifle"......When new sold for 60-70 $, new one now in the 120+ range....Nice find.

I have one in 12 Ga. and love the weight until I shoot a heavy load out of it.

 

[Crawdigger]

Cool LSU! Just my 2 cents, but I would be shocked if that gun has been sitting for more than 12 months. Especially in your warm and humid state! I've seen guns left in a basement with no gun oil, left sitting for 6 months that looked almost that bad. I think that's a recent loss. Within the last 12 months. 24 at the longest, just my opinion.

Thanks parsonwalker. I'm thinking it was left less than a year as well.

 

[Crawdigger]

I would be bringing that back to life...wouldn't take much to get it shooting again! Nice find!

it's already in an oil bath! Thanks!

 

[Crawdigger]

H&R made that model from 1962 to 1981. it was known originally as the model 158. in 1974 it was changed to model 58, so your gun was made between 74 and 81. I had one when I was teenager and broke the butt stock firing some 3" magnums through it. Maybe that's what happened to yours. I agree with parsonwalker and treblehunter, that gun wasn't out there very long. That's one of those finds where you say, d*** look at that, what the h***? and just hope it wasn't used in a crime,stolen or both. Anyways, just to be safe, I'd notify local law enforcement! Cool find man, Congrats!

Thanks for the info mr. b! Good to know!

 

[Bumpa66]

Very nice find. I have a friend that had finished hunting once, left his gun leaning against the tree, and drove off. Luckily, he went back and the gun was still there once he realized he left it there. Apparently, this person wasn't so lucky. I have another friend who restores old guns like that for me. He makes them almost look brand new. Nice find.

 

[gunsil]

You find that a lot in my area. Trespassers enter land illegally, shoot a buck, chuck the gun and come back at night for the deer. My two cents (having over 5 years experience in LE) contact your local PD. In my state you would be arrested for illegal possession of a firearm if its not registered to you or a direct family member.

Your state is one of the very few in the country if not the only one where people need to actually register shotguns and rifles. Some may require a Firearms Identification Card, but individual long arms are not registered by serial number or any other means of identification.

 

[poorman15]

well - I guess in a "commie" state at least you would get your gun back - why bother putting serial numbers on...

The idiot shouldn't have left it leaning against the tree to begin with. If they are lacking attention to detail enough not to realize they are missing something such as a gun, they probably shouldn't be in possession of one in the first place. Serial numbers are more geared for rifled barrels so in the event of a crime, forensics may be able to tie the weapon to the crime, that's basically it IMO.

 

[NHBandit]

Most any parts you might need as well as a variety of buttstocks. I wouldn't spend alot. It's a $100 shotgun in nice condition. https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufa...s-36451/SingleBarrelSeries-40892/58-41988.htm Here's some cheap new stocks. https://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/295910.htm#295950

 

[Solatex]

Those things make a great squirrel gun for a kid. Chances are, he popped one, went to pick it up, then went back in another direction and couldn't find his gun.