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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[jcobb]

Neat find! I don't think it would be to old with packing tape around the handle?

 

[cti4sw]

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.

 

[GMD52]

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.

 

[Crawdigger]

Neat find! I don't think it would be to old with packing tape around the handle?

Yes. I'm not sure if you can see it in the picture but the original stock is missing and a "new" one was fashioned out of a piece of lumber. The tape holds it on.

 

[Crawdigger]

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.

Good idea. I think I'll go with just the serial number though. If no owner or relative can be found I'd probably never get the gun back. Thanks!

 

[Crawdigger]

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.

Thanks GMD52! Good information! Any idea on manufacturing dates? I'm guessing 60's or 70's?

 

[GMD52]

I agree, most likely 70's....the forend on earlier models was a little slimmer.....HH...Gary

 

[kenstein]

If someone tried to shoot that thing with a homemade stock plastic wrapped onto it , maybe they're still there too, LOL.

 

[Crawdigger]

I agree, most likely 70's....the forend on earlier models was a little slimmer.....HH...Gary

Thanks Gary! Happy new year!

 

[Crawdigger]

If someone tried to shoot that thing with a homemade stock plastic wrapped onto it , maybe they're still there too, LOL.

You say LOL but one of the first things I did was look for bones. LOL

 

[Tired Rooster]

I don't know about Louisiana, but most southern states do not have a long gun registry. Or handgun registry either for that matter. H&R still makes the Topper model shotgun in a few variations. Very odd to have found that though........almost as if some one left it and couldn't find their way back to it........who knows Strange for sure.

 

[highnam]

Looks like a turkey hunting gun to me, duck hunters would want at least three shots, has there ever been turkeys in the area?

 

[kuger]

Looks like a turkey hunting gun to me, duck hunters would want at least three shots, has there ever been turkeys in the area?

..............I grew up not allowed having anything but a single shot........makes ya make every shot count.....and saves on ammo too!!!My Dad was raised the same way only he was gave five bullets and By God he had better come back with four birds or critters.......I was lucky!

 

[Crawdigger]

Looks like a turkey hunting gun to me, duck hunters would want at least three shots, has there ever been turkeys in the area?

Not in this area. But lots of squirrel and deer.

 

[Crawdigger]

I don't know about Louisiana, but most southern states do not have a long gun registry. Or handgun registry either for that matter. H&R still makes the Topper model shotgun in a few variations. Very odd to have found that though........almost as if some one left it and couldn't find their way back to it........who knows Strange for sure.

You're right. Louisiana doesn't have a long one either. And if they couldn't find their way back they don't need to be toting a gun! Lol. As u can see in the pics I can see the road. I wonder if it was left when the homesite was abandoned. It was a pretty large tree it sat against.

 

[parsonwalker]

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.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Unique find!

 

[detroitdigger]

Cool find, it's modern, you can still buy them today. Your gun is break barrel shot gun! They retail for about $100.00. Happy Hunting.

 

[poorman15]

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.

Shotguns of that period are likely not registered. Even today in most states they can be transferred in private transactions. Only commie states require the registration of shotguns.