Magnet fishing. Found gun.

[bblaha]

Was going for round 2 of magnet fishing in the Ohio river after I went detecting and found the best ring Iv ever found so the day was already looking good, tossed the magnet out a few times along the river and got nails and random trash and was about to give up but then a couple of friends showed up and just hung out there so I kept on tossing. About the 20th toss I pulled this in and thought it was a toy at first but it's a 380 pistol in great shape, there are just pretty deep Nicks and scratches in the metal wherever there is a corner in the gun, like around the hammer. The gun appears to be stainless with plastic grips so not sure why it stuck to the magnet but it did. There was no magazine and no bullets in it, I gave it to my dad and he turned it in to the authorities because we figured the gun was used in a crime then tossed into the Ohio river. Thanks for looking

 

[NOLA_Ken]

You'd be surprised how many completely legit guns are chucked into rivers and lakes. Many times it's someone who inherited a gun and they are one of those people who hates them and decide to toss it.

Many years ago I heard a lady talking about how she tossed a bunch of guns that some relative had when he died. She said she "didn't want her kids around guns" I asked her where she tossed them, and she told me it was in an irrigation ditch off a dirt road that I happened to know quite well. We went with a magnet but only caught the head off an engine and a bunch of trash, so I waded into the muck and about an hour later I had two rifles three pistols and a shotgun. The thick gooey silt had preserved them incredibly well, plus they'd only been there a short time and after a good soak in oil and a cleaning they were all in shooting condition. One of the revolvers was a Colt Model 1877 that was made in the 1890's as I remember, which I later sold for a nice amount. The shotgun is an early Browning Auto 5 that I gave to my uncle for his birthday one year.

If you know anyone in law enforcement you might be able to have them run the serial numbers for you to make sure they aren't stolen.

 

[MrSchulz]

Yeah I would of told them you want it back if applicable after the investigation.. As long as you aren't a felon I see no reason you can't.

 

[TNGUNS]

As far as the gun being magnetic.....It is satin nickle and not stainless (current ones anyway). The frame is a nonmagnetic alloy but the slide and barrel are carbon. The satin nickle is just plating. The satin finish is not only tough, it adds to the lubricity to the metal surface (slide to frame) as well as the obvious noncorrosive properties.

 

[wwwtimmcp]

always best to turn them in, get caught with a murder weapon and you may not be able to talk your way out of it. as far as the magnet some guns have a coating on them to keep them from rusting. still a steel gun underneath but mossberg had a "marine coat" that looks similar. it might not be used in a crime. trappers will carry a pistol to finish off animals caught in a trap. most trappers work creeks,rivers,ponds,etc. so you never know it might be legit. I turned in a very rusty smith and wesson a while back and have not heard back from the erie county sherrifs dept. but if I never get it back, I did the right thing. besides maybe I helped catch a criminal.

 

[coinshooter]

Just go back to the police station and tell them you want it back after the waiting period if,there are no issues. By law, they have to return it to you as your property.
Ha e them note it on your paperwork.
I had a friend do this an he still has his gun he found.

 

[GaRebel1861]

I would tell the cops that I wanted it back if its cleared of any crime

I agree. Maybe they will give it back. It would be a cool story to tell.

 

[Gunrunner61]

A very cool find for sure, and I too would ask for it back, if it's not stolen.
Years ago I drove a truck out in Texas, I saw a young guy hitch hicking so I stopped and gave him a ride.....He said he was headed to Tampa, I dropped him off in Amarillo at the 76 truck stop. Got home and found a sweater in the sleeper inside it was a Ruger speed six 2 &3/4 inc. barrel. Cool I thought gave it to the wife for home defense, Later we needed a lot of money in a hurry, so I sold off my Indian artifact coll. And a couple of other collections, And took my guns (that one included) and pawned them. 2 day's later the police knocked on the door asked for me and wanted to know I got the gun. I told them the mile marker (approx.) and where he said he was heading. Turned out the gun had been stolen in a break in in Denver. no one was hurt but , other stuff had been stolen as well. They wanted to know what the name was and what he looked like. Tim was what he told me ...and he looked just like opie taylor at 21. I found out later that he was caught in Atlanta, Ga In a breakin. I did not get that giun back, but was glad that he didn't have it when he broke into the Ga. house.

P.S. I did get all my stuff back from pawn the family was ok and life went on.
Goes to show you just never know......Sorry so long.......................................HH

 

[Krosp1718]

It looks like it spent minimal time underwater in any case. I was fishing with a friend in the Grand River where it runs through the Old Town in Lansing MI. We were wading on the low side of the dam when I spot a BB gun laying in the cobbles. I pick it up and instantly notice it's way heavier than it should be. NEF 12ga. single shot. Barrel is cut back to almost nothing. Stock is cut back to just enough to hold on to. All identifying marks were worked over with a dremel. I put it back where I found it and my friend called the police. They eventually show up and ask me to bring it out of the river to the landing. I pick it back up and clear it so there's no danger of it firing if I slip on the river cobbles walking it back in. Barrel was shiny and clean. Dremel marks just barely had started rusting. I figure it was underwater less than a full day. Such a waste. Another time I spotted a Browning Highpower under a bridge while fishing. I got all excited until I picked it up and discovered it was a squirt gun that had been underwater long enough to get all crusty and realistic looking. The 12ga I found was certainly used in a crime and I didn't want it back anyway. The modifications alone were a criminal act. I'd say you have a slightly better than even chance it was used in a crime, but this doesn't necessarily make it so.

 

[bblaha]

Found out this morning it was stolen over 3 years ago! Darn

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Found out this morning it was stolen over 3 years ago! Darn

Well hopefully the rightful owners will get it back and hopefully it wasn't used in any violent crimes during that time. The odds of catching the thief are slim, but maybe you've helped.

 

[leprechaun]

Excellent find for sure.

 

[Papa Bear]

Found out this morning it was stolen over 3 years ago! Darn

You did the right thing. Well done!!

 

[archer63]

way to go dude, i hope you get it back

 

[augoldminer]

304 and 316 are not magnetic

400 series are magnetic

i was on a minesweeper in the navy and had a lot of trouble with contractors not using 304 or 316 stainless nut and bolts.

we used a simple tester for checking everything.

https://severnengineering.com/lomu/

 

[Auriemma]

Excellent find, and good choice to turn it in.
Since it was stolen and "hopefully" returned to its rightful owner, wouldn't this qualify as an "Honorable Mention"?

 

[MetalArchSC]

I own that same one. Actually the Thunder model is all black. Nice job.

 

[A2coins]

That's awesome good job turning it in amazing how many magnet fishers find guns keep up the good finds

 

[Gare]

I know of quite a few people (Ladys) that throw there deceased husbands guns in the rivers so no one else can get them