Sheriffs Dept just left with todays find

Lakemonster · Nov 17, 2011

So.... I got out today and searched the receded shoreline of my nearby lake. I was amazed at the amount of clad I was digging where some kids swim sometimes. I found an old Zippo... a Caesars Palace keychain lookin thing..... and then about 50' away from the dock I found a revolver. I got it home and started cleaning and talked to Roland58 about it... then researched some more and found it is a Gerstenberger and Eberwien .22 short.

Called the Sheriffs dept and they had me fill out a statement and I let my find go..... slim chance I'll get it back. He said he'd ask the Looie.... but... ya know how that is.

BARKER · Nov 17, 2011

HI Lake Monster; I Think You Did ----

the right thing. You may have saved someones life and / or helped find a key piece needed to solve a Crime. Way to go. I applaude you. I think you should recieve Honorable Mentions here. Thanks for doing a great job. PEACE:RONB :headbang:

ANTIQUARIAN · Nov 17, 2011

Very interesting story Lakemonster, you did the right thing man! :notworthy:

Here's what your piece would have looked like when it was new! :thumbsup:

Dave

HISPAN · Nov 17, 2011

congrats for the gun ....

franking · Nov 17, 2011

Great job nice finds! Something good will come your way!

kuger · Nov 17, 2011

Good on you...you wouldnt want that in your possesion or on your conscience and unless it was used in a crime you may get it back if you dont let it go.
There actually was a murder conviction from a detector found handgun in Riverbank Calif in the 90's

s.c.shooter · Nov 17, 2011

If they run it NCIC and do a ATF trace and it all comes back negative then their is no reason it shouldn't be returned to you.

bmyers72 · Nov 17, 2011

Looks like an awesome day for you. Good deal turning in the gun. I have to believe that something bad had to be connected with it for someone to put it in the drink!!

Rick (Nova Scotia) · Nov 17, 2011

Looks like it has been there awhile, how valuable it could be as evidence :dontknow:

I imagine it was hard to pass over, but agreed the right thing.

Cool find.

Sonnydigs · Nov 17, 2011

Looks like it would render very little evidence as rusted as it is..Serial # or ballistic testing would be nearly impossible..
Hope you get it back..:-)

ossi · Nov 18, 2011

Good harvest, nice i like the results, Ossi

Roland58 · Nov 18, 2011

I guess this means you did find riflings in the barrel? Did you happen to look around in the mud a little bit to see if you could find the other grip?
I know they are not the most expensive guns on the rack, <chortle>.

Lakemonster · Nov 18, 2011

yup.... hard to make out... but there were a little bit of lands and grooves left.

hikeinmts · Nov 18, 2011

Doin the right thing is NEVER WRONG......and you did what you should have done.
Hope that it helps put some history to bed. And, you are in good with the P.D. And that's never bad.
Keep posting, and good luck on the return of the handgun.

duggap · Nov 18, 2011

I have to agree with the others, you did the right thing turning it in. The relic gods will smile on you.

mts · Nov 18, 2011

I've talked before out here about how this issue is not black and white. There is very little value in turning in an old, crusty gun that could not possibly turn out any new evidence. Your local PD is not setup to do the things the non-reality labs claim to be able to do on shows like CSI. Plus, they have no desire to spend the resources on what could be a wild goose chase.

However, in this case I think you did the right thing. 50 feet off of the dock likely means that someone chucked it out there. Being a .22 and a "saturday night special" increases the odds that this was used in a murder or for devious purposes and then dumped. It still appears to be in decent shape so there is a possibility that they could get some evidence off of it.

Whether or not the PD will actually take the time to do anything with it or not is another matter entirely. But at least you can rest easy knowing that it is out of your hands.

Nice job!

21stTNCav · Nov 18, 2011

Paying it forward is always a good thing. A good deed always comes back to you. :icon_thumleft:

treasurehound · Nov 18, 2011

Don't worry about the gun. You did the right thing. I and many others would have done the same thing. If the gun is clean you should have no problem getting it back. This hobby is a lot about doing the right thing and you did just that. I congratulate you for that.

EagleDown · Nov 18, 2011

bmyers72 said:
Looks like an awesome day for you. Good deal turning in the gun. I have to believe that something bad had to be connected with it for someone to put it in the drink!!

Not necessarily. While living in FL, most of the fishermen I knew, (including myself), took a hand-gun or rifle with them while fishing offshore in the gulf. It comes in handy if you catch a large shark. I also took
my revolver with me while fishing inland rivers. Of course, you can't really appreciate the need unless you've had an 8 or 9ft gator determined to hitch a ride in your boat. :help:

Besides, up until a few short years ago, just about all TX outdoorsmen carried some type of handgun to ward off those nasty rattlesnakes. :laughing7:

Eagle

P.S., Great find!!

Scribe · Nov 18, 2011

Great finds! As far as the gun goes I agree you did the right thing :headbang:

It might not be the missing piece of some huge mystery but it might at least get some old file dusted off and moved from the "unsolved" to "solved" pile. Are you keeping in touch with the police on where their case goes?