An interesting phone call from a LEO

[ColbyBruce]

My wife received a phone call around 4:30 p.m. yesterday from a police officer at a department two counties away, asking for me. The officer stated he was in possession of a Ruger Service Six revolver discovered during an arrest. That gun was re-traced and I was the last owner according to a search for 4473s. Apparently the gun was not reported stolen.

I had sold that gun to a LEO on this forum years ago. He sold or traded it a few years ago to another LEO. This Ruger was not involved in a crime nor reported stolen. I wonder if I am entitled to claim it, as I am the last documented owner?

It was nasty when I bought it, and I bead blasted the thing.

 

[Doug M.]

No. You know it is not really yours.

 

[ken158]

The 4473 merely allows a dealer to sell you the gun. You sold or traded it off, so why do you think you could make a claim for it?

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Not yours. The real sad thing is if the legitimate owner doesn't claim it...it may be destroyed which helps no one.

 

[Smeckler]

No, you're just the last part of the paper trail. You sold it, you know you sold it, it's not yours.

 

[cd228]

I'd recommend talking with your lawyer and make sure you have a copy of the receipt of sale for the pistol.

I don't personally think you have any claim to that revolver; I'd be more concerned that based on the documents the Cops have, you purchased the pistol from a dealer and then the next thing they know, they are pulling it off an arrestee. Hopefully it wasn't a prohibited person.

 

[ColbyBruce]

To be clear, I provided the officer I spoke to the above information concerning the Ruger. He stated it was not reported stolen and more or less suggested his department generally attempted to return recovered items if possible. Yes I sold it, as did my buyer. I would prefer to not see it destroyed. I am not looking to get something for nothing.

 

[Nomadmax]

Hasn't been found to be involved in a crime "yet". I wouldn't want that thing back. With my luck, there would be a dead body found within a month, shot with that gun and I'd have no alibi

 

[Rule3]

You sold it. It is no longer yours


You are not the last "documented" owner

 

[ruger 22]

My luck says you should leave well enough alone.

 

[326MOD10]

I agree that you would not be the rightful owner.

Maybe reach out to the guy who is and let him know where his firearm is.

The firearm was recovered from somewhere or they would probably not run a NIBN on it through ATF. I never ran one unless it was involved in a crime and the serial number didn't show stolen.

Now you could ask the PD person if they sell/auction off unclaimed firearms and maybe you could get it back that way.

 

[cd228]

For what it's worth, I like Ruger Service 6s and I understaand not want to see one destroyed if it can be avoided. Do you have any means of getting in touch with the person you sold it to?

 

[Xfuzz]

See if you can retrace it....you, who you sold it to and so on...
ask the copper if he can hold it a few days.

 

[2152hq]

They were just doing a Gun Trace on the firearm.
They start at the mgf'r and go as far as they can thru Dist. Wholesaler(s), Dealers, Customers purchased from Dealers where 4473 is involved.
Then they come to you.

Next step is they contact the next purchaser(s) who bought it from your info.
If not a dead end,,they continue as far as it takes them.
They hope all the way to the incident where L/E 'discovered it during an arrest'.

 

[BE Mike]

I am not looking to get something for nothing.

And yet, in your original post, you are asking if you are entitled to claim it!

 

[ColbyBruce]

And yet, in your original post, you are asking if you are entitled to claim it!

I incorrectly phrased that question. I did not mean to infer that I felt the Ruger should be immediately returned to me, if that is how you read and interpreted it.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I had sold that gun to a LEO on this forum years ago. He sold or traded it a few years ago to another LEO. This Ruger was not involved in a crime nor reported stolen. I wonder if I am entitled to claim it, as I am the last documented owner?

You really need to do some legwork here. If the Forum member you sold it to is still here you can PM him. If not, ask the moderators, maybe they can assist.

Or..........

Now you could ask the PD person if they sell/auction off unclaimed firearms and maybe you could get it back that way.

If you have the option, just ask the police department if you can buy it from them at a reasonable price. If they say yes then it's yours again.

But you really should make an effort to locate the previous owners just for good faith.....

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Hmmm..... Claim ownership of a firearm that you previously sold, which was later recovered by the police during an arrest (of a felon? at a crime scene?).

Putting the morality, ethics and legality of that aside, what possibly could wrong?

 

[glenwolde]

Hey, if the guy who owned it last didn't care enough to report it stolen (or didn't want to for legal reasons) why not? Of course if the "true" owner ever turned up to claim it of course I'd fork it over. But I'd rather you have it than have it destroyed.

 

[AlHunt]

First of all, who's to say the person they "recovered" it from isn't the legitimate owner, prohibited or not? Lots of places allow grown up adults to buy, sell and trade firearms without Big Brother looking over their shoulder.

Still, I'd sooner see OP claim it than let it be destroyed by some overzealous government. Maybe raffle it off to support an outdoor club of some kind if it bothers somebodies conscience.

I'm pretty confident that most long time members of this forum wouldn't be looking to scam a free gun.