A Strange Coincidence

[DWalt]

Two weeks ago I bought a ca. 1926 M&P in .32-20 (5"). It was non-factory refinished, but nonetheless a pretty good job, and in very tight condition with a perfect bore. Grips were period correct in fairly good condition and showing a few dings, but not much wear. I finally got around to cleaning it up today. I popped the sideplate, and it seems like the innards had already been cleaned and oiled, needing no other work. But what astounded me was what I found on the back side of the grips. First, they are apparently originals, as I could make out the correct matching first three digits (132xxx, penciled). Second is what was penciled on the rear of the left grip panel, a previous owner's name and an address in Albuquerque NM. The coincidence is that the previous owner had the exact same last name as mine. And my last name is not particularly common. So far as I know, I have no relatives in NM, all are back east. You never know what you might find in an old gun.

 

[opoefc]

Better do a quick Google search. Maybe there's a fortune in a dormant estate waiting for an heir to claim it. That Great Great Uncle, who the Texas Rangers were going to hang for horse stealing, but he escaped to New Mexico, struck it rich and died with no heirs! Good Luck ! Ed.

 

[gman51]

I would check into if the man is still living. I also have an uncommon last name and anyone with that last name is related to me through the family tree.

 

[Absalom]

Did you google-street-view the address yet? :)

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My mother told me the same thing about people with her last name. It is unlikely. :D

 

[Sevens]

Fantastic story!

My Dad bought the only handgun he ever owned out in California at some time in the 1950's. It is a Colt Challenger... a Woodsman variant (the Challenger was later renamed Huntsman by 1955) and the serial number of the pistol dates it to 1951 or '52.

Inside of one of the plastic grip panels is scratched the name "T.A.Kennington"

Thus...
If you know anyone that might associate with the name T.A.Kennington that lived on the west coast in the 1950's, let me know! ;)

 

[DWalt]

I was planning to do a search, but if he is a relative, it would necessarily be very distantly. It is possible he could be descended from someone down in the roots of the family tree. The really strange thing about this gun purchase is that I was immediately drawn to it, even though it has been re-blued and something I normally would have no interest in. See picture for the M&P. It even has some traces of the color case hardening on the hammer and trigger. At least they are not blued. I guess I could now call it a family heirloom gun, as I don't have any others.

BTW, about 4 years ago, I bought a minty Colt Official Police from the mid-30s (also a .32-20) which also had a previous owner's name and address in Louisiana written on the rear of a grip panel. No one famous, but I did manage to find a little information about him.

 

[Kinman]

That is interesting, an older friend of mine had a practice of folding up a twenty dollar bill and keeping it behind the butt plate on his hunting rifle, which was also with him just about any time he was out in the woods. Later when I heard he died through his nephew I asked if he got any of his rifles, he said "The only one I got was his old Winchester." I told him to take the butt plate off and see if there was a bill folded up, he got back to me and said "It was still there and in amazingly good condition." I asked him what he did with it, he said "I folded it back up and put it right back where it was and will pass that secret onto my son."
Back when the old timer told me the story about his little secret he told me that as a gunsmith he used to find all kinds of stuff behind buttplates or inside pistol grip housings, especially 1911's, thats what gave him the idea to keep a twenty hidden just in case.