Anyone Recall Reports of a Stolen .38-44 Outdoorsman?

[Gunhohulk]

I recently stumbled across this nice outdoorsman on Cabelas and had it sent my way. Did the background check last week and today I got a call that the background check was denied due to the gun being reported as stolen. CA DOJ Bureau of Firearms is next to impossible to reach so I’ve been speaking with the Local PD’s trying to track down more info and it’s starting to sound like it’s a case of mistaken identity and the stolen guns with the same serial number are a model 15 and a model 49. I have a sinking feeling that the Outdoorsman is going to find its way to the crusher…


Keep your fingers crossed that I can somehow pull this one back out of the governments dirty fingers.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Oh no! With a humpback hammer too! Hope it gets cleared up for you. That’s a beauty!

 

[Truckman]

What does the gun's S/N have to do with a NICS check?...I've called in thousands of background checks to the feds, and other than asking whether the firearm is a long gun or a handgun, no mention was ever made of a S/N... ...Ben

 

[cgt4570]

NRA and GOA both have legal teams to help with these situations. Call both ASAP, and any other state or local gun rights group you can find. If it goes to court, them proving this is a stolen gun is almost impossible. Too many common clerical errors on the side trying to take your gun.

And even if it turns out to be stolen, isn't it required by law to make every attempt to return stolen property to the rightful owner?

 

[paplinker]

Very sorry to hear.
This would be a great case to see if the NRA has the capability and want to really help you.
Please keep us informed if you go that route.

Hopefully it does not end up with a evidence number on it.

 

[pawngal]

What does the gun's S/N have to do with a NICS check?...I've called in thousands of background checks to the feds, and other than asking whether the firearm is a long gun or a handgun, no mention was ever made of a S/N... ...Ben

Probably cuz its California

 

[Truckman]

Probably cuz its California

I shoulda suspected......Ben

 

[Gun Relics]

I recently stumbled across this nice outdoorsman on Cabelas and had it sent my way. Did the background check last week and today I got a call that the background check was denied due to the gun being reported as stolen. CA DOJ Bureau of Firearms is next to impossible to reach so I’ve been speaking with the Local PD’s trying to track down more info and it’s starting to sound like it’s a case of mistaken identity and the stolen guns with the same serial number are a model 15 and a model 49. I have a sinking feeling that the Outdoorsman is going to find its way to the crusher…
View attachment 761899

Keep your fingers crossed that I can somehow pull this one back out of the governments dirty fingers.

Does this by any chance have an "S" serial number? I suspect not.

You can use this email and explain your dilemma. I have had good response time from them, If they can't help you, they will direct you to the right department: [email protected] mention the manufacturer, model, serial number, caliber and year made. They may ask to see a picture of the serial number.

I assume that you tired to register the gun through DROS with Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops and it kicked back as "hot". because many serial numbers are the same. The DOJ can look up the maker, caliber and so forth. Another issue of course is that Cabela's has CA FFL's here - I would have thought they would handle this for you through their DOJ representative. . The guns you mentioned would have a prefix letter so that doesn't make sense. I would hope that Cabela's registered it as a C and R eligible gun - that can make a difference too.

 

[Gunhohulk]

Does this by any chance have an "S" serial number? I suspect not.

You can use this email and explain your dilemma. I have had good response time from them, If they can't help you, they will direct you to the right department: [email protected] mention the manufacturer, model, serial number, caliber and year made. They may ask to see a picture of the serial number.

I assume that you tired to register the gun through DROS with Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops and it kicked back as "hot". because many serial numbers are the same. The DOJ can look up the maker, caliber and so forth. Another issue of course is that Cabela's has CA FFL's here - I would have thought they would handle this for you through their DOJ representative. . The guns you mentioned would have a prefix letter so that doesn't make sense. I would hope that Cabela's registered it and a C and R eligible gun - that can make a difference too.

No “s” your suspicions are correct.

 

[Gunhohulk]

I shoulda suspected......Ben

Careful, you might get me started on this place! It’s more illogical than you can fathom.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I recently stumbled across this nice outdoorsman on Cabelas and had it sent my way. Did the background check last week and today I got a call that the background check was denied due to the gun being reported as stolen. CA DOJ Bureau of Firearms is next to impossible to reach so I’ve been speaking with the Local PD’s trying to track down more info and it’s starting to sound like it’s a case of mistaken identity and the stolen guns with the same serial number are a model 15 and a model 49. I have a sinking feeling that the Outdoorsman is going to find its way to the crusher…
View attachment 761899

Keep your fingers crossed that I can somehow pull this one back out of the governments dirty fingers.

If you know the Serial Number, you can go to your local Police and ask them. Tell you story and Serial Number is 1234 and NCIC will show what is stolen with that Serial Number. I have done it before and sometimes you get various firearms that has been reported stolen anywhere from the day before or 50 years ago. A low digit number may have multiple "hits" like a Remington, a Winchester, a H&R and two different Colts. Whoever imputed the firearm hopefully filled in all the boxes and properly.

Also, the Agency should call the person who reported it stolen and verify what was taken.

Many Governments are involved such as Federal, State, County, City, Village, et cetera, etc, and etc. Your Dirty Government is who you voted for. JMHO YMMV

 

[GLL]

How can a prewar Outdoorsman and a Model 15 have the same serial number ? Wouldn’t the Outdoorsman have 5 numbers while the Model 15 would have a K and at least 6 numerals?

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

What does the gun's S/N have to do with a NICS check?...I've called in thousands of background checks to the feds, and other than asking whether the firearm is a long gun or a handgun, no mention was ever made of a S/N... ...Ben

Ben, how would you report a firearm stolen without providing a Serial Number? That may be why bubba insists on scratching his name or Driver's License number (that makes it official looking) on his guns. Sarge

 

[Gun Relics]

What does the gun's S/N have to do with a NICS check?...I've called in thousands of background checks to the feds, and other than asking whether the firearm is a long gun or a handgun, no mention was ever made of a S/N... ...Ben

The DROS system is strictly California DOJ. The registration involves background check on the buyer and legality of the firearm. C and R revolvers are exempt from the list of CA eligible firearms. When the dealer inputs the firearm, they have to check off that it's a C and R eligible gun. If they don't, then the DOJ goes to the accepted list and, guess what, that Outdoorsman has not passed the drop test .

Personally, I think the dealer who registered it screwed up and they doubled down by not following through with the DOJ. In any case, it's the DOJ who has to let the buyer know what the registration problem is and only they can resolve it. I've bought and sold a bunch of C and R guns, registered them with the DOJ under my collector's license and never had a problem.

 

[Onomea]

I don't know what the solution is, but I wish you well. That's a fine looking, classic firearm and I hope it survives.

 

[Muley Gil]

Ben, how would you report a firearm stolen without providing a Serial Number? That may be why bubba insists on scratching his name or Driver's License number (that makes it official looking) on his guns. Sarge

Back in the day, I took many, many reports on stolen firearms where the owner didn't know the serial numbers. The fun part is entering those into NCIC.

 

[decuerno]

I recovered a gun I’d once reported stolen.
(A co-worker had unwittingly taken a company-car assigned to me which had my brief-case containing my pistol in it. When I returned to where I’d parked the car…it was missing and witnesses told of how they’d seen someone drive it away. I reported the car stolen to Atlanta PD and included the info that a pistol was in the car.)

When the mix-up was finally resolved …(the co-worker had used a company spare-key to get into the car and ran an errand)… I called ATL-PD and cleared the story up.
But…. 15 years later when I checked into a PCP-training-course planning to use that gun …a NCIC-check still showed it stolen. Good thing I keep original sales receipts as that was what BATF used to clear the list.

 

[lawandorder]

In the 70s & 80s false hits on NCIC were common. Sometimes info entered into Al Gore's internet is only as good as the person entering it.

 

[decuerno]

In the 70s & 80s false hits on NCIC were common. Sometimes info entered into Al Gore's internet is only as good as the person entering it.

Sarcasm is a valid humor and I’m not criticizing @lawandorder for a truthful statement.

Mr. Gore did contribute heavily to the commercialization of the internet.
But, While Mr. Gore is not one of my favorite people, I feel the current proclivity to disingenuous and misleading politicization of false history is dangerous and dislike when people continue the falsehood that he claimed to have invented the internet.

Al Gore and information technology - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

One of the funniest moments in political history tho’ …was when George W , during the debates, looked at Gore and said, “If you invented the internet…Why does it always start with WWW..?”

(Answer: “because you can’t believe everything you see there.”)

I also hope that lovely S&W survives.

 

[Truckman]

The DROS system is strictly California DOJ.

OK, it didn't register on my puny brain that the OP is in a location which requires additional hoops to jump through before receiving your own property...I blame an insufficient intake of coffee for my oversight...Endeavor to persevere!......Ben