J. Edgar Hoover's Reg. Magnum (Reg. No. 1)

[handejector]

Originally posted by merlindrb:
It's alright Lee, you got even with Dick on the screwdriver thread!

Yeah, but I haven't gotten you for the Col. Sanders thing, or John A. for the grater thing- YET.

You guys beware.....

 

[JayCeeNC]

 

[merlindrb]

Hey! It's not my fault if your grandson became famous through the fried chicken business. Not my fault if you look like him either!

 

[jjones33]

Originally posted by handejector:
I think I could bear the torment.
Kinda like if Marilyn Monroe told me she wanted to spend the night with me, once, and only once, and I could never tell anyone.....

Lee,

Have you seen her lately? She ain't looking too good. Just a heads up.

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by jjones33:


Have you seen her lately? She ain't looking too good.

Have you seen Lee lately? He ain't look'n so fresh, either!

 

[DWFAN]

Sorry Lee. Didn't know they were gonna roast you.. Or was that fried?

DW

 

[handejector]

I'm makin' a list.....
You're all barred from KFC's nationwide.

 

[merlindrb]

But where we gonna eat in Tulsa?!?!

 

[Onomea]

Man, you guys are killing me...

 

[opoefc]

Shawn, This may get this thread back on track. I have previously discussed Reg. Mag, ser.# 45768,/ 1 with a current SA with the Bureau, who also is a member of the S&WCA. He is adament that the gun would be seized immdiately by the FBI, should it's whereabouts be revealed, for "protective custody" pending a legal determination as to it's ownership. His opinion seems to be contrary to your opening paragraph here. Can you give us a better view of what is currently the FBI's stance or policy on the gun? I know there's no guarantees, but I guess the bottomline here might be this: "If Reg.Mag# 1 was yours, would you tell anyone you had it?"

 

[LadyFed]

Very interesting discussion.

Eliza

 

[dick44]

Hi Gang
I barely remember talking to Lee
in Louisville!! I havn't had a good
nite sleep since!!

dick44

 

[Guest]

Just my personal view point is that if I did own this particular "Treasure" I have enough close friends that I could and would trust not to disclose it's whereabouts so I'd really be pleased to be the "Custodian" of this particular outstanding piece of History.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by opoefc:
Shawn, This may get this thread back on track. I have previously discussed Reg. Mag, ser.# 45768,/ 1 with a current SA with the Bureau, who also is a member of the S&WCA. He is adament that the gun would be seized immdiately by the FBI, should it's whereabouts be revealed, for "protective custody" pending a legal determination as to it's ownership. His opinion seems to be contrary to your opening paragraph here. Can you give us a better view of what is currently the FBI's stance or policy on the gun? I know there's no guarantees, but I guess the bottomline here might be this: "If Reg.Mag# 1 was yours, would you tell anyone you had it?"

I don't have it and don't know for sure where it presently is.

I saw the open letter on the web site at this location:

http://historicalgmen.squarespace.com/introduction/

I doubt the organization that posted the letter has any authority to speak for the FBI as it seems to be a group of retired agents preserving certain FBI history.

That is all I know about it. I saw the letter, posted it here, started a big "Brew-Ha-Ha"* and now wish it would die away so no one suspends my privilege to post and participate here.

To more specifically answer your questions, I cannot speak for the FBI and do not have a clue as to its position on the issue.

I would be surprised if they would or could legally immediately seize anything without probable cause and a warrant to do so. Ownership contests are typically decided by courts in civil cases, and I doubt the FBI would have any authority to seize it unless it has been reported stolen by someone, and then only if the crime in question is a federal crime for which the FBI bears investigative authority. If it has been reported stolen, I have never read that anywhere, and certainly have no knowledge of such a report. Perhaps our FBI friends on this forum could enlighten us on whether the FBI is looking for it. I doubt they will as what the FBI is investigating is probably some sort of secret, unless they decide to publicize it, as with some high profile cases.

My "opening paragraph" as you describe it is not "mine" but merely a letter copied off of a web site written by someone else.

As to your second question, if I had Reg. No. 1 (and I do not), I would probably not disclose it to anyone but my closest and most trusted friends, but that would not be because I was afraid of some FBI agent showing up at my door (if I had it I would have a bill of sale or whatever). No, my reason would be for fear of someone stealing it.

Shawn

* Brew Ha Ha: An arguement that occurs when something doesn't go as intended or when someone is upset.

 

[opoefc]

Shawn, Interesting. My reference to "your opening paragraph" was meant to include the entire context and not to imply otherwise. The consensus seems to be " If I had it, I'd keep my mouth shut and tell only my closest trusted friends." That's exactly what the current custodian of the gun has been doing for some time. There's no Bill of Sale with it and the people in the prior possession chain are dead. Looks like the location of Reg. Mag. No. 1 will remain a mystery to all but a few. Don't be sorry for starting this thread, anything about Reg. Mags. is a good thread!

 

[rburg]

Obligatory boiler plate: "If I owned #1, and I don't."

I'd personally hate these threads that keep reappearing. There is little or no benefit to the current person with custody. All it does is keep rehashing the same stories and keeping them in public view.

Sure, there are clouds on the title to the gun. No one can prove anything except that it was originally given to Mr. Hoover in 1935, and then were it is right now. There may be some minor paper trial to an heir, but its probably not enforceable, and that heir probably couldn't have shown good title.

So what would I do with it when a bunch of fools start these threads? First, I'd take the gun and hide it, really well. Separate from the rest of my collection. It'd be in a place where any search warrants wouldn't even guess it was, like in no safe deposit boxes, etc. And then when they used some overbearing search and destroy mission looking, they'd find nothing. Then I'd vow to never mention it to another living person, since they can't keep their mouths shut.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Originally posted by rburg:
Obligatory boiler plate: "If I owned #1, and I don't."

I'd personally hate these threads that keep reappearing. There is little or no benefit to the current person with custody. All it does is keep rehashing the same stories and keeping them in public view.

Sure, there are clouds on the title to the gun. No one can prove anything except that it was originally given to Mr. Hoover in 1935, and then were it is right now. There may be some minor paper trial to an heir, but its probably not enforceable, and that heir probably couldn't have shown good title.

So what would I do with it when a bunch of fools start these threads? First, I'd take the gun and hide it, really well. Separate from the rest of my collection. It'd be in a place where any search warrants wouldn't even guess it was, like in no safe deposit boxes, etc. And then when they used some overbearing search and destroy mission looking, they'd find nothing. Then I'd vow to never mention it to another living person, since they can't keep their mouths shut.

And that's just what I am going to do

My precious...my precious....

 

[Nicksterdemus]

I rather doubt the Bureau has nothing better to do than snoop around for J. Ed's old RM. I also have no doubt that they could determine who was in possession should they be a mind.
On that I leave you patriots w/this:
Remember your training, loose lips sink ships...

 

[SG-688]

I remember a 60's Guns & Ammo article -- might have been by Chernoff, their main collector writer -- about a 5 in 38-44 he had purchased. It had a presentation enscription to a police chief.

The writer researched the name, found the man, and asked him about his revolver. The now retired chief replied that the 38-44 had been stolen from him thirty-five years before.

The writer returned the revolver to the chief.

Then was paid to write the article, of course.

Arnold M. Chernoff, "Return of the Law Gun", Guns & Ammo, March, 1970. Glenn Bodell, Chief of Police/Chief Deputy US Marshall at Hoover Dam construction 1931-1936.

 

[jspick]

If I owned RM #1 I would find a great place to keep it and then advertise the heck out of it and at the end of three months the highest bidder would be given the location after I had money in the bank and I would retire and and enjoy the rest of my life knowing the Hoover helped a common man out.