In the mid 1970's, I had my 2" model 12-2 on consignment in Fullerton California. I got a call to advise that the gunsmith shop had been broken into and three of my handguns, plus several other firearms had been stolen. At the end of December in 2024, I received a call from a detective with the Newport Beach PD. He asked questions about a firearm that was turned into the police department by a guy that was spearfishing in the harbor. The ser# came back as registered to me. I started the process to have the firearm returned to me. Last week, Feb-2025, I picked up my firearm. It was in pretty bad shape, very rusty with damage to the frame. It looks like it must have been thrown in the harbor and hit some rocks from the damage I see on the frame of the gun. I would love to know the journey of this firearm, from the time it was stolen, until it was thrown into the harbor. I don't plan on shooting the gun in the future, but would like to keep the gun as a conversation peice. I am open to any idea's you may have, on how to preserve this firearm.
My stolen mod#12-2 returned to me after about 50 years
- Thread starter Walt2025
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WOW, what a tale! 
I wonder if that had been a steel frame, if they would've been even able toe SEE the serial no..?
I wonder if that had been a steel frame, if they would've been even able toe SEE the serial no..?When I turned 21 I went to a local gun shop and bought 2 Ruger MKIs. I kept 1 and gave the other to my father. I traded mine for a wrecked 1970 Olds Cutlass. In the 80s his low life neighbor kid stole the gun and sold it for drug money. In the mid 90s he got a call from the police that they had recovered his gun. I drove him to the police station to pick it up. He kept the box and paperwork all those years and now they are safely stored in my gun safe.
OutAtTheEdge
Member
I would be sorely tempted to try to find someone, maybe with taxidermy experience, to figure out a way to display the gun in a sort of sea-bottom diorama; maybe a glass case with sand and stones and seashells, fake water, perhaps even a fish. Just a thought...
Congrats to the OP...Maybe there's still hope for recovering the new Para-Ordnance P-13 that was stolen from my gun show table in the early 90's...
...Ben
...Ben
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Welcome! Photos would be interesting to see. Unlikely it can be rebuilt if that is a question.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Maybe I’ll get my stolen 66 returned.
It’s the only gun I ever had stolen and I hope it wasn’t used in Criminal activity, but let’s face it, likely it was!
It’s the only gun I ever had stolen and I hope it wasn’t used in Criminal activity, but let’s face it, likely it was!
OutAtTheEdge
Member
Not to be "that guy", but technically, if it was stolen it's already been involved in criminal activity. (I know that's not what you meant, I just can't help myself sometimes
)Welcome to the Forum! Great story! I'll probably never again see the blued 4" Model 57 that was stolen from my apartment during a burglary in 1979! They only left me the mahogany presentation case and tools (which I still have!). My son had a S&W revolver stolen from his car in his driveway a few years ago. A couple of months later the Sheriff's office called him to say his revolver was recovered during a local drug bust and he could come pick it up. They ID'd the revolver easily because the "dumb crooks" had ground off the S&W address instead of the s/n!!!
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austintexas
Member
Stolen guns
Over the years I've bought 3 stolen guns from pawnshops. In Austin every gun pawned goes thru a serial number check by the Austin Police department. But! personnel at pawnshops don't seem to know what is a serial number and what is a assembly number so stolen guns slip thru. First one was a Colt 1917, after I bought it I went to a local gunshop to get new grips for it and lo and behold the owner said "that's my gun" It had been stolen 3 years earlier. Second was a Smith 645, I owned that about 10 months when I got a call from a neighboring county Sheriff. Took that back and got my money back and told the sheriff where it was. Third was a boxed Texas Ranger M-19. I owned that one about ten years, I put it out for sale on consignment. Got a call from APD detective, It had been stolen 6 years before I bought it. I told the insurance company that had paid the claim that I would buy it from them and they said it had to go to an FFL buyer. Never did get reimbursed for that one.
SWCA 892
Over the years I've bought 3 stolen guns from pawnshops. In Austin every gun pawned goes thru a serial number check by the Austin Police department. But! personnel at pawnshops don't seem to know what is a serial number and what is a assembly number so stolen guns slip thru. First one was a Colt 1917, after I bought it I went to a local gunshop to get new grips for it and lo and behold the owner said "that's my gun" It had been stolen 3 years earlier. Second was a Smith 645, I owned that about 10 months when I got a call from a neighboring county Sheriff. Took that back and got my money back and told the sheriff where it was. Third was a boxed Texas Ranger M-19. I owned that one about ten years, I put it out for sale on consignment. Got a call from APD detective, It had been stolen 6 years before I bought it. I told the insurance company that had paid the claim that I would buy it from them and they said it had to go to an FFL buyer. Never did get reimbursed for that one.
SWCA 892
Mad Rvr, thanks for your reply. I am not sure of the name where it was at. From what I can remember, it was close to the railroad tracks. It was off a street close to a mfg plant that made the Die-hard batteries for Sears. I think it was in a older ground floor only industrial complex, in the area of Raymond Ave & Kimberly Ave. Let me know if you have any idea's of a gunsmith in that area. Thanks again and have a great day.
VictorLouis, as I said, it was very rusty! The PD could not tell me the mod# when I asked about it. They only told me was a blue steel, 2" S&W with a serial number. It took me a lot of cleaning to find the mod#, but there it was "12-2". Serial number puts the mfg date of late 1973 to early 1974. Take care and thanks again for the reply.
OutAtTheEdge, thanks for your reply. I think it's very different. The display would kind of tell the story. I took pictures of the gun when I pick-ed it up. I also was given a copy of the police report, to help tell of what happened. Do you know what I should do to keep the rust from getting any worse? Thanks again and have a great day.
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Most definitely, using a simple technique used in crime labs. Watch this cool video. Had it been me, though, I would have used disposable acid gloves; he was already wearing eye protection. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/sLwhVePvFeM?si=q8nWE0nwnk6q1haQ
https://youtu.be/sLwhVePvFeM?si=q8nWE0nwnk6q1haQ
WOW, what a tale!
Model19man
Member
I think if it were mine I would display it in a small aquarium filled with oil.
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