One came back

[cb4017]

Thought you folks would enjoy this.

Early last year I received a letter from a Northern California Sheriff's Office Evidence Division. It asked if a pistol was mine that they had in evidence. ??

Well, I wasn't missing any guns so I gave them a call. The gun was an M&P .45. They told me the gun was recovered in an illegal marijuana grow. Evidently tossed or abandoned during the bust.

I told them it might be one I sold some years back but I wasn't missing any guns. The gal I talked to said the search they did came back with me as the owner and if I wanted it I could have it. I had no idea which gun it might be but Heck Yea!

To get it back I had to jump through some hoops with California DOJ. I finally got a letter from DOJ authorizing the Sheriff's Office to release the gun to me. So, I made an appointment to pick it up and the wife and I drove down to pick it up.

It's a pretty nice M&P Compact .45 auto. I can't remember who I sold it to. Someone has done a decent texture job on the grip and evidently added an Apex sear or otherwise did some trigger work. Nice.

Shoots great. Think I'll keep it this time.

 

[Old_Cop]

Life is good.

 

[CGhelofxr]

Someone is smiling down on you...congrats!!

 

[Nevada Ed]

Always nice to find an olf friend that you knew and liked.

If only it could talk.............

 

[wessonblitzar]

Wow what a phone call...Christmas early

 

[GaCop]

Nice! Another entry for the M&P stable.

 

[ZGrand]

There's a lesson here. Although I've never sold a gun to an individual, if I ever do I will make out a bill of sale with the person's name and address, and of course the serial number.

 

[LVSteve]

California never forgets. Some years ago I was arranging the recovery of a gun that mistakenly ended up in CA when the sheriff's department pointed out that the gun was on the CA list against a particular name. They also asked about all the other guns that person owned. I was able to tell them that the named party had 1) moved to Idaho in the early 1990s and 2) was now deceased. I then asked if it was a case of he didn't tell CA he was taking his guns elsewhere, or was it that there was no procedure to get stuff off a list in CA. That got a chuckle.

 

[cb4017]

California never forgets. Some years ago I was arranging the recovery of a gun that mistakenly ended up in CA when the sheriff's department pointed out that the gun was on the CA list against a particular name. They also asked about all the other guns that person owned. I was able to tell them that the named party had 1) moved to Idaho in the early 1990s and 2) was now deceased. I then asked if it was a case of he didn't tell CA he was taking his guns elsewhere, or was it that there was no procedure to get stuff off a list in CA. That got a chuckle.

I'm not a CA resident so as far as I know it should not have been on any list there. I probably sold it on Gunbroker but it was at least 10 years ago so long archived. Who knows how many hands this has gone through since I sold it. I'm not sure how the SO figured I was an owner. Maybe from the original purchase but that would be in NV.

 

[japolo]

Dang, I was looking to buy a 45 compact about a year ago and got something else because No one had any.

Do not want one now.

 

[Golphin]

I'm not a CA resident so as far as I know it should not have been on any list there. I probably sold it on Gunbroker but it was at least 10 years ago so long archived. Who knows how many hands this has gone through since I sold it. I'm not sure how the SO figured I was an owner. Maybe from the original purchase but that would be in NV.

I didn't think they were suppose to have a gun registry. Makes me curious how they would track it back to the original buyer.

 

[Llance]

Golphin said: "I didn't think they were suppose to have a gun registry. Makes me curious how they would track it back to the original buyer.

Golphin, the SO traced it by the serial number. S&W sold it to a distributer who then sold it to a LGS. The OP then bought it from the LGS who has to keep the 4473's forever. Because the 4473 has OP's name he was traced by ATF&E to another sale he may have made. Or because of the data base kept by the FBI on background checks and OP's latest BC showed where he bought his latest gun. A call to the LGS in OP's town and it gives up his name, address, and if he is a regular customer his phone number.

You have no idea how much info the gov, has on us citizens. With the right contact (not hard to get) I could, if I wanted to, trace your every move from the time you were in trifold cloth to your current gas mileage.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

That's a pretty interesting story.

On a parallel note, if I sell a gun privately the last thing I want is to keep a record of who, what, when, or where. It's not my problem. I don't associate with criminals and if a friend wants one of my guns and I'm willing to part with it then adios, so long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night!

Everyone likes firearms without administrative encumbrances and as long as that's legal in Texas then that's how I play.

 

[Llance]

And how i'd play if I had a choice. Heee heeee, sometimes I do play that game too.

 

[glenwolde]

Better you get it than they cut it in half and drop it in the Pacific.

 

[cb4017]

Better you get it than they cut it in half and drop it in the Pacific.

Completely agree. In fact, the Deputy that brought it out to me said he was glad I got my gun back. Very cool and goes to show not everyone in CA is retarded.

To change the subject slightly. I looked it over pretty close. Looks like an Apex sear and striker block had been installed. Trigger pull measures 4 lbs and breaks very clean with no creep. Good trigger reset.

Yep, this one will be passed on to one of my kids.

 

[cb4017]

Golphin said: "I didn't think they were suppose to have a gun registry. Makes me curious how they would track it back to the original buyer.

Golphin, the SO traced it by the serial number. S&W sold it to a distributer who then sold it to a LGS. The OP then bought it from the LGS who has to keep the 4473's forever. Because the 4473 has OP's name he was traced by ATF&E to another sale he may have made. Or because of the data base kept by the FBI on background checks and OP's latest BC showed where he bought his latest gun. A call to the LGS in OP's town and it gives up his name, address, and if he is a regular customer his phone number.

You have no idea how much info the gov, has on us citizens. With the right contact (not hard to get) I could, if I wanted to, trace your every move from the time you were in trifold cloth to your current gas mileage.

Yea, between being in the military, a TS clearance, law enforcement and having had an FFL there is probably not much the Gov doesn't know about me.

Trying to drop off the grid would probably not work, Lol.

 

[Texchappy]

I guess it’s good that it wasn’t used in a crime. When I read the story, that’s where my mind went and started thinking through the permutations.

 

[cb4017]

I guess it’s good that it wasn’t used in a crime. When I read the story, that’s where my mind went and started thinking through the permutations.

Don't know. I did ask that question when I called the SO. All they could tell me was it was found at the marijuana grow. Since I was the only one on record as the owner they said I could have it. I jumped at the chance.

Truthfully, not going to worry about it.

 

[glenwolde]

I'm thinking marijuana leaf camouflage paint job. Then you could tell the story....