Recovered 5906 damaged by the police.

[lilwoody]

My son had a 5906 Tactical stolen in 2022. It was recovered within a month from a convicted felon. No underlying crime, just a recovery. He didn't get it back until a couple of months ago. It's missing the grips, hammer spring and bushing. The rear sight is also broken. It was returned with a magazine for a Glock 26, not the S&W mag. The disconnector was also in a bag labeled "broken disconnector" but it looks perfectly fine to me.
This isn't the big issue though. The frame is bent a few thousandths off in the front as to not allow the slide to go on completely. The front rails will not line up with the frame. It appears by the tool marks on the frame to have been put in a vise without any shim to protect it from damage.
I could probably remove enough material on the frame and slide to get it to line up again but not so sure on this.
The other option is to attempt to work the frame back to as close to spec as I can with a jig cut from red oak and a progressively larger kinetic tool .
I'm just not sure what to try. Removing material may get the slide to fit but the geometry could well be off. Forcing it back could cause metal fatigue. I'm kind of at a loss.
What would you more knowledgeable folks suggest?

 

[jculloden]

Ask S&W what to do.

 

[DHernandez]

Why do you say damaged by the police? How do you know it wasn’t the criminal who damaged it? Also, a felon in possession of any firearm, better yet a stolen firearm, is an underlying crime.

 

[lilwoody]

Why do you say damaged by the police? How do you know it wasn’t the criminal who damaged it? Also, a felon in possession of any firearm, better yet a stolen firearm, is an underlying crime.

Seeing how the slide will not go on the frame and most of the parts are there. I would say the felon wasn't running around town at 2300 hrs with a inoperable, in pieces weapon under the seat of his car.

 

[dusty3030]

Or it was chunked out the window of a fleeing car doing 90 during the pursuit.

 

[lilwoody]

Or it was chunked out the window of a fleeing car doing 90 during the pursuit.

The police report plainly states, "found under the suspects seat".

 

[bigggbbruce]

Police don't treat other people's guns or property with any respect at all.
They consider them all disposable unless the owner fights for its return, then they will treat it worse.

My dad was going through a hard time his last couple years.

My mom called the police to remove his gun from the house. I found out about it and worked on having it returned. Colt Woodsman MT, I got it but....

While in their possession someone was apparently looking it over and dropped it, landed on the muzzle end of the barrel, fortunately the damage is cosmetic. I'd bet they were eyeing it to take it home.

 

[moosedog]

You know what I suggest? I suggest you stop accusing someone or some agency unless you can prove they did it.

 

[UFGator]

Why do you say damaged by the police? How do you know it wasn’t the criminal who damaged it? Also, a felon in possession of any firearm, better yet a stolen firearm, is an underlying crime.

I was going to say the same thing. Never seen police destroy a firearm.

 

[JeffD607]

Unbelievable accusations from the armchair quarterbacks!

 

[YouveHadYour6]

This thread's going south quick. OP, take your gun to a qualified smithy would be my recc - as for how property is handled by any agencies, no comment. I've dealt with a lot, and firmly no comment.

 

[ariandshan]

Back in 2012 I had 2 44 magnums stolen. A 6.5" blue M29-2 (my most prized possession, had it since 1978) and a 6" S.S. 629 no dash that I got in 1980 both new. The culprit was was caught a few days later. He said he sold them for drug money. The NY State Troopers that were handling the case said that if they were used in a crime or had the serial numbers removed I would not get them back. I never heard back from the troopers again. I'm assuming that the guns are either in some ones collection likely out west some where or have been destroyed.
I figure that they were destroyed by the state. I have no evidence of either but living in NY that's two guns that are out of circulation for everyone's protection. Thanks Andrew Cuomo!!! (sarcasm!!!) I received the insurance money and bought replacements but they were no where as nice as my original 2. I never even called to see what the deal was with them. No point, they weren't coming back. I just waited and waited. That's not an indictment on the troopers at all as I have no idea on how these things work.

Rick

 

[Exchipy]

… as for how property is handled by any agencies, no comment. I've dealt with a lot, and firmly no comment.

As a Highway Patrolman and later as a county prosecutor, I’ve seen examples from both sides of this question. Much depends on the politics influencing agency personnel. One of the horrors I witnessed in my early years, was the scratching of a badge number prominently on an otherwise valuable collectible firearm, “for positive identification,” despite it displaying a unique serial number.

Also remember, that in any group of individuals (and law enforcement is no exception), there will always be a few who are exceptional, most will be mediocre, and then a few will be “substandard,” you know, the A-Holes.

 

[Tinkertech]

Worked for Dallas in the 70's on police radio installs and repair. Often found guns inside the car's trunk where the radio was just dumped in with all the other junk. Asked why? Response was they were going to turn it in latter; just let it rattle around!

Also worked for a body cam company in ~2010 - 2020, there is really only two major ones, and I won't say which. Same response, also "they won't be returned anyway".

A few years ago in the 90's, had my friend's son caught with his dad's 45. (he was just transporting it from the range) confiscated in mint condition, returned after 6 months beat to hell.

While it does not happen very often it does happen and was told 'don't worry about it'.

Best friend since high school was a cop until he retired, didn't even know what model of gun he carried, but he said "I know it's a S&W".

So there, no ax to grind. Heck, most don't not even take care of their own firearms.

To them 'it's just a tool like a hammer'. At the end of the day just dump it in the toolbox.

Cops are not firearm enthusiasts like the rest of us on this forum most I've met could care less.

 

[xfarfuldog]

As a Highway Patrolman and later as a county prosecutor, I’ve seen examples from both sides of this question. Much depends on the politics influencing agency personnel. One of the horrors I witnessed in my early years, was the scratching of a badge number prominently on an otherwise valuable collectible firearm, “for positive identification,” despite it displaying a unique serial number.

Also remember, that in any group of individuals (and law enforcement is no exception), there will always be a few who are exceptional, most will be mediocre, and then a few will be “substandard,” you know, the A-Holes.

I worked in various areas in my police career. One of them was as a evidence technician (aka csi). We were trained to etch the case number on guns used in a crime. I never really understood it but had to follow my training. I believe today that etching practice has ended.

I once had a Glock 21 stolen out of my home. It was recovered a couple of years later by a large local department's SWAT team and the FBI in a raid on a drug house. It was never used in a crime. Long story short, the FBI had it destroyed by the USMS. I could never find out why.

 

[biku324]

I had the NMSP armory as part of incidental duties for a couple of years in the '90s. If a firearm made it to Santa Fe instead of being held in District or sub-District offices, it would be entered into the property log, racked according to rack space and firearm size, and inventoried every 90 days. Once the original case was completed, we would get court orders to either release, destroy, or forfeit the firearm. Some firearms had been in the armory property room since the '70s as the cases either had not been resolved (there are lots of reasons for such) or we had not been notified by the originating officer of the court's disposition order.

We maintained none of the firearms. Those for release had to be picked up within 30 days of owner notice to the last known address - if not picked up, they went to auction. Those ordered for destruction were set aside for destruction; forfeited guns were examined for utility for undercover officers or set aside for the annual auction.

 

[jpage]

As a Highway Patrolman and later as a county prosecutor, I’ve seen examples from both sides of this question. Much depends on the politics influencing agency personnel. One of the horrors I witnessed in my early years, was the scratching of a badge number prominently on an otherwise valuable collectible firearm, “for positive identification,” despite it displaying a unique serial number.

Also remember, that in any group of individuals (and law enforcement is no exception), there will always be a few who are exceptional, most will be mediocre, and then a few will be “substandard,” you know, the A-Holes.

Wise words Sir

 

[Drem]

My 15-4 was gone for 22+ years. When I got it back it had been in custody with two different departments. One a county over where it was recovered then my local department who notified me they had it. Interesting thing the first department had no idea it was in their property room until they did a wall to wall inventory/cleaning. So no idea when it was recovered or under what circumstances.

All in all it was serviceable but was dirty more holster rash then I remember and the side plate had quite a bit of rust on it.

 

[ariandshan]

My 15-4 was gone for 22+ years. When I got it back it had been in custody with two different departments. One a county over where it was recovered then my local department who notified me they had it. Interesting thing the first department had no idea it was in their property room until they did a wall to wall inventory/cleaning. So no idea when it was recovered or under what circumstances.

All in all it was serviceable but was dirty more holster rash then I remember and the side plate had quite a bit of rust on it.

Wow!, Maybe there is hope for me after all. But I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[Drem]

Wow!, Maybe there is hope for me after all. But I'm not going to hold my breathe.

Still no word on my 1974 C-20 though. Both stolen at the same time.