Suwannee Tim
New member
I lost a gun for a year. The moment I found it I remembered in great detail the moment I put it in it's little hiding place.
Ever lose track of a weapon?
- Thread starter Playboypenguin
- Start date
Al Thompson
Staff Alumnus
After my Dad died, I found that the first firearm I was trusted with was missing from his estate. Knowing Dad, I knew he had probably lent it out, but was unable to figure out who had it. 
Five or six years later, the fellow who had the shotgun returned it. I was very pleased to get it back and it's now in my safe.
Five or six years later, the fellow who had the shotgun returned it. I was very pleased to get it back and it's now in my safe.
Edward429451
Moderator
I lost a listol for 8 months or so in the pre safe days. I was going camping and couldnt take everything so found clever hiding places for the ones I didnt take. When the camping trip was over I retrieved all of them but didnt even think about the one. When I finally wanted it, the camping trip was out of mind so I looked in usual places. I was convinced that it had been stolen from my house from a so called friend, but who? I watched everybody out of the corner of my eye looking for a sign of guilt or evilness for a long time. No one seemed to fit the bill dangit, I was dealing with an evil genius here!
Then one day while watching a movie and laying on the couch I slid my leg up on the backing cushion and felt something odd. Upon investigating it was my pistol. I don't remember putting it into the couch cushion.
I felt like an idiot.
Then one day while watching a movie and laying on the couch I slid my leg up on the backing cushion and felt something odd. Upon investigating it was my pistol. I don't remember putting it into the couch cushion.
I felt like an idiot.When my wife's dad died, it fell to us to clean up his place, and he was what is, in the south, called politely a "character."
We found quite a miscellany of firearms in varying conditions. Some were in OK shape, most were rusted, some were under a magazine or newspaper, loaded and cocked. It was a bit unnerving to go through stuff to clean up and find a cocked revolver three or four inches deep in stuff.
Two oddities: We used to have him over once a week, and he never talked firearms with me. And one of his sons said that he had a large revolver that he was really proud of - from the son's description I am guessing maybe a .44 or .45 - that we didn't find. I don't know if he loaned it, pawned it, lost it, or if his son somehow got it. I hope the latter, because although the son didn't seem to know much about firearms I had the impression that it would have been something he would have kept as a memento of his father. I intended to discretely give it to him when I turned it up, but it never did.
We found quite a miscellany of firearms in varying conditions. Some were in OK shape, most were rusted, some were under a magazine or newspaper, loaded and cocked. It was a bit unnerving to go through stuff to clean up and find a cocked revolver three or four inches deep in stuff.
Two oddities: We used to have him over once a week, and he never talked firearms with me. And one of his sons said that he had a large revolver that he was really proud of - from the son's description I am guessing maybe a .44 or .45 - that we didn't find. I don't know if he loaned it, pawned it, lost it, or if his son somehow got it. I hope the latter, because although the son didn't seem to know much about firearms I had the impression that it would have been something he would have kept as a memento of his father. I intended to discretely give it to him when I turned it up, but it never did.
I have never lost any of my pistols but, I have been ceaning the house and SUPRISE I haven't seen this little girl in a long time-- thought I might have sold her or worse yet -- just plain forgot about her. Then it's like a Easter hunt for me to try to find some more. FUN. FUN. and more fun. OR when your wife is cleaning or just moving things around and discovers one of my pistols behind something of hers. Not so much fun. 
And for the guys that have never lost or mis-placed a pistol -- you just don't have enough of them.
Then it's like a Easter hunt for me to try to find some more. FUN. FUN. and more fun. OR when your wife is cleaning or just moving things around and discovers one of my pistols behind something of hers. Not so much fun. And for the guys that have never lost or mis-placed a pistol -- you just don't have enough of them.
Almost 20 years ago I "lost track" of 15-20 arms in a burglary...
But most recent I had left my Mossberg 500 in the shop of a buddy after a turkey shoot with 2 boxes of ammo...
The guy i got a ride home from the shop is a felon so I didn't want my being drunk and his felony to get him in trouble.
well I wouldn't tote it home walking for fear of a "misunderstanding"...
The otherday I seen 2 boxes ammo on my night stand and no gun. (I drinks a bit) I freaked out thinking we got burgled again. I asked the neat freak wife and she had seen no gun nor green gun case.
I went to buddy's shop and found her right where I left her, along with the 2 boxes of ammo... the boxes on my night stand were an empty (gotta learn to throw them out) and a box of #4 I use for crow and coon
Brent
But most recent I had left my Mossberg 500 in the shop of a buddy after a turkey shoot with 2 boxes of ammo...
The guy i got a ride home from the shop is a felon so I didn't want my being drunk and his felony to get him in trouble.
well I wouldn't tote it home walking for fear of a "misunderstanding"...
The otherday I seen 2 boxes ammo on my night stand and no gun. (I drinks a bit) I freaked out thinking we got burgled again. I asked the neat freak wife and she had seen no gun nor green gun case.
I went to buddy's shop and found her right where I left her, along with the 2 boxes of ammo... the boxes on my night stand were an empty (gotta learn to throw them out) and a box of #4 I use for crow and coon
Brent
Willie Lowman
New member
There was recently a huge family argument with my Grandma accusing people of stealing things from her home. This mushroomed out from people being accused to saying "it could have been so and so..."
All because she didn't remember giving me Grandad's Superposed or giving my uncle the Colt Python after Grandad passed away... She didn't know what guns she should still have in the house.
I love family trust issues and matriarchs with "old-timers" disease.
All because she didn't remember giving me Grandad's Superposed or giving my uncle the Colt Python after Grandad passed away... She didn't know what guns she should still have in the house.
I love family trust issues and matriarchs with "old-timers" disease.
No, thankfully, I have not .....
I have a rule: There are only 3 guns out of my safe -- / 1 that I carry / 1 in a cabinet in my office / 1 in a drawer in my bedroom .....
If for any reason / I decide to carry something different - then my carry weapon goes in the safe .... so I never have more than 3 guns out at once ...
-------------------
Range guns come and go in my range bag ... / and I have a luggage tag on my bag for ID .... I keep a 2nd ID pouch on my range bag. As I load the Range Bag ( 1, 2 or maybe 3 guns ....) / I put a playing card into that pouch with a number 3 on it ....... so I know I have 3 guns in the bag. Its a reminder, when I'm packing up at the range / I better have 3 guns, in 3 gun rugs in my bag ...... ( kids, grandkids, renting guns at range ... its too easy to forget what we had in the bags / or didn't have ..) / I don't want to get home and realize I forgot a gun somewhere at the range.
But at my indoor range: just in the last year / I've turned in 3 guns to range master ( all in cases ), a timer, 3 or 4 jackets, and just last week - a range bag..... ( it always amazes me ...).
I have a rule: There are only 3 guns out of my safe -- / 1 that I carry / 1 in a cabinet in my office / 1 in a drawer in my bedroom .....
If for any reason / I decide to carry something different - then my carry weapon goes in the safe .... so I never have more than 3 guns out at once ...
-------------------
Range guns come and go in my range bag ... / and I have a luggage tag on my bag for ID .... I keep a 2nd ID pouch on my range bag. As I load the Range Bag ( 1, 2 or maybe 3 guns ....) / I put a playing card into that pouch with a number 3 on it ....... so I know I have 3 guns in the bag. Its a reminder, when I'm packing up at the range / I better have 3 guns, in 3 gun rugs in my bag ...... ( kids, grandkids, renting guns at range ... its too easy to forget what we had in the bags / or didn't have ..) / I don't want to get home and realize I forgot a gun somewhere at the range.
But at my indoor range: just in the last year / I've turned in 3 guns to range master ( all in cases ), a timer, 3 or 4 jackets, and just last week - a range bag..... ( it always amazes me ...).
berettaprofessor
New member
Not yet. But I'm getting older every day.
Although I never lost a weapon in reality, 20 years later I still have dreams (nightmares) in which I have lost track of my M16A1 while training in the field. Usually ends with someone finding it and returning to me.
All my guns now stay locked in a cabinet when I am not using them.
All my guns now stay locked in a cabinet when I am not using them.
troy_mclure
New member
i lent a buddy one of my mossy 500's about 4 years ago now. he deployed, and i got out of the army around the same time.
neither of us remembered he had it.
neither of us remembered he had it.
bamaranger
New member
two stories
In the late 70's, my Dad and I always deer hunted, and parked to access same, in the very same spot. There were others hunting there also, but we always managed to get into the same place.
One opening day, I did not get to hunt, but my Dad did. Conversely, he did not get to hunt on day two, but I did.
When I pulled in that AM in the predawn, there, in its holster, placed carefully on a large rock, was my Dad's 10" Ruger SuperB in .44mag. He had obviously set it there the evening before after coming out of the woods, got in the vehicle and drove off and left it, overnight!!!!!!!
I drove home that evening and returned it w/o to much fuss. He never missed it and sure was grateful.
In the late 70's, my Dad and I always deer hunted, and parked to access same, in the very same spot. There were others hunting there also, but we always managed to get into the same place.
One opening day, I did not get to hunt, but my Dad did. Conversely, he did not get to hunt on day two, but I did.
When I pulled in that AM in the predawn, there, in its holster, placed carefully on a large rock, was my Dad's 10" Ruger SuperB in .44mag. He had obviously set it there the evening before after coming out of the woods, got in the vehicle and drove off and left it, overnight!!!!!!!
I drove home that evening and returned it w/o to much fuss. He never missed it and sure was grateful.
bamaranger
New member
second story
This is not about a handgun, but it was a lost weapon, so.........
I was carrying a mini-30 as a truck rifle on a regular basis, but did not typically leave it in the truck overnight. I kept the rifle cased and would take it our rather than leave it in the driveway overnight. We live way out, but I jsut did not like the idea of leaving a firearm unattended.
At that time, I was scouting hard for gobbling turkeys. One evening I came in from a evening roosting session. I was late, the good wife was ill /w me as we were due to a prayer meeting soon. I put the cased rifle on the trunk (intending to carry it in the house next) of her car, ran out to the kennel and fed dogs, ran in house and got sandwich, ran out to car and jumped in. She was driving.
We made it to the meeting (on time) and home that night. The next AM I was up before light to scout. I went to safe to retrieve rifle, NOT THERE.
NOT IN TRuck! wE'D DROVE OFF W/ IT ON HER TRUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called in sick to work, walked both sides of the county road (12 miles), reported it stolen. At the end of the evening, I stopped at a plant to check and see if any of there crew had knoweledge, Guy I knew well reached behind a cabinent and pulled out my rifle and case. One of their employees had found it laying astride the centerline, at about 6AM it had laid there all night!!!!!!!!!!
This is not about a handgun, but it was a lost weapon, so.........
I was carrying a mini-30 as a truck rifle on a regular basis, but did not typically leave it in the truck overnight. I kept the rifle cased and would take it our rather than leave it in the driveway overnight. We live way out, but I jsut did not like the idea of leaving a firearm unattended.
At that time, I was scouting hard for gobbling turkeys. One evening I came in from a evening roosting session. I was late, the good wife was ill /w me as we were due to a prayer meeting soon. I put the cased rifle on the trunk (intending to carry it in the house next) of her car, ran out to the kennel and fed dogs, ran in house and got sandwich, ran out to car and jumped in. She was driving.
We made it to the meeting (on time) and home that night. The next AM I was up before light to scout. I went to safe to retrieve rifle, NOT THERE.
NOT IN TRuck! wE'D DROVE OFF W/ IT ON HER TRUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called in sick to work, walked both sides of the county road (12 miles), reported it stolen. At the end of the evening, I stopped at a plant to check and see if any of there crew had knoweledge, Guy I knew well reached behind a cabinent and pulled out my rifle and case. One of their employees had found it laying astride the centerline, at about 6AM it had laid there all night!!!!!!!!!!
I do know of one that was never recovered. In 1990 the Cadets of Virginia Tech were conducting a field exercise near the George Washington National Forest. At the conclusion of the exercise They hoisted one of the M-60 machine gun nose first into the back of a 2 1/2 ton truck and took off back to the campus to clean it. When they got there it was gone. It was never seen again.
For that reason the Corps lost permission to keep working weapons on campus.
For that reason the Corps lost permission to keep working weapons on campus.
I keep a .22 High Standard HD Military pistol on my tractor when I am out mowing for coyotes and ground hogs.
I parked the tractor for the night in the back field and walked back to the house.
The next morning I went to get the pistol from on top of the refridgerator and no pistol.
Ran around like a chicken with his head cut off for about 20 minutes until I went out to check on the tractor.
Luckily it was still there.
I parked the tractor for the night in the back field and walked back to the house.
The next morning I went to get the pistol from on top of the refridgerator and no pistol.
Ran around like a chicken with his head cut off for about 20 minutes until I went out to check on the tractor.
Luckily it was still there.
Just recently.
I had decided to carry my .38 snubbie that day, and decided I should delint it just a bit. I went to the linen cabinet in the bathroom to grab a cotton hand towel for a real quick wipe-down. Just then I was distracted by a phone call, so I set the revolver in the cabinet and took the call. That call turned into another phone call which turned into some email checking, etc.
When it came time to leave I holstered up my 9mm, having forgotten my original choice in the cabinet. The next morning when I went to grab a clean towel, I had a surprise waiting for me. I was confused for just a few moments before I remembered the events of the previous day.
Human memory is infinitely fallible. Once in a while we give ourselves a reminder of that. Hopefully that reminder is a gentle one. I'm glad to find it's not just me.
I had decided to carry my .38 snubbie that day, and decided I should delint it just a bit. I went to the linen cabinet in the bathroom to grab a cotton hand towel for a real quick wipe-down. Just then I was distracted by a phone call, so I set the revolver in the cabinet and took the call. That call turned into another phone call which turned into some email checking, etc.
When it came time to leave I holstered up my 9mm, having forgotten my original choice in the cabinet. The next morning when I went to grab a clean towel, I had a surprise waiting for me. I was confused for just a few moments before I remembered the events of the previous day.
Human memory is infinitely fallible. Once in a while we give ourselves a reminder of that. Hopefully that reminder is a gentle one. I'm glad to find it's not just me.
Blue Grass
New member
I was involved in an auto accident a few years ago. Wound up with a seperated shoulder, two broken ribs, and a concussion. (Yes I was wearing my seat belt and the air bag deployed) A few days later, my mind started to clear and I went looking for my Kimber. To make a long story short, one of the police officers handed it to my wife at the E.R. Wife put the pistol in the gun safe but in a different area. Had about a 30 minute panic attack while I searched for it.