Well, most of one anyway. The wood is missing. I found it on the ground in the woods on a property I bought ten years ago. I'm guessing it was there since before then.
I carried it to the house and with a little steel wool was able to find that it is a J. C. Higgins model 60, 12 gauge. I didn't find a serial number, but the internet tells me it may have been made in the 50s or early 60s; no serial number needed. I haven't looked hard for one yet.
The question is, should I, or do I need to, report this to my local police in case someone has reported it stolen or missing? If there is someone who thinks this still belongs to them, I would be glad to return it. If it had been mine, I would like to know what happened to it.
It just occurred to me that I should have looked for a butt plate laying close by, but it is probably too late now to find the exact spot. I did take a picture of it laying there with my smartphone although I had moved it some. I have heard that pictures on smartphones may have a 'geo-tag'? How to use it to find the same spot again, I have no idea.
What does anyone think?
Thanks.
I carried it to the house and with a little steel wool was able to find that it is a J. C. Higgins model 60, 12 gauge. I didn't find a serial number, but the internet tells me it may have been made in the 50s or early 60s; no serial number needed. I haven't looked hard for one yet.
The question is, should I, or do I need to, report this to my local police in case someone has reported it stolen or missing? If there is someone who thinks this still belongs to them, I would be glad to return it. If it had been mine, I would like to know what happened to it.
It just occurred to me that I should have looked for a butt plate laying close by, but it is probably too late now to find the exact spot. I did take a picture of it laying there with my smartphone although I had moved it some. I have heard that pictures on smartphones may have a 'geo-tag'? How to use it to find the same spot again, I have no idea.
What does anyone think?
Thanks.