I'll try to keep this short, but it may be tough, have to see.

My uncle was a 1LT in the Marines, killed in a helo crash back in 83 and new rests in Arlington. I was 11 at the time and my family doesn't own guns, so when my grandparents were going through his possessions they gave his 1911 to one of his friends. Grandpa said it had a hair trigger so it was too dangerous to have around. He may have shot at Camp Perry in the interservice rifle championship, going through possessions when Grandma passed I got his Perry coffee cup and written on the bottom is 2nd lt 1980, but I havn't found any rosters from that match yet. Now, both grandparents have passed, and I have my uncles uniform sword hanging on my wall next to my mil awards. Looking at that sword the other day I thought it would be cool to try and track down his pistol and see if I could buy it from whoever ownes it now. Then I got to thinking it may be kinda tacky to call someone out of the blue and say "hey, I'm related to him, can I buy his pistol from you".

So what say the masses, worthwhile treasure hunt, or something better left alone?

Now, for the challenge, I have no idea who it was given to, never laid eyes on the pistol, and don't even think Mom knows the name of the guy who got it. Best lead I have is a plaque given to my grandparents from his squadron that was signed on the back by all the guys he flew with. Of course there is no guarantee that his friend was in his squadron, so it may be a dead end. If I decide to go forward with this, its going to be a hell of a shot in the dark and will take a lot of research, legwork, probably hours of phone and email time, and may all be for nothing even if I do find the guy since he may not still have it or be unwilling to part with it.

I still havn't talked to Mom about this yet, not sure how she will react to the idea, she's the only one left from her family, both parents and both brothers have passed. If the majority says its a bad idea I probably wont bother her with it, have to see. Guess I should make this a poll.

I don't see anything wrong with asking the guy to sell it to you. If not, maybe he could tell you more about the man you obviously admire very much and don't know everything about.

I'd give it a try, what can it hurt?

I'd say it is a great idea.

Since you have the names of the guys from his squadron, contact them - even if one of them doesn't have it, one of them may know who it was given to.

Thanks guys.

Well, its 10 for and 1 against so far, kinda wish the no vote would have left some feedback as well.

Still gonna wait a while and see what folks think, so post up, lots of views so far, not many votes or replies.


If I do this, I can forsee it taking years to get through. Finding one pistol in the world that was given away 25 years ago with no name to start from. Pretty much a needle in a haystack.

i'd do whatever it takes to get it. the guy who has it is probably an old fart anyhow... and being an old traditional guy with a military history he'd probably give it to you.

once you find out who he is, i'd do a background check on him to get his address, and go to his house one sunday afternoon even if he lives on the other side of the country. older guys are more face to face if anything, and it would show him that it means a lot to you.

once you find out who he is, i'd do a background check on him to get his address, and go to his house one sunday afternoon even if he lives on the other side of the country. older guys are more face to face if anything, and it would show him that it means a lot to you.

I agree with this!

I posted a "similar" thread. (much longer winded though)

I think trying to find it might help you find out more about who he was too which would be more than worth any and all effort. Even if you never find the gun, you may discover the man per say.

Go for it! Oh, and post pics when you're done:flipoff2:

PBB has a long reach. Maybe someone on here can help track it down.

If you can track him down go with the "it never hurts to ask" philosophy.He might even give it to you free of charge.The worst he can do is say no.

Do it I wish there was such a memento from my uncle

I wish there were such a memento from my grandfather's time in WWII


do it.

Damn, another negative vote with no explination.

Thanks for the encouragement all, thinkin I may give Mom a call in a day or two and get her opinion on this.

Damn, another negative vote with no explination.Perhaps the "No" votes are reading it as "do I deserve to have this pistol back just because my uncle owned it at one time".

There's a difference between tracking it down and talking to the owner to see if he still wants it or it means anything to him; and a feeling of entitlement to it.

I don't read what you wrote as you feeling entitled to owning it - just as you wanting to track it down and "find" it (nothing wrong with letting it be known that you'd like to have/buy it if the guy doesn't want it, though).

Or for that matter, see what the guy wants to do with it when he dies. He may want it now, but it may not necessarily be something that he'd want to pass on to his kids.

Perhaps the "No" votes are reading it as "do I deserve to have this pistol back just because my uncle owned it at one time".

There's a difference between tracking it down and talking to the owner to see if he still wants it or it means anything to him; and a feeling of entitlement to it.

I don't read what you wrote as you feeling entitled to owning it - just as you wanting to track it down and "find" it (nothing wrong with letting it be known that you'd like to have/buy it if the guy doesn't want it, though).


Hmmm, never even remotely thought of it that way, any kind of entitlement never entered my thought process. Guess someone could have seen it that way though. In no way do I intend to call someone demanding anything, I'm looking at this as more of a challenge to see if it could be done. If I do indeed manage to find the pistol, I will ask the current owner if he would be interested in selling it, but if he says no, then its a no, end of the line, mission accomplished, go home and not worry about it.

Or for that matter, see what the guy wants to do with it when he dies. He may want it now, but it may not necessarily be something that he'd want to pass on to his kids.

Interesting idea, not sure how one would work something like that into casual conversation without things becoming awkward, but definatly something to think about and consider.

Interesting idea, not sure how one would work something like that into casual conversation without things becoming awkward, but definatly something to think about and consider.Agreed. Some people here (well maybe not regulars, but say somebody who comes here from a google search) might get offended just cause I suggested it. Keep us posted on how this develops. Good luck.

GOFERIT
Can you get a serial #? If so, you could post every gun board on the web with it.
You don't know who your gramps gave it to. Talk to his drinking buddy, I'm sure that story got told many times.
Contact the guys he was stationed with, ask who he hung out with, write everything down, get good contact #s.
Before you set out, consider the fact that the guy who got the gun might not have cared for it as much as your uncle and you, the trail might go cold at a poker table or pawn shop.
Good luck.

Update time.

Talked to Mom and Dad this evening, they think it would be a cool project. To make it better, they think they even know the name of the guy. Sure enough, the name they came up with is on the back of the plaque from his last squadron. Quick google search and the only hit comes up as owner of a gunshop in Rhode Island. Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Gonna give him a call tomorrow and see if its the right guy or not.

Not getting my hopes up, no way it can be this easy. I never expected them to have any idea of a name. Of course, no guarantee that the one I found on google is the right one.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

go for it


i have nothing from my grandpa that was in ww1 and ww2 ... my parent's " typical hippies at the time didn't want any of it and i would love to have anything...


wishing you the best on this :D

Fingers crossed.

Post up when you find out

If you can track him down go with the "it never hurts to ask" philosophy.He might even give it to you free of charge.The worst he can do is say no.


^^^^^^^^^^^

what he said.

Good luck- hope it works out for you.

Nothing to lose IMHO...

Fingers crossed for you

i hope this works out for you, i can't wait to find out what happens

:bounce2::bounce:

Good luck!!

Keep us posted, and don't forget, pics or it didn't happen:flipoff2:

Even if you never find the pistol, you may laern a lot about your grandfather on the way.
The journey may be more rewarding than the goal you set out for.

If it's him, owning a gun shop is probably a good thing. He's less likely to sell it off to get cash or some such.

did kwrangln ever find out anything else?

I tried calling the first lead a few times with no answer, then started spending a bunch of time away from home due to work so project got put on the back burner for a while. When work lets up a bit I'll give it another shot, but I expect this to be a long term project. I'll probably dedicate some more time to it after I move in June.

I'll definatly update this thread if anything happens, hell, if I hit a brick wall at some point I may call on the PBB for help.

i remember reading someweres that a son found his fathers old service rifle after his father sold it or something. i cant really remember the whole story
good luck in your search

i remember reading someweres that a son found his fathers old service rifle after his father sold it or something. i cant really remember the whole story
good luck in your search

I remember reading that story somewhere online, no idea where, but it was an awesome story. Kid (middle aged) asked his dad at his birthday or x-mas if he remembered his rifles serial number, dad recited it, and son knew he had found the right one and gave it to him. Dad was shocked and when he held it again after a bunch of years broke down with the memories associated with it (served in WWII).

Keeping my fingers crossed, no guarantees, I fully realise that it may have been pawned off 20 years ago, no telling. We'll just have to see what the future brings.

i sure hope you are successful.

Do it. The worst the guy can say is no. I'll help if I can.

I was wondering about this thread the other day.
Any progress?

No real progress, been busy as hell with work. Last day at this job was friday, movers showed up yesterday and are here again today. Tomorrow load the truck and thursday head down to Al where we get to unpack everything. Projects have all taken a back burner due to my transfer. Seems there just aint enough hours in a day or days in a month. Hell, spent 6 out of the last 8 weeks out on a boat on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers without web access.

I'm taking 30 days leave between jobs, so should have some time to work on it after I get the new house unpacked and set up.

Like I said at the start, this is going to be a long term project that sits on the back burner and every now and then gets looked at.

Thanks for all the encouragement and intrest in this, I'll keep everyone updated.

Chris, thanks being willing to help out if I run into a dead end, it is much appreciated.