Roaring 20's Tommy Gun found by Contractor (2005)

[Ric-san]

Not to sure if you had read this or not...back from 2005, I just read a post put up by CertifiedMale about the new program on HGTV "if wall could talk" and it reminded me of this story. Sorry for a cut and paste, the video was taken down quite a while ago...sorry. And I cant believe this guy turned this in...doh!!!

" April 13, 2005 — A Will County man made an interesting discovery while rehabbing a house in unincorporated Lockport Township.
While ripping out a wall, Andrew Mayes found a tommy gun, favored weapon of many gangsters of the 1920's and 30's. It is a 1928 AL Thompson machine gun, fully automatic and in pristine condition. There's also ammunition with a receipt dated 1940.

The Will County Sheriff's Department took possession of the tommy gun and ammo. There is little chance Mayes will get it back. The gun is illegal to own in Illinois."

[Geode]

Wow if that thing could talk there would be some stories.





G

[homefire]

Crazy! He needs to find a way to get it back. OK, it's a Class III fire arm. It's still his property..... He can sell it to a museum or other options. It's worth a bomb!

[bdahunter]

That's an Awesome piece of firearms nostalgia, bummer that the cops are keeping it.
It reminds me of a find that a big contractor I worked with in Toronto made. During excavations for a condominium near old Fort York a box of War of 1812 muskets was dug up. I wanted to see one but they had all disapeared by the time I drove over to the site. The owner of the construction firm had them taken to his house and from there they vanished from sight. I never did get to see them but I knew the Superintendent of the job really well and he said they were perfectly preserved in the mud, I saw the box but it was pickled wood. That was a kewl find, just wish I could have seen one. Canadian firearms laws are extremely strict which accounts for the secrecy around this find.

Cheers,

BDA

[janiece]

Oh what a find! I don't know what I'd have done with it but I probably wouldn't have turned it in to the sheriff.

You've reminded me that a friend of mine owns a house where there was a speak easy that was a stopping point/meeting place for the gangsters traveling between Chicago and St Louis. Wonder if he's still angry with me or if I have a chance of searching it.

[Joker]

Wow, what a great find! I love stories like that.. Good to know our forebearers thought about perserving history.. or just plain forgot about it but thank goodness they did.. thanks for the story!

[EBCIII]

That is just to cool of a find! I woulda had a hard time telling the police? I dunno but my 1st thought was selling it? Just me I guess, Beale.

[Buster]

Rick, that was a cool find for sure...Good story...Buster........

[Gary]

I would not have turned it in not to sure what I'd do with it tho! LOL If ya sell it or give it away and someone uses it in a crime what then ?When peeps get caught they almost all talk.Its called Lets make a Deal.Maybe a museum.

[Georgia girl]

Wow what ever happened to finders keepers? I guess its a good lesson to keep a discovery like that on the down low.