Doing the right thing: (Good deed rewarded)

[David Noble]

I've told this story before but it fits here also. In 1986 I received a call to my gun store from a man who wanted to sell a Parker shotgun. I asked him to describe it and he responded that "it was engraved and was HUGE so it must be a 20 gauge!" I asked what he wanted for it and he answered $200. I told him I wanted to see it but that I would likely buy it. After the call ended I called the local police dept and told them a man was bringing a stolen firearm to my store to sell and asked if they would send an officer over to apprehend the gent when he arrived. The dispatcher said to call when the man arrived and to call them then, which I did. The gun turned out to be a magnificent CH 8ga with 36" damascus barrels and skeleton buttplate. I of course told him I would buy it but it would take a while for me to "write it up". He asked if I would want to by a couple of handguns he had also. Sure, I responded, bring them in. He went to his car and brought in a pair of nickel plated and engraved 1st generation Colt single action army's in a vintage hand tooled double quick draw rig. I took all these gems to the back room where they would be safe and spent about a half hour admiring all these gems waiting for the police to arrive, while my employees kept watch on the seller. The police did finally arrive and started questioning the seller. It turned out the guns were stolen the day before from a judge in a neighboring county. I received a thank you call from him a few days later. He was one lucky man, as I have over 60 firearms that were stolen in burglaries over the years that have never been recovered.

[Bill Murphy]

David, we want to know what happened to the CH eight gauge. Do you still own it? $200 is a good price for a CH eight.

[David Noble]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

David, we want to know what happened to the CH eight gauge. Do you still own it? $200 is a good price for a CH eight.

I never paid out for the guns. The police took them and they were returned to the owner. I have no idea if the judge or his family still has them.
Yes, that would have been a very good price to pay for the 8ga even back then. If it was for sale today in the condition it was in at that time, I suspect it would be priced $20,000 to $30,000 and even more from some of the "big" purveyors.