Stolen Revolutionary War Rifle Found

Brookwood

As a student of what many call "Kentucky" Longrifles, I have only seen this missing historic rifle in pictures taken before it was stolen from a museum back in 1971. Very glad it has finally come back into the light of day for all to see!

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/2019/11/made-in-the-nazareth-area-revolutionary-war-era-rifle-stolen-in-1971-is-recovered-by-the-fbi.html

yoshmyster

So it didn't ended up on "Pawn Stars" where the "expert" discovered it's past? I guess even the fbi will eventually get a "atta boy".

RugerNiner

So nice to see the Pennsylvania rifle back where it belongs.

Brookwood

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the original thief\thieves are dead after nearly 50 years after the crime. Probably been floating around in private collections for some time. What matters most is that the rifle is back where it belongs and is again available for public viewing!

Brookwood

Thank you Ken! :oops:

ltcdoty

I worked as a curator for thirty two years at the New York State National Guard Museum. I have been to several U.S. Army Center of Military History Schools over the years. Museum security was a topic high on the list. They would show security camera footage of thieves breaking into exhibit cases.
it was shocking how fast they got into a case. They usually worked in gangs to look out and distract.

We would defend against theft with security cameras, alarm systems, and security guards, and we still had attempts to break in cases.

Most of items we had stolen were also from fifty or more years ago. We keep an active list of stolen items. For awhile I got paid to travel to antique and gun shows to check for particularly rare stolen items.

The National Guard museum system is vast. In New York State alone, there are exhibits in over fifty armories, plus the main museum in Saratoga Springs, New York.

As mrmike mentioned about missing canons . Cemeteries were and are easy pickings for antique artillery pieces.