You Won't Believe It, But It Is True! Revolvers Forum Dan Wesson Forum

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You Won't Believe It, But It Is True!

masters

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February 3, 2026

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February 3, 2026 - 6:01 pm

This is hard to believe, but it is 100% true (and as accurate as I can make it after 30 years). In 1996 I was in the USAF, stationed in Las Vegas, Nv. For Christmas in 1995, we flew back to Georgia to see the grandparents and celebrate Christmas.

We get back to NV and we look around and begin to notice that someone had been in the house. While we were in GA, our house was robbed. The thieves got 2 guns, a 1995 model cell phone (think the Motorola Brick style phone), and some of my wife's jewelry. The thief used one of our pillowcases to load up our stuff. Yes, you do feel weird/violated knowing someone has been in your house w/o your permission, you feel really hurt/weird….hard to describe.

We call the Henderson NV police to file the report. The guns were a Dan Wesson, 44 mag, with an 8 inch “bull” barrel and a Lady Smith, S&W .38 special. Note---Both guns were loaded,-- an empty gun = a rock.

The Dan Wesson 44 mag, I bought in Alaska in 1984. We had so many black bears the rule was “no leaving the AF base w/o a gun”. For a bear you need a big gun, what can I say. No bears were harmed while I was there, not by me anyway.

Fast Forward to Jan 12, 2026 (30 years) I get a call from the Henderson NV PD, We have your gun! I said “which one”? (to myself I say---please say the Dan Wesson, please- please -please). And she said, “we have a Dan Wesson 44 mag” . I sounded like a kid at Christmas…

They boxed it up and shipped it to the Warner Robins police station property room. Yesterday, 28 Jan, it arrived. I picked it up, opened the box in the car. Condition—beat up, some rust on the outside of the barrel, rear sight broken/gone, barrel inside is clean, and for the most part gun is still functional.

I know—the first question is how did the police find it? There was a property tag in the box showing that in 1998 (2 years after it was stolen) it was taken from a former felon on South Main Street, Las Vegas. Tag says “ex-felon in possession of a firearm”. Second question—has this gun been in police custody since 1998 and it just now found its way back to me??? I think that is what happened, but I am not 100% sure. I know the person that had it has been in and out of prison (mostly in) for the last 30 years so the gun may have been tied to his “cases” for that entire time….who knows? I am sure finding me was not the highest priority on their “to-do” list. I am just thankful they did find me and were able to send me the Dan Wesson 44 back. I will get it cleaned up/fixed up and then go test fire it.

PS: As of today, 29 Jan 26, the person that is named as the person who had the gun appears to be in prison in Nevada on a “battery with a deadly weapon” conviction (one of many). But NOT with my gun!

Never thought I would ever see this gun again so getting it back was 30 year old Christmas present! Back the Blue! Thanks for finding me!

Can anyone tell me how to get an entire rear sight? I prefer a Dan Wesson OEM sight (used is 100% ok....) , but I will take any sight that fits for time being.

LeonardC

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February 3, 2026 - 7:16 pm

Congratulations!

Be sure to get the right .44 sight. There are 2 different DW .44 styles.

LE can come through some times.

We had the Wife's Lady Smith stolen (they took the whole lock box/safe), along with spare keys to her new Toyota Camry, by some family "friends" we were trying to help out. The revolver bounced around a lot with LE right behind. Lots of "illegal" persons touched that gun and as far as we know only the two original thieves were charged. It was a nice day when we got it back. Screws were buggered up, but the gun was otherwise OK. I had it inscribed from me & my dog when I gave it to her. The lady at the PD noted it was a special gun and made sure we got it back. We had to pay to rekey the car out-of-pocket. Thank God my gun safe was locked and they could not get into it.

During the time we were waiting on the S&W return we received several calls to come pick up our Ruger. "No, our gun is a S&W Lady Smith." We lived in a duplex when the gun was stolen. Years later the old neighbor did some heating system work for us and mentioned back when we lived next door he had been broken into and they stole a Ruger semi-auto that his dad gave him. Light bulb came on but way too late. Sometime later we get a call. The evidence locker at the PD was doing a clean out and came across "our Ruger" again. "We'll be right down." The Wife had to sign for it...loaded magazine and all. We called the rightful owner and had him sign papers for us and then gave him his handgun.

605Dart

SW PA

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February 3, 2026 - 8:15 pm

Wow!!!!! I'm sure you wrote that off 29 and a half years ago! Great that you got it back, soak it in Kroil and grab a sight either here or Ebay and go shooting! Welcome to the forum from PA!!!!

rwsem

SOWELA (Southwest Louisiana)

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February 4, 2026 - 4:47 am

Pretty Neat! Depending on the location of your elevation screw, a Williams sight may work. Otherwise you'll need to start scrubbing the interwebz. Here's some reading:

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