Render safe on a completely rusted shut handguns.

[DocWagon]

I had a call the other day for a business owner who found a handgun under the bushes while raking other trash out. It was a Desert Eagle and was completely rusted shut. I couldn't drop the magazine, operate the slide, etc. Judging by weight it had a full magazine and I assume there was one in the chamber.

We have folks at the property room who deal with "un-renderable" firearms, but I just got to thinking how its done. Soaked in penetrator or what? Anyone dealt with this?

[Tailgunner]

Drop a water cooled bandsaw blade through the dustcover/frame/chamber area of the barrel (all at once) should do a fair job, esp if you follow it up with a second saw cut through the top of the grip area.
The cool wet blade won't set off the powder in the chambered cartridge (just stay in front of the primer), and once it's "vented" to the air it won't launch the bullet out the barrel either.

Now, if your trying to salvage it, or parts from it, soaking it for a couple weeks in Kerosene/diesel fuel will loosen things up a bit.

[deersniper6]

Now, if your trying to salvage it, or parts from it, soaking it for a couple weeks in Kerosene/diesel fuel will loosen things up a bit.


I think they also make big cans of WD40 (like paint cans) that you can get. You may also find some other brand of Penetrating oil i cant tell the difference in any of them.

[eight_heads]

here's an idea, may be good or bad, but they make carb/parts cleaner that comes in a gallon can with a strainer that works miracles on old nasty carbs and stuff and may loosen things up with some soaking... it saved the carbs in my old Yamaha Virago that i didn't think anything could loosen or save

[deersniper6]

I would try to salvage it for sure...thats an expensive pistol if you had to buy it new from the gun store. If you can get it loose and functioning, you can at least get something out of it, or just have fun with it. Most people dont have an old beat up desert eagle they can throw around.

[eight_heads]

yeah, where do you live? i'll come pick it up for you

[DocWagon]

Well, it's currently residing in the police department's property room and I assume it will be destroyed after being test fired if it is not linked to any known crime. Many of them are auctioned off, but this one is in such bad shape I doubt they sell it.

I was just curious as to how they do it.

[deersniper6]

Well, it's currently residing in the police department's property room and I assume it will be destroyed after being test fired if it is not linked to any known crime. Many of them are auctioned off, but this one is in such bad shape I doubt they sell it.

I was just curious as to how they do it.


Screw that. I would have just kept it and kept my mouth shut. Even if it is connected to a crime, what good is it going to do them??? Besides matching the gun, im sure the fingerprints are long gone, so unless they can find the original owner by the serial number, if it has one, it doesnt do them any good.

Auction? I guess the cops are going to get the money for all their hard work.... They should at least give it back to him if he wants it, or give him the money for it.

[DocWagon]

Found property can be claimed if no owner can be located, but the complainant had no interest in doing so.