When I was 16, I saved enough money to buy my first deer rifle. It was a sporterized No 4 Mk 1 Enfield by Golden State Arms called a Santa Fe Special. It was an awesome shooter. When my eyes were good, I could keep it inside 2" at 100 yards all day. I shot my first deer with it in the Sam Houstn NF.
When I left for bootcamp, my parent's house was broken into and all the guns were stolen.
I went to a pawn shop yesterday to look at some guns and I saw one that looked just like it. I asked to look at it, and holy mackerel, it was the very rifle. I know because scratched my initials in it 35 years ago. I have bought several guns in the past from this guy so I kinda know him. I told him the story and he asked if my folks gave the police the serial number. I said probably not, I don't think that we recorded them before they were stolen.
He told me that he only gave the guy $50 for it so he sold it to me for that. I thought that was very nice and I took him up on it.
Whoever had it in the past took very good care of it. The barrel is still bright with good rifling and the action is still tight and smooth. I can't wait to get it to the range tomorrow after work!

Best gun story ever! That's awseome right there

That's cool right there. Glad you got it back.

Beautiful old rifle and even better story.

That's cool! Do you plan to hunt with it again?

That's awesome!

what a cool story congrats

go buy a lottery ticket

glad you got it back

Fantastic

Excellent story.

Ive always been curious.

What happens if you find your stolen property in a pawn shop, and you have filed all the appropriate paperwork with the police at the time of the robery? Do they have to turn it over to the police, and the police return it to you?

some things do come full circle

That is awesome. Right place at the right time for sure

Great news! Credit goes to the store owner for passing it along at cost.

Great story. Will be even better if you take it out this season and add another buck to it's toll.

Yes.

Absolutely! Gonna try for a pig next week!

wow thats awesome.

Some stuff you just can't make up. Great story

Congrats on being reunited.

I'm hoping some people who own/work for pawn shops clear this issue up because I have heard differently.

WOW!
Congratulations!!!

It has to go to a property hearing where you will prove your case. The pawn shop will send a representative from their shop in the event you don't show up or you dont have reasonable proof.
The issue comes when you file the report AFTER you notice your items in the shop. This happens a lot. You get stuff stolen and don't itemize the small stuff or think it'd not be worth the time to hassle with the police. Then whole browsing the local hock shop, you see your items for sale. Technically you can still file the report and tell the investigator it's location. But proving the item was yours becomes your burden of proof.

That's great. Congratulations.