Museum recovers $50K Civil War gun stolen in 1975

[January 20, 2011]  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A Civil War revolver that was stolen more than 30 years ago from the Museum of the Confederacy has turned up again.

Collections Manager Catherine Wright tells WTVR-TV that the .36-caliber Spiller & Burr revolver was stolen in 1975 when the museum collection was moved to a new building.

A woman in Knoxville, Tenn., discovered the gun in December in her late father's belongings. She tried to sell it to an Ohio antique dealer who traced the gun to the museum.

WTVR reports that the woman's father collected Civil War items. It's not known how he came into possession of the gun. The woman will not face charges.

Wright says the Spiller & Burr revolver was one of the first Confederate-manufactured handguns. This one has an estimated value of $50,000.

___

Information from: WTVR-TV, http://www.wtvr.com/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.