NC:Wilmington Turn In Produces Scant Results, Public will Benefit in Future

Photo of most of the guns turned in by WECT

The gun turn in event was held at three separate churches on 24 August, 2013, in Wilmington, NC.  The total number of guns turned in, for all three locations, was reported as 67.  More guns might have been turned in, but the organizers ran out of money and gift card incentives.

The organizers offered $100 for rifles, pistols, and shotguns, and $200 for "assault rifles".  No definition was given for "assault rifles" so the one SKS turned in might have qualified.  It is not known if it was turned in without a magazine, or if the magazine was removed at the event.

 The guns turned in can be roughly classified into two categories: those worth less than the incentive offered, and those worth more.  An intact SKS is worth more than $200, but I do not know if it was intact when turned in.  For all the other guns, $100 would be the price break.

The Marlin .22 with the repaired stock is a less than $100 gun, as is the bolt shotgun with the repaired stock.   The single shot shotguns are in the neighborhood of $100.  There are about a half dozen of them.  The two double barrel shotguns are likely worth twice that, and the Savage/Stevens .22 over .410 combination gun is worth about $300-$400 (right side, third from top, muzzle pointing in)  The two 1894 Winchester lever guns are worth more.  I believe the Enfield is an Ishapore 2A copy in 7.62X51, because of the magazine shape.  It should be worth a couple of hundred. 

There appears to be a Remington semi-auto version of the Browning take down .22 on the left side about half way down.  If in working condition, it is definitely worth more than $100.

There are maybe three more .22 rifles worth about $100 or a little less.

The short barreled shotgun (sawed off) has no legal value.

The handguns are harder to evaluate because not all are easily identifiable.

There are about 18 inexpensive revolvers worth less than $100, and 14 inexpensive semi-autos of about the same value.

The Savage semi-auto (probably a .32) that would bring about $150-$200.  I cannot make out the 1911 type semi-auto in the center of the table to identify it.  It has a grip safety, target sights, large magazine well, and some kind of recoil spring guide rod.  Perhaps someone else can tell us what it is.  I suspect it is worth more than $100.

There appears to be a Unique (French) .22 with extra magazines in one of the pictures.  Likely a $300 gun.    While unclear, there appears to be a couple of single action revolvers that might be Rugers.  If so, they are worth more than $100.   At the top of the table, I think there is a .38 Charter arms.

It would be worth more than $100.

Readers are invited to make comments, speculations or corrections.  The pictures were not designed for identification purposes.

 I am only counting  23 long guns (including the short-barrel) and 42 handguns, which comes to 65 total.  I might have missed a couple.

The clear losers in this event are those who gave away valuable property only to have it destroyed.

North Carolina has passed a law to prevent this senseless destruction of valuable assets.  In the future, guns surrendered to police, or confiscated, will be sold to benefit the public treasury.

The new law will take effect in October.

This Link to the WECT article has a slide show with more pictures.

Dean Weingarten