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Contact: John Harlan Warren, 215-908-3159
Springfield, Mass. -- After half a century, a stolen museum artifact was recently returned to Springfield Armory National Historic Site. At a ceremony held on March 13 at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, 50 firearms and other military-related items stolen up to 50 years ago were returned to 16 museums and historical societies. Curator Alex MacKenzie received the Model 1842 USM (United States Model) Pattern Pistol, No. 12 on behalf of the National Park Service.
On June 22, 1971, the pistol was stolen from the Springfield Armory Museum. Later that same day, a rare 1847 Colt Walker revolver was stolen from the Connecticut State Library in Hartford. The same person also stole items from the Longmeadow Historical Society and the Belchertown Historical Society/Stone House Museum.
"We are grateful for the federal and state law enforcement officers whose persistent work resulted in the return of this rare pistol to the Armory museum collection where it can be preserved and cared for by the National Park Service," said Superintendent Kelly Fellner.
The artifacts were recovered through the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Art Crime Team - Philadelphia Division, the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Upper Merion Township Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
The theft of valuable antique firearms and other items primarily across the northeastern United States occurred between 1968 and 1979. This particular pistol had likely been at Springfield Armory as part of the collection since the museum was established in 1866. Pattern pistols were manufactured as perfect examples to be passed on to contractors who had won bids to manufacture these in volume for the Government. Pattern pistols, along with a set of verifying gauges, were given to contractors to ensure that their manufacture would meet stringent requirements for uniformity and interchangeability. Contractors had to make exact copies of the pattern provided by Springfield Armory. The Model 1842 USM No. 12 was one of twelve pattern pistols manufactured by Springfield Armory circa 1842.
-NPS-
Last updated: March 28, 2023