West Palm Beach police return rare rifle (Buy back Program Ooops)

Palm Beach Post ^ | 7-15-2005 | Dan Jordan

[Jack Hammer]

“I always thought the Japanese ordered it because the chrysanthemum was the symbol of the royal family and it should not fall into enemy hands.”

I believe YOU’RE correct; in any case, the only ones with mums intact were brought back by vets as souvenirs, and they’re a bit tough to find.

[Ditto]

...the only ones with mums intact were brought back by vets as souvenirs, and they’re a bit tough to find.

When I was a kid, our Scout Master who served in the the invasion of the Philippines and then in the occupation force in Japans after the war, had two Jap rifles he brought home after he was discharged.

I handled them, -- they looked cheap from what I considered to be a rifle, and seemed heavy as hell at least for me at 12 year old, but I really can't recall if they had the chrysanthemum. I didn't know to even look for something like that then.

[Jack Hammer]

First time I handled a forty-five, I was a cub scout on a field trip to the local army garrison; I could barely lift it in one hand, and wondered how anyone could use such a thing.

I refuse to say how many decades ago that was...

[dennisw]

The old duffer got his rare rifle back but what disgusting robotic behavior by the Palm Beach Police until they were shamed into giving it back. Sorry but I think a cop had his eye on that rifle. It was never going to be melted down.