My mother being in her late 60's tried to get it back numerous times. There was always someone else in another department and another location with another form to fill out (like find a receipt to prove you purchased the gun 50 years ago in another state).
She finally gave up trying to get it back. I suspect some clepto cop eyed a rare Browning and took it for his own collection - bastards. We didn't have a senator step up to make the cops give our heirloom back. I learned how to shoot on the gun and it was supposed to stay in the family, passed from one crack shot to the next.
I have ceased being surprised at how common this sort of legalized theft has become. I first learned of it about 15 years ago when I was teaching Arizona CCW classes. Los Angeles police had an "informal" policy that any gun they came across, no matter what, was confiscated, and only returned if the owner got a court order for them to do so.
As the liberal judges in Los Angeles had a policy of not giving court orders for the return of firearms, and the attempt would cost hiring a lawyer for a couple of thousand dollars, it became legalized theft on a large scale.
Over the years, I have found that it happens all over the country on a fairly regular basis, though in most places a court order to return the firearm can be obtained with far less problems than in LA.
Your poor mother; I am so sorry they stole her Browning gun.
How many years ago was it stolen from her?