In a unique confluence of history and detective work, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement agencies are recently calling upon the public’s eye for a remarkable mission: recovering a collection of artifacts stolen decades ago, including firearms carried by soldiers during the American Revolution.
This isn’t your typical missing persons case. The investigation, spanning over a decade, investigates a series of thefts that occurred in Pennsylvania and New York during the 1960s and 70s.
The targeted items – a captivating blend of weaponry and historical relics – represent a tangible connection to the birth pangs of the United States.
“We’re dealing with muskets that could have seen action in defining battles of the Revolution,” shared Special Agent Jake Archer of the FBI’s Art Crime Team, quoted by Yahoo News. “These aren’t just museum pieces gathering dust. They’re physical testaments to the sacrifices made by those who fought for our nation’s independence.”
Recent breakthroughs have seen a musket returned to a Philadelphia museum, but several key items remain elusive.
One such prize is a shotgun that once belonged to the renowned naturalist John James Audubon. This double-barreled weapon, estimated to be over four feet long, would be a captivating addition to any historical collection.
A Call to the Public: Helping Identify Lost Treasures
The FBI is casting a wide net in its search and is urging the public for assistance in locating these irreplaceable artifacts.
The list includes a pair of intricately carved eagles by the celebrated artist Wilhelm Schimmel, each boasting a unique wingspan and detailed craftsmanship.
In a unique confluence of history and detective work, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement agencies are recently calling upon the public’s eye for a remarkable mission: recovering a collection of artifacts stolen decades ago, including firearms carried by soldiers during the American Revolution.
This isn’t your typical missing persons case. The investigation, spanning over a decade, investigates a series of thefts that occurred in Pennsylvania and New York during the 1960s and 70s.
The targeted items – a captivating blend of weaponry and historical relics – represent a tangible connection to the birth pangs of the United States.
“We’re dealing with muskets that could have seen action in defining battles of the Revolution,” shared Special Agent Jake Archer of the FBI’s Art Crime Team, quoted by Yahoo News. “These aren’t just museum pieces gathering dust. They’re physical testaments to the sacrifices made by those who fought for our nation’s independence.”
Recent breakthroughs have seen a musket returned to a Philadelphia museum, but several key items remain elusive.
One such prize is a shotgun that once belonged to the renowned naturalist John James Audubon. This double-barreled weapon, estimated to be over four feet long, would be a captivating addition to any historical collection.
A Call to the Public: Helping Identify Lost Treasures
The FBI is casting a wide net in its search and is urging the public for assistance in locating these irreplaceable artifacts.
The list includes a pair of intricately carved eagles by the celebrated artist Wilhelm Schimmel, each boasting a unique wingspan and detailed craftsmanship.
An Engraved powder horn. (FBI)
Another missing piece is a powder horn, a practical item for any soldier, adorned with historical etchings that potentially offer a glimpse into the lives of the revolutionaries.
Finally, a rare 17th-century English Bible box, with its intricately carved date marking the cusp of a new era, completes the list of missing treasures.
“With the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution coming up,” said James Taub, an associate curator at the museum where one of the stolen items originated, “the teamwork and partnership between local police and the FBI have given us in Philadelphia and the historical community at large a really strong opportunity to reach people in ways that we haven’t before, through objects that people of my generation haven’t seen and that previous generations might not have seen since before the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution.”
Below is the list of the stolen historical items the FBI asked the public to keep an eye for, including:
John James Audubon’s Shotgun: A unique 12-or 16-gauge double-hammer, double-barreled shotgun, 4.5 feet long. Stolen from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in March 1972, it may have been sold at auction after 2000.
Smaller Schimmel Eagle: A wood carving by Wilhelm Schimmel, with a 10-inch wingspan and 6.5 inches tall. Painted brown with white and black spots, it’s missing a small piece of wood on its head feathers. Stolen from the York County Historical Society in Pennsylvania in January 1979, it may have been sold at auction after April 1998.
Larger Schimmel Eagle: Another Wilhem Schimmel wood carving, with a 17-inch wingspan and standing 9.5 inches tall. Painted black with a cross-hatched carved body, it has a green base and pastel yellow and orange paint on its wings. Missing wood on the tip of its head and feathers, it was stolen from the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania in February 1979, and may have been sold at auction after April 1998.
Carved Powder Horn (1776): A golden-colored powder horn approximately 13.5 inches long with a flat pine butt. It features a “CDM” monogram and “1776” above a snake drawing and the initials “JW” above a buck with antlers. Stolen from the Old Stone Fort Museum in Schoharie, New York, in June 1971.
1690 English Oak Bible Box: Made of oak wood with the date “1690” carved on its front panel and stolen from the Haverford Township Historical Society in Pennsylvania on April 14, 1979.
Every recovered artifact adds a vital piece to the historical puzzle.
By aiding the FBI in this historical treasure hunt, the public has the unique opportunity to contribute to the preservation of a crucial chapter in America’s military heritage.
FBI officials pose with the returned Revolutionary War-era musket on July 1, 2024. (FBI)
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these stolen artifacts is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or anonymously submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
With a collective effort, these lost treasures of the Revolution can be brought back to light, ensuring the stories they hold continue to inspire future generations.
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