Revolutionary War Relic Stolen 50 Years Ago Recovered After Chance Sighting

A Revolutionary War-era musket stolen more than 50 years ago was returned to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia recently, just in time for Independence Day, the FBI announced.

The .78-caliber musket was stolen from Valley Forge, Penn., in an Oct. 24, 1968, heist, according to the FBI. The agency shared a story about the heist in April, which led to an important tip.

Upper Merion Township Police Department Detective Brendan Dougherty saw the story and texted a link to historical firearms expert and professional appraiser Joel Bohy. "Minutes later," Bohy replied that he had seen the historical musket at a recent event.

“There’s only two others known,” Bohy said, noting that he’d photographed it due to its rarity and thought about it afterward. He shared the photo with Dougherty and met with FBI Philadelphia Special Agent Jake Archer from the Bureau’s Art Crime Team the next day.

With the help of Bohy's tip, investigators traced the musket to an antique firearms collector in Maryland.

The collector did not know the musket was stolen, and willingly turned it over to the FBI.

“Investigating art and cultural property crime requires determination, perseverance, and collaboration, as these cases often cross jurisdictions and may span decades,” FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs said in a statement. “We appreciate the assistance from our partners here today, and we thank members of the public who provide tips that are integral to these cases so that we can do our best to investigate, recover, and return to the public domain important artifacts such as this historic firearm that help document our American history.”

The musket was officially turned over to the museum in a ceremony recently.

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“Whatever its story, we relish the opportunity and the responsibility of making pieces of history like this once again available to the public,” said museum President and CEO R. Scott Stephenson.

Meanwhile, the FBI says it is still searching for a variety of Revolutionary War-era relics "looted" from the Philadelphia area. The agency is asking anyone with information to come forward or submit an anonymous tip.

TMX contributed to this report.