[WHSmithIV]

Chance, go to your local courthouse, get the form for filing a lawsuit. Take it home, fill it out. You are the Plaintiff - the Defendant is the police department who took your antique pistol with no just cause. Make SURE that all spelling is correct. The amount of compensation you are requesting is $10,000 for violation of your rights to be served with a warrant, for illegal search and seizure and for your costs to bring this to court. If you follow this correctly one of 3 things will happen: 1) you will get your pistol back and probably with court costs. 2) the Police department will settle out of court - they may not give you your pistol back, but make them settle for no less than $7500 in that case. 3) You will go to court in 4-6 months or so, present you case and you will win . You may even be awarded more than your lawsuit was for.

After you file the lawsuit, go find a lawyer - a lawyer who deals in lawsuits takes a percentage of the settlement as their fee - usually it's around 30%. Pick yourself a lawyer from the phone book if you have to - just get a lawyer who is local. You do have a case and you will win.

Before you go the long route though of going to court, go down to the local police station and tell them you want your pistol back. If they say no - require that on a piece of paper. Also, call your local newspaper and television stations - tell them what happened. If you get the news out to enough places, you will get help with getting your pistol back for sure.