The gift gun that came home in time for Christmas 18 years after it was stolen

When the gun she had been given as a gift for self-defence was stolen‚ Cordelia Moller was pretty sure she'd never see it again.

Imagine her surprise when it turned up again 18 years later. Moller of Nelspruit got the Baby Browning 6.35mm pistol from her father.

“My dad bought the gun for me in 1997. I was 20 years old. He had given it to me to use for self-defence because I was a cyclist‚” she said. A year after getting the pistol‚ Moller’s car was broken into and her handbag was stolen. “My gun was in my handbag. I don’t think [the thieves] knew it was there‚” she said.

But she was in for a “shock” when a letter arrived a month ago confirming that her gun had been recovered.

“I never thought I would hear anything about it after all those years. I was very shocked and relieved at the same time because the gun has sentimental value. I almost cried when I held it in my hand for the first time‚” she said. Moller said her father‚ who died two years ago from cancer‚ would have been happy to know that the gift he had purchased for her was recovered.

“He would have enjoyed the story‚” quipped Moller. Moller said she is yet to decide whether she will keep the firearm as it is damaged.

“It is very damaged and I asked if it was worth spending money on it and I was told it is not. A new one costs R800.”

Moller does not know how much it will cost to repair the weapon. “I would love to keep it for the sentimental value that it has and because I am still a cyclist. It will not kill anyone‚ but it will help me defend myself.”

If she decides to keep the gun‚ Moller will have to apply for a licence. “When I got it back‚ the police helped me get a temporary permit which expires in February.” For Moller‚ it still remains a mystery where and how her gun was found.

“I asked the police but they can’t tell how they found it. I was only told that it was sent for ballistics and that it was clean.” - TMG Digital