The families who loaned some antique guns to the Conception Bay Museum in Harbour Grace are devastated after they were recently stolen.

RCMP are asking that the guns, which have great historic and sentimental value, be returned.

The missing items include two dueling pistols, dating between 1813 and 1860, a Colt revolver, manufactured in 1855 and a WWI vintage flare gun.

The flare gun was originally owned by Edward Oke of Harbour Grace who loaned it to Captain Erroll Boyd of the Royal Air Force and Lieutenant Harry Connor of the US Navy Reserve, who were about to embark on the first Canadian flight from Canada to England in October of 1930. The gun was engraved in remembrance of the historic occasion.

Museum spokesman, Pat Collins says the Oke and Godden families, who donated the items to the museum’s care, are very upset that something that means so much to the history of their families has been stolen.

He says that the families wanted to keep the guns, and had donated them to the museum to share their families histories. He says that someone thought differently of that plan and that he hopes they return to where they belong.

Collins says it is also a sad time for the Town of Harbour Grace.

The guns are engraved and are easily identifiable, making it difficult for them to be sold.