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By Jack Beresford
Senior Reporter
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A Massachusetts magnet fisher reeled in something very unexpected that had him immediately picking up the phone to call the police.
Magnet fishing, the practice of fishing for metallic, ferromagnetic objects using a high-powered Neodymium magnet attached to a strong rope, is a popular hobby in the U.S.
Though its primary aim is to uncover potentially valuable items, magnet fishing also has helps to clean waterways. A 2024 study published in the journal Hydrobiologia saw researchers track the efforts of a group of magnet fishers over a six-year period. In that time, they retrieved 2,000 pieces of discarded metal, most of which was fishing gear that would have otherwise clogged up waterways.
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Nate DeMontigny is an avid magnet fisher and regularly details his exploits on the Cape Cod Magnet Crew YouTube channel. He has reeled in plenty of memorable finds during his time, but the one he recently caught while fishing out in Bridgewater with Sean, a fellow YouTuber who posts as the Brockton Magnet Fisher, is more extraordinary than most.
"We were throwing the magnet for about 30 minutes, and I pulled up what looked like a makeup case," DeMontigny said. "The case itself was so encrusted with crud, I nearly just tossed it in my bucket as garbage. But, instead, I decided to bang it against the bridge, and it broke open, and I saw the Derringer pistol inside."
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Named after its creator, Henry Deringer, a Philadelphia gunsmith who introduced a small single‑shot percussion pistol in 1825, Derringers are famously small in size and capable of only firing one or two rounds. John Wilkes Booth infamously used a Deringrer in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Newspapers misspelt the maker's last name, and Derringer stuck.
"It looked brand-new," DeMontigny said. "Heck, when I opened the case, it looked like a sales sticker was still stuck to it. It came off when I fully opened the case." The presence of that tag got DeMontigny thinking. "It was just an assumption but based on the fact it still had the tag, I guessed it was stolen and someone got scared about getting caught with it and tossed it," he said. "I'm not a big gun guy, but some searches show it could be valued between $500 and $700."
In any case, DeMontigny was in no mood to get caught in possession of a valuable, potentially stolen, firearm, so called the police. "As of right now, the Bridgewater Police Department has it and said their normal protocol is to hold it for a year," he said. "I have the case number and am allowed to call and check on it."
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DeMontigny now has to wait to see if anyone claims it. If he does end up keeping the gun, it will rank among his best finds.
"When I do get it back, I hope to clean it up and mount it in a shadow box. I think it is my best find at this point," DeMontigny said. "I've found lots of other guns and even old mortar rounds, but I've never found something in this type of shape, it was so clean and pristine."
It is a reminder of why magnet fishing appeals to so many. DeMontigny and his friend just happened to be doing it in the right place and the right time. All being well, he could be about to seriously cash-in.
"There was no rhyme or reason why we chose that bridge; it was just close to the one I was already at," DeMontigny said. "Bridgewater PD told me, as long as it comes back clean, I can get it back. That's the hope at least!"
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