Extreme Gun Recovery Attempt: Buried in CAT EXCREMENT

Three handguns and a few hundred rounds of ammunition were found buried under piles of cat excrement, into a house crammed full of cats. Cat urine in particular is extremely corrosive to metals, causing the guns to show forms of decay that are very uncommon in normal conditions.
Since I'd never seen anything like it, I thought I'd share it here on KZbin.
If you can and want to help me making videos like this, you can directly support me on Patreon:
/ backyardballistics
with your help, I can keep making educational content without having to give up my freedom of speech to the advertiser's needs.

[@rilesmattix5217]

I'm a corrosion engineering major. One thing you missed is the fact that cat urine contains a TON of chloride ions which are pretty rough on 99% of metals.

[@timfolland420]

🙀🧐. Interesting..

[@C18H19NaO5S]

That’s an extremely interesting field of study! Thank you for sharing!

[@ArtificialMisery]

Cat piss expert

[@AzureSetsunai4345]

*Ferb I know what we're gonna do today!*

[@aigoru8718]

That's an interesting field dude! Lets say, hypotetically, that the guns were hidden under cat litter on purpose. Is there any compound that could be applied to those guns to make cat piss actually a protecting barrier? Kind of like using the chemicals on excrement and piss like a catalyst. Sorry if i'm not making any sense, i love chemistry but it alwaya struggled with the subject.

[@opawolfi]

"I have stopped trying to find logic in people's actions" that's a great statement 😄

[@dan725]

LOL. Also actually quite sage advice in life haha

[@Camera-Guy_ODST]

My experience on VR chat

[@joe125ful]

Its normal to me...

[@Jose-jl1ns]

Es por amor al arte

[@thelaughinghyenas8465]

I see a logic. The criminal was trying to hide guns in the LAST place anybody would look.

[@bobjones5674]

"I stopped trying to find logic behind people's actions" And that, right there, is the key to inner peace.

[@amazoniancustodian]

It’s not only the lack of care, but the severity IDGAF that truly unlocks inner zen.

[@joe125ful]

One of best life advice:)

[@Willy_Tepes]

But is not a constructive attitude. Understanding other people is important.

[@uncertaintytoworldpeace3650]

@@Willy_Tepes all you have convinced me is that people are confusing and attempting to understand them is futile. So just be normal man?

[@uncertaintytoworldpeace3650]

@@Willy_Tepes trying to find logic behind people's actions is not constructive? but yet it is "important". what? are you smoking?

[@myh106]

I had a summer job as a porter once, and had to dispose of a garbage bag of litter a weird cat lady put out. It was leaky and the litter was ancient, the stuff dripping out of it was the color of old motor oil and so noxious my eyes were tearing up. (as I dry heaved while trying to get it into the collection bin without getting any on me) I feel deeply sorry for whoever had to dig those guns out...

[@christianterrill3503]

Sounds like ammonia and Uriea fun stuff when in high concentration

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

I appreciate your concern 🤣

[@snowcow1173]

​@Christian Terrill weight lifters use ammonia smelling salts to get an adrenaline rush before a heavy lift

[@dclass4778]

Yeah the stuff people feed cats is honestly shit

[@Crowbars2]

2:18 - "The smell would upset NileRed himself." It couldn't have smelt _that_ bad, surely? That dude literally smelled the stinkiest compound known to man, and the stinkiest chemical mixture ever produced, and was like "It's not as bad as I would've expected."

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

hardly available and very expensive. Something that works similarly can be made from sodium EDTA and citric acid, @ElementalMaker has a great video on the topic

[@davidp.6871]

"I need to delicately active the cylinder release" Cut to a clip smashing it with a hammer and punch. Love these videos! I'm intimately familiar with the 92 so it's fascinating to watch you work on it and learn more about materials science and firearm restoration.

[@ddoherty5956]

I pissed myself at the whacking it got too 🤣🤣🤣

[@SpecialEDy]

I was emotional when I saw the hammering on the cylinder. That poor crane and yoke...

[@therogers4432]

​@@SpecialEDy That poor crane and cylinder for getting hit with a punch and hammer, or for being buried in a mixture of cat shit and cat piss for years? I feel that was time to put that poor S&W's out of its' misery because it had suffered enough...

[@DamnZodiak]

"The stench would upset NileRed himself" I've seen enough NileRed videos to know he'd react by saying "It's honestly not that bad..." while his cameraman is having a stroke.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

This is the most underrated comment on my whole channel.

[@GenX-Grampa]

A first for me! I restore old rusty firearms for a seller and have seen some crazy stuff but NEVER cat shlt! Craziest one for me to come in was after being hidden in a pack of frozen beef liver found in grandpa’s old freezer! A pair of old Walther P38s. Same guy also brought in an old plastic milk crate full of P38s found in the barn. About half of them were restorable but only a small handful ended up with all matching numbers. We built quite a few combining the best parts.

[@noturfather1106]

Wow, grandpa had quite a stash

[@Dan-et9lr]

How do you source firearms like that, I would love to get into the hobby of restoration

[@GenX-Grampa]

@@Dan-et9lr I do work for a guy that’s been doing it for a long time. He knows the son of the owner of Classic Firearms I believe. Or maybe it’s the formers owner.

[@zeneth7779]

Unexpected NileRed mention at 2:18 haha

[@KurtOnoIR]

I'm a plumber by trade, I had a customer who kept a cat box in a extra shower stall she had. The call was shower dripping. When I pulled back the curtain the ammount of damage from the ammonia in the air was extreme to say the least. I began to take the handle off, first step in seeing what type of valve it was since all markings had disappeared. Well the first step should have been to give an estimate for a new shower valve, when I turned the handle to look at the set screw it blew off in my hand with the front of the valve attached to it. Luckily it was a shower stall and I just closed the curtain and shut off the water but man. Im surprised there's anything left of that pistol.

[@johnn8223]

Honestly, this sounds like a textbook case of hoarding, which is almost always linked to profound mental illness. I hope that they're able to get into a better situation and get the help they need.

[@chrisjb241]

Well they had 2 guns that could be put into use.... probably git a few years in prison. Guns are very illegal in Europe, even non-working guns

[@RedXlV]

@@chrisjb241 Not all European countries ban handgun ownership entirely. Italy allows a citizen to own up to three "common firearms" (which encompasses all handguns and any rifles or shotguns not considered to be hunting weapons). So if these were in Italy, mere possession of the guns wouldn't have been a crime. Though that requires the having a license and registering each gun with the police, which very likely wasn't done with these.

[@poromafia]

​@@chrisjb241 Not really, in Finland you just have to go through a ton of paperwork and police bureaucracy to own a handgun.

[@paulbeck6410]

I have a S&W 2206 that was in a storm sewer for about 10 years. It was packed with dirt, sand, and mud. I had to replace the blued rear sight and the nickel plated controls but it turned out great. Especially compared to your 38 revolver.

[@User_Brandon]

That just goes to show that guns are really well built, a little bit of honest work and even seemingly extremely corroded guns can be in firing condition again. Always puts a smile on my face

[@jeanpierrepolnareff9919]

I love how you give detailed explanations of the mechanisms, corrosion and history of the guns. It's not just eye candy, it's also pretty educational

[@SMBDelse]

12:38 “I need to delicately activate the cylinder release mechanism” *proceeds to bash it maliciously with hammer*

[@jdunk6058]

"First of all, I need to delicately activate the cylinder release mechanism." *BANG*BANG*BANG*BANG*BANG lol

[@jetttaylor42069]

Holy shit dude, you blew my mind with that little trick for those stuck handle screws. I never thought about putting it in a vise with a bit and turning it with pressure that way, you are an absolute genius

[@bilbo_gamers6417]

this video was absolutely nuts. ive never seen anything this bad. it's absurd and unlike anything else on your channel. thanks for uploading!

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

nor have I!

[@theovaissie2480]

Nice rescuing work ! Hope the cats too are at very good care.

[@demonjmh]

With the state of these guns probably not. Owner was probably a Hoarder which makes me wonder how many other hoarders have perfectly good guns just sitting under junk and trash

[@Irish381]

@@demonjmh you wouldn’t be surprised if you were able to visit some parts of the southern United States and Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine . Many of these places have hoarders who are buried in waste and have some hidden treasure in the form of firearms antiques and other valuable items that are buried under tonnes of rubbish and shit.

[@demonjmh]

@@Irish381 I'm from the Midwest Chicago Detroit surrounding areas

[@Irish381]

@@demonjmh I’m in the middle area of the Appalachian Trail. I’ve got some stuff from hoarders and rental lockers and some really cool rifles and pistols that are worth their weight in gold. God Bless rednecks !

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

As far as I know the cats have been relocated and are doing fine 😉

[@hot_coldman]

The most fragrant video so far.

[@TheDaniel366Cobra]

"I needed to delicately activate the cylinder release" - Dumbledore said calmly.

[@REXOB9]

Amazing video, thanks. You must have the record for the most horribly corroded firearms. Love the humor you worked into the dialog!

[@Booze_Rooster]

Have you ever considered a manual impact driver? I ignored them for years and drilled out so many rusted and swollen recessed screws in car door hinges and small throttle linkages. Finally around to using one and now its in the top drawer of my toolbox before I escalate the level of violence on a stuck or stripped fastener.

[@arthurmoore9488]

I've been debating myself. If it's that big of a game changer I should just do it and get one.

[@Booze_Rooster]

@@arthurmoore9488 I got the Snap On one used on eBay. Tried a few ching chong ones and they don't hold up too well. The snap on one has a heavy spring and ridiculous mass behind it. I'm q mechanic who swears by using inexpensive tools whereas my coworkers all splurge at the Snap On truck. I do however in this case recommend one by them. That's where I get all of my snap on stuff

[@JaredAF]

Dude I've been looking for a 30 Luger 98 barrel here in the US for YEARS and this dude has one buried under cat sh*t!

[@arthritis1097]

this guy feel like more of a chemist than a gunsmith tbh

[@RestorationVideo]

Excellent work as always. You’ve made restorations a work of art. Outstanding

[@tristanbarnett6271]

Awesome video my friend that's still impressive that you were able to bring two of them back to fully functioning order I always enjoy your videos keep them up

[@nezzybitt99]

This video reminded me of the time that i had to help my mother (a real estate agent at the time) clean up evicted properties, one was an apartment in the worst part of town, the immediate danger was the rank stench of ammonia and yellow molded stains on the carpets...

[@abrahamcontreras9950]

Definitely enjoy your videos for all the informative things you show in them, can't wait for any new videos from you dawg

[@abitofapickle6255]

All you had to say was "Cats," "Rescue," and "Buried in cat excrement," and I knew it was in possession of a hoarder. Say no more. I've seen what hoarders can do first hand.

[@stoneycannabis7660]

i can smell this video...... i used to have an aunt who was a hoarder and hoarded cats as well so i know this smell VERY well. Good on ya for finishing the project

[@marcusott2973]

Much awaited, much appreciated excellent insights as always from you.

[@andrewbanks1175]

4:24 “I don’t know where rust ends and poop begins to be honest” I have a suggestion. Yes

[@motojumble9385]

Amazing video as always. Thanks for taking the time to film it.

[@toznerd6369]

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times,... "I don't really know where rust ends and poo begins!!!" Classic!

[@josephfloyd5008]

Awesome I've been waiting for another video you do incredible work!

[@NikoMoraKamu]

i really loved the vice technic , deffintily i will use it! thanks for the great job!

[@miloradkrstic5133]

Bellissimo Backyard Ballistics, superb like allways !!!! GRANDE SALUTTI !!!

[@downlowgo_401]

Using the vice to apply force to the flat bit is genius ! Thank you sir

[@luxo4619]

These firearms look like the starter weapons of a rougelike videogame.

[@Bob-qk2zg]

So many of the "restoration" videos are faked with "corrosion" painted or sprayed on a perfectly functional firearm. It's good to see a true expert at work.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Well, in a sense, these were "sprayed" as well. Just not with paint. And not by a human 🤣

[@desired397]

OH BOY. Another Backyard Ballistics video. Happy day.

[@carstennelson4830]

Always great stuff.. most impressive.. it has been a while since content... more please.. thank you for all you do

[@therogers4432]

Yup... 👆THIS👆

[@pinjohnston3706]

Dude I love your videos. As always, thank you fot taking tha time to make them

[@999wilf999]

My guess is that someone thought: "Where can I hide these guns that no-one would look?" and forgot the vital role that a ziploc bag plays in this scenario. I would probably have started by boiling the whole lot in bleach. Wouldn't have helped with the restoration, but they'd be sterile after!

[@garywemmer9342]

Hahahahahaha!!!

[@nerd1000ify]

Bleach and steel (even stainless) don't mix. You don't want to know what it looked like when my lab mates left a stainless spoon to marinate in 37% bleach for a few weeks...

[@scottcates]

@@nerd1000ify Moar chlorides🤪

[@timmeisburger3808]

Great work! Thank you for another interesting video.

[@1leggeddog]

The science stuff at the start with the bullets was pretty cool and insightful! ty

[@adamb8054]

Thank you for restoring these items, it is a peace of mind knowing these guns are kept in better condition than what they were

[@Cheezwizzz]

You can sleep easy 🙄

[@hinz1]

The Bernardelli might have been a good subject for electrolytic rust removal, since it even removes the deepest rust pockets. Normal citric/phosphoric acid bath is nice for removing surface rust, electricity and hydrogen cracks the rust even from deepest corrosion pits.

[@marc-andreservant201]

Your French pronunciation is quite good. As a Canadian, this video hits close to home, as the devastation of salt rich solutions on exposed steel is visible every winter. Corrosion is the price we pay to prevent collisions.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Merci Beaucoup!

[@daveburnette2792]

As a matter of interest, why did you choose to speak French and not Italian ? By the way, your English is absolutely incredible, if I may say so.@@Backyard.Ballistics

[@andytripp2002]

love all your videos anyways, but this one was special for me as i collect beretta 92's. thanks for always putting so much information in your vids!

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@neilfriesland634]

Excellent episode. Science and entertainment, what more could one want?

[@miketeeveedub5779]

There's an old expression: "Cat got your tongue?" - in this case it's "Cat got your pistols!" Both left me speechless! Amazing how destructive cat urine/excrement is.

[@Cloudstrife112233]

Great video, as always.

[@ChrisLee-UK]

I can only imagine how bad that litter tray of delights must have smelled! Nice work getting 2 of the 3 functioning again :)

[@JD-tl7ld]

Litter house you mean.

[@ChrisLee-UK]

@@JD-tl7ld we call them litter trays here in the UK 👍🏼 but same thing I’m sure.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

Ciao, Carlo. Excellent video. I sincerely hope those serial numbers don't throw any distubing results. Loved many of the one-liners you pulled on this one. Sad to see the Bernardelli in such a state but two out of three is no mean feat. Truly amazed at how corroded some of the aluminum areas were. I knew of a local case where an ex-con wrapped a big iron in a used baby diaper and into the trash bin it went. He'd used it for a couple of robberies but got ID'ed. Police came to his house and found it anyway. Hilarious and disgusting, Cheers.

[@acomingextinction]

Not sure that this is what *I* would call a "special treat". You're suffering for your art. But good on animal welfare for rescuing the cats, and good on you for rescuing the guns.

[@firefly8464]

Hey, another great video! All the best from the UK

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

All the best to you! 😉

[@OyvindRyeng]

Great work and video!

[@Pabooney701]

13:40 I found that laughter extremely relatable. I often find myself chuckling in disbelief when even the smallest things in a large problem don't work as expected.

[@SUBARCTICPSYCHO]

The uncommon and often forgotten S&W model 65, which lived in the shadow of its more popular brother the model 66, and its mighty cousins of the model 686 series, found wallowing in feline fecal matter where it was abandoned long ago. Very sad.

[@bullgravy6906]

I had a chance to get a 3” 65, but instead traded for an unfired Ruger 1V Liberty in 7 mag.

[@jonmcclane7433]

After months of not touching my Beretta I decided to take it out of my gun safe tonight and rack the slide, check the magazine, and just marvel at its beauty. It’s a 2016 model 92FS. And then just minutes later here I am randomly finding your video of you bringing one back to life. They’re great guns, I have a video of mine on my channel along with 2 other Beretta models. They’re great guns. I enjoyed your video.

[@nou1178]

😭 Povera Beretta! Ottimo video, mai visto un restauro così particolare!

[@bebop_557]

You know this man means business when he skips the "I didn't ask" entirely and goes straight to the "it can't be tight if it's a liquid" torch for a stuck magazine.

[@alexkeeton2800]

Oof, I can smell this video 🤢🤢 Nice work as always!

[@anotherjones5384]

"I don't really know where rust ends and poo begins to be honest." Not something I thought I'd hear today 😂

[@mendfi5427]

The "canon au pipi de chat" caught me off guard haha

[@gustavogarcia3515]

Excellent, as always!

[@scottrobinson3281]

The best firearm restoration channel on YT! Have you ever tried Evaporust or MC21?

[@MoldyStir-Fry]

Watching you work on the Beretta reminds me that I need to clean and oil my Beretta 1951. Hopefully you have the opportunity to fully restore these guns after the case is completed.

[@bruceleeroy_902]

So, don’t store my guns in litter boxes?

[@BOEING--mh6xm]

I pull my phone out just to see the notification for this now I’m watching it in class lmao

[@TheTman9898]

Even cats stay strapped

[@nickwilkinson7728]

Love the channel, you are like a gun scientist.

[@cassiusbyrfors]

Great as always, thanks! RIP the bernardelli..

[@sillysongs19]

you are a credit to your profession. Thank you for the video

[@johnmoore8599]

Well, two out of three was a pretty excellent result in this case! What an amazing and diligent recovery. I think most people wouldn't have even tried. You could have written a thesis on this.

[@Anonymous-ks8el]

That is an amazing deep blue on the ammo 3:18, at any point in history did anyone expose metals to urine in order to produce colourful substances? I wouldn't be surprised if that's how a substance or process was accidentally discovered.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

unfortunately for a dye or pigment to be useful most of the times it has to be insoluble in water, and copper salts are usually soluble. Actually if I remember right the blue color is caused by the bonds between copper ions and water molecules. Pure anhydrous copper sulfate is white. Upon exposure to moisture in the air it gets hydrated taking the typical blue color.

[@happynightmaremonster488]

I love how this project was: derust, beat with a hammer, derust, beat with a hammer, repeat

[@toddodell2904]

Apparently some people don’t care about the value and protection of some firearms and it’s a shame that good quality firearms like these are nearly ruined. I myself clean and oil my own property. I bought a Taurus PT99AF from a pawn shop a few years back. It had a nickel finish and was yellow in color and it needed a lot of work but with a good soaking and cleaning it is now one my best firearms. Yearly I go through my collection and clean and oil then store them in water tight cases.

[@timblack6422]

Extremely interesting. Thank you!

[@brandensmith9025]

I know you wont see this but the way you restore the firearms on your channel have stared use it you have save a lot of historic firearms I own from scrap I just want to say thanks

[@davidvisser4446]

I have nothing with guns but as an engineer i find these video's awesome. Great explanations!

[@andersjjensen]

2:18 EPIC! A shout-out to Nile Red is always proper form!

[@mikeygross8619]

That smith and Wesson revolver was made right down the street from me in America haha interesting videos sir, have a nice day

[@Terabit3]

You are an absolute wizard, man. I thought those guns were done for

[@PantsReduction]

I learned very much about electrolysis from this video, thank you.

[@xXVintersorgXx]

What's the difference between your rust bluing and the cold bluing solutions that are commercially available? Just curious. I have no experience with these things. Sorry if you've explained this in other videos

[@alexfurst1397]

Your sense of humor adds to what would otherwise be very dry, yet interesting, content. I am curious as to why the operability of the guns is useful information for judicial matters but assume it particularly relates to Italian gun laws.

[@M.M.83-U]

Illegal possession is a very serious crime here, but it do not apply to permanently inoperable weapons.

[@rebralhunter6069]

When the case is done and dusted will it eventually become public info? I'm not at all familiar with Italian laws. This video leaves me with more questions than answers and I really hope details will end up being made public to hopefully answer a few things.

[@peteraugust5295]

Sounds to me like they found the weapons and prosecutors wanted to know if they were capable of being discharged, since the owner was probably not in posession of the necessary licenses. If that is the case, I feel bad for the owner, as mario would turn a rusted can of tuna from the 60s back into shooting condition;)

[@rebralhunter6069]

@@peteraugust5295 yeah that's my assumption as well. And you're right, that man can work magic. I'm just curious about some of the minor details. Did they belong to a mafioso who retired and became a crazy cat lady? Or maybe it was just some crazy cat Lady who was holding onto the guns for a mafioso friend? My imagination is running wild lol

[@neb_setabed]

Just commenting in case someone updates us on this down the road

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

this was just a minor case, and was the result of mental illness and not criminal intent as far as I know. Legal consequences in these cases are very mild

[@rebralhunter6069]

@@Backyard.Ballistics thanks for the details!

[@aaront4494]

It is so impressive/ somewhat scary that you (or whoever) actually fired these after all the damage they had. It shows the resilience of these tools (weapons). And the fact that it takes someone of your talent to even get them to a “functional” status makes me feel safer. Because the likelihood of the common person doing this much work to try and get these working is just not going to happen except for maybe in the most extreme of situations.

[@AppliedCryogenics]

I love that brilliant blue of copper nitrate on some areas of the the cartridges.

[@wioras603]

Sculpturing in sh**t :) This is the only restoration content related channel I respect and subscribe. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Good job!

[@AbananaPEEl]

I saw your thumbnail and at first thought it was one of those fake channels! Then I saw it was you! That gun is MESSY. I used to work in disaster restoration and I can smell and feel the cat pee soaked ammo boxes now.

[@texturk6092]

I live in Texas and my step father served in the marine corps. If he were alive and saw the condition of these firearms he’d certainly have a stroke. I’m glad I was raised to take very good care of my firearms.

[@rickcimino5483]

really cool....thanks for posting

[@sickbale]

A.K.A. "Le pistole ar piscio de gatto"

[@kyushoar]

great! i learn a lot with this videos. thank you!

[@jotveerkhangura4109]

Nice video, I hope you do a restoration on a Type 99 Arisaka one of these days 👍

[@randomargument972]

You can remove rust using anode and CAThode, if you know what i mean. 🙃

[@SpecialEDy]

I use a Rotary Tumbler designed for cleaning brass cartridges to strip firearms. Warm Water, Dish Soap, and Acetic Acid or Citric Acid, same as with brass. You can use the Stainless Steel Pin media, is is softer than firearms steel, it doesnt damage brass and it wont damage firearm's steel. Franklin Arsenal Rotary Tumbler (the F.A.R.T.) is what I use. Toss the chemicals, SS pins, and firearm in, run for 3 hours, and you'll get a spotless, stripped, rust free firearm out.