People are loving this Cape Cod magnet fisher’s latest find

Local News

The YouTuber says he found the derringer in a case that looked “brand new,” drawing attention online.

A Cape Cod magnet fisher made an unexpected discovery earlier this month when he pulled a derringer pistol — still sealed inside a case — from a river in Bridgewater.

Nate DeMontigny, creator of the YouTube channel Cape Cod Magnet Crew, shared the find in a March 12 video that has since drawn more than 1,700 views.

At first, DeMontigny said he didn’t think much of the small case he retrieved — only that it looked like a makeup case due to its size. 

“Honestly, at first, I didn’t even think of trying to open it,” he told Boston.com. “I was like, ‘This is probably garbage.’” 

That changed when he knocked the case against a nearby bridge, and it popped open, revealing “a rather pristine-looking pistol,” DeMontigny said. 

“That case did an amazing job keeping that thing in good shape,” he said. “It looked brand new, even though the case looked like it had been sitting in there for 30 years or so.” 

Despite the case appearing as though it had been submerged for decades, the gun itself showed little wear. DeMontigny said its stainless steel construction likely helped prevent corrosion.

Upon finding the pistol, DeMontigny said he immediately contacted police, who retrieved the firearm and documented it. DeMontigny said he has been advised to report any non-antique weapons he finds while magnet fishing. 

While he has recovered guns before, this one stood out. 

“For me, it was excitement — not because it was necessarily a gun, but because of its uniqueness,” he said. 

Derringer-style pistols date back to the 19th century and are believed to be the type of weapon used in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, DeMontigny noted. 

The discovery quickly gained traction online. DeMontigny initially shared photos on a magnet fishing subreddit, where the post gained about 1.2 million views within two days, he said. 

“I’ve never had anything happen like that,” he added. 

As the images spread, DeMontigny said other users began reposting his photos on social media, claiming they were theirs. 

DeMontigny said he launched his YouTube channel after the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired by his children’s interest in magnet fishing videos. His audience grew significantly in 2024 after he documented the discovery of bomb remnants in a Needham river. 

Since then, he said, the channel has built a loyal following centered on removing debris from local waterways. 

“We built a pretty good community around our channel, and we have a lot of people that have been following us now for years,” DeMontigny said. “They’re excited — not only for the find itself, but for us to be recognized for the work that we’re doing out here.”