5 replies to this topic

[Murray]

For any one who is interested I took some photos of the 1921AC Colt
which once belonged to the Douglas County Sheriff and now resides in Auckland, New Zealand, (the gun, that is. not the Sheriff!)



The gun serial number is 5413 and was sold by the Law Enforcement
Ordnance Co Athens, Georgia on the 30th December 1974 for $2100.00 along with another identical gun number 3089 to a dealer in Christchurch New Zealand, from whom The current owner obtained it. The second gun, number 3089 has "disappeared"

It is engraved "Douglas County Sheriff, Omaha Nebr"

See Gordon Herigstad's book "Colt Thompsons" Serial Numbers.

The gun is engraved as below


It is also engraved under the stock catch.



Unfortunatly, the drum is a West Hurly 39Rd which is all the owner was able to purchase at the time. I will see if we can get him a colt drum.
Very nice and desirable Thompson with an interesting history.

I hope you might be interested.

Regards
Murray.

[hawksnest]

WOW!

[Walter63a]

Thanks for sharing this piece of history Murray! I only wish it could be imported to the U.S. and that I could legally own it in New York State. Outstanding! Regards, Walter

[Murray]

Yes, It is an outstanding gun.
The American history is equally interesting, for (please correctly me if if I am wrong,) but did not a "slightly built red head girl called Bonnie Parker and her boy friend a Mr C. Barrow hang out in Nebraska.
I know they prefered a BAR but the law enforcement used Mr Thompson's guns.
Regards
Murray

[Poprivit]

I was a gun writer for a number of years and got to interview Marie Barrow, Clyde's younger sister, in conjunction with a gun
auction at Butterfield & Butterfield in San Francisco a few years ago. She said, "Clyde was always helping the family, and Bonnie
was a sweet lady, very nice." When asked about B&C's bad habits, she said "I don't know anything about that.
They were always very nice and loving to me." Never could get her to talk about their demise.
Very interesting interview. One of Clyde's stolen 1911 .45 Colts with his name scratched on the slide, went for $175,000.
I put it down rather quickly. His death shirt went for $40,000 - blood and holes included.

[Murray]

Poprivit,
Many thanks for that little "snippit" of history about Bonnie and Clyde.
I have always lusted after the Douglas County Sheriff gun but the owner
does not want to sell it at any price. Still, I do get to hold it often.
My own three 1921 Colt's would welcome it into my gun room but I dont think that will be for some time.
Regards
Murray.