Search For Dillinger's Death Gun, Colt .380 Pocket Pistol

[OCM]

This is a very interesting story that Larry Wack put together, about the Colt pocket pistol that Dillinger had on him when killed.

We have old photos of it taken the next day and published in the many newspapers around the world-

The big problem is it completely disappeared. For many years a pistol was displayed at the FBI headquarters, claiming to be the famous Dillinger Colt- Wrong. A good historian discovered it belonged to Verne Miller, not John Dillinger via Colt records-

Anyway, let Larry tell you the story- Very interesting reading-

Note: the Dillinger gun had the numbers scratched off, by Dillinger probably. When the FBI did the original display, they welded the slide to the receiver ( I know ) so it can't be taken apart to check numbers. Dr. Fox and I think Larry decided not to damage the pistol anymore, as the numbers probably wouldn't make a big historical difference. Larry said the pistol is or will be on display at the new FBI museum.

 

Side note : this is my .380 Colt, it's the identical gun that Dillinger had on him when killed. This one was manufactured in early 1934. It's absolutely mint.

B&W photo is the Dillinger Colt taken in 1934, I think.

 

http://historicalgme...ARCH%20copy.pdf

 

Or this if that doesn't open:

http://historicalgme...ngers-gun-from/

 

Wasn't opening for some folks- sorry

 

Sit back and enjoy, it's a fun read-

 

OCM

Edited March 10, 2013 by OCM

[ghostsoldier]

Excellent read from Larry's site, Sandy...and awesome .380 you have there!

Rob

[darrylta]

Sandy,

I hope you know you'll be causing me problems next week, maybe you can steer clear of the DC area

 

I'm looking at a carbon copy of your 380 semi, when did you buy yours and how much did it set you back?

 

Thanks,

Darryl

[OCM]

Sandy,

I hope you know you'll be causing me problems next week, maybe you can steer clear of the DC area

 

I'm looking at a carbon copy of your 380 semi, when did you buy yours and how much did it set you back?

 

Thanks,

Darryl

 

I don't know anymore how much stuff they have or will have on display at the new museum. When the Sheriffs, Larry & I ran after the JD Thompsons, stuff had been shifted all over the place, to & from Tucson, the old PDs etc. all in those old posts on the subject. As I recall the Thompsons have been deactivated too, whatever that means , possibly welded shut or something.

I know we sometimes diss the FBI for how they treat stuff, but the families really destroyed a lot of stuff. A lot was tossed by them. It's family so it's a different thing .

I think Larry said they had the 380 there now and the Dunrite vest on display.

I don't know how much of my collection the NMCP has out, they have a lot of stuff warehoused still, a LOT.

Enjoy your trip-

 

PM on ther gun.

 

Sandy

[darrylta]

Hurricane Sandy

[OCM]

Hurricane Sandy

 

Hey, hope you guys & gals living back there are OK. News looks like it could get nasty. Secure those Thompsons , oh, wife too of course.

May sign off as OCM for awhile I guess, Sandy may be a 4 letter word back there.

 

Be safe !

 

OCM

[OCM]

Sandy,

I hope you know you'll be causing me problems next week, maybe you can steer clear of the DC area

 

I'm looking at a carbon copy of your 380 semi, when did you buy yours and how much did it set you back?

 

Thanks,

Darryl

 

You get it ? Nifty Colt. I'm on a FBI Super 38 from the era. We'll see. One of the 1930s outlaw guns, I've never owned, was the Krags. Only because Barrow stole one and is pictured with it.

 

OCM

[darrylta]

Sandy,

I'm thankful to say that the DC area was pretty much spared by hurricane Sandy, a category 1 storm.

I can't imagine the horror that would have transpired if it had been a category 5 hurricane.

I'm a survivor of Hurricane Hugo and owned a home on James Island near Charleston SC when it hit.

The carnage from these CAt 5 storms is like a shock & awe experience.

 

As far as the 380 semi, I elected to pass on it. A fellow Colt Forum buddy of mine had started bidding

on it and I elected to not get in his way. It went to a great home and owner.

 

Thanks for asking,

Darryl

[OCM]

Darryl-
More out there of course, you'll find it.You already got a Colt Monitor, everything else is downhill- Haaaaaaaaaaaaa. The closest original gun- thing I had was a XX box magazine from the Dillinger collection in Tucson. I've inquired about borrowing it back to fire 30 rds thru my 28 Navy, same as one they found in Tucson, from the Racine robbery.

I called the head of the DC museum, to check on things, she said they were fine. Lot of one- of- a- kind historical pieces from my collection on display and not just in the National Museum of Crime & Punishment but the rest around the DC Mall too. History, Aviation, medical etc. Be horrible if a storm took those out. Gone forever.

Pictured here is the original Dillinger Colt 380 in Washington DC and the Dillinger Thompson magazine from Tucson and a piece of tile from the house he was arrested at in Tucson.

Sandy

Edited December 20, 2014 by OCM

[gijive]

OCM,

 

Sandy, you mean XX (twenty) round magazine from Tuscon, right? You typed XXX in your post.

[OCM]

OCM,

 

Sandy, you mean XX (twenty) round magazine from Tuscon, right? You typed XXX in your post.

 

Yep XX. sorry. Firing 20 rds through my 28N. ( age, Chuck, age )

Edited November 9, 2012 by OCM