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The St. Valentine's Day Massacre Guns in Las Vegas


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Greetings all:

 

I recently spoke with Lt. Mike Kline of the Berrien County, Michigan, Sheriff's Department and learned that he and Sheriff L. Paul Bailey will be traveling to the Mob Museum this February 14th for the 2nd Anniversary of the opening of the museum. Mike will be giving a series of lectures on February 14th and 15th on the guns used in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. For those who weren't aware, the two guns were discovered in Stevensville, Michigan in December of 1929 and were conclusively proven to be the murder weapons by noted firearms expert Calvin Goddard. I would encourage anyone in the Las Vegas area that has not seen the guns to stop by and catch Mike's presentation. Below is the link to the Mob Museum web site and press announcement:

 

http://themobmuseum.org/archives/2013/03/24/friday-feb-14-the-perfect-st-valentines-day/

 

The American Thompson Association (TATA) was the first gun collector's association to have access to and display the guns in 2006 at Tracie Hill's Annual Show and Shoot. Since that initial display, which TATA members were instrumental in creating, Mike has visited several gun shows and other venues displaying the guns and giving lectures.

 

As the current president of The American Thompson Association, I will be joining Mike in Las Vegas to lend a hand and promote interest in our organization. If you are a Thompson aficionado, gun collector or gangster buff and live in the Las Vegas area, please stop by and see Mike's historic and educational exhibit.

 

Hope to see you there.

 

Chuck Schauer

President

The American Thompson Association

TATA Logo.jpg

Edited by gijive
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Hey guys, just make sure you make it back from LV. We need ya in Indy. After seeing what happens in Granville, I can't imagine what Vegas would be like.

 

Very cool to hear about that display. I would love to go, but don't think I could clear a trip to Vegas with(out) the boss.

 

- Ron

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Phil,

 

None of that for me, although I know the wife will be occupying her time playing the slots. She just doesn't dig Fred "Killer" Burke, although her mother's family name is Burke. Maybe she doesn't like to acknowledge the black sheep of the family?

 

Ron,

 

Bring the boss along. After all it is Valentine's Day weekend.

 

Don't worry, we'll be back for Indianapolis. In this case, what happens in Vegas won't be staying in Vegas, the guns are only on a two-day loan. :happy:

Edited by gijive
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  • 2 weeks later...

Kinda strange thinking that the last time those guns were in front of that wall was 85 years ago. How was the event Chuck? Wish I could have been there. Hopefully all went without a hitch getting the guns there and back to St. Joe. I know Mike was a little apprehensive.

 

Ron

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Hey Ron,

 

Everything went fine. yes, Mike was concerned, but it turned out okay. The schedule was exhausting for Mike, since he had several presentations daily. I didn't have to be around that much so I got to enjoy a little bit of Las Vegas. Sorry about screwing up the picture, I tried sending it from my cell phone while I was at the airport and couldn't figure out how to adjust the picture rotation from the phone. I have some additional pictures (in the correct position) I'll post as soon as I upload them from my camera. The crowds were fantastic the two days of the exhibition. Some of the employees were saying it was as big or bigger than the museum opening last year. The people were lined up down the block to get into the museum.

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http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp227/Colt1928/Mob%20Museum%202014/MobMuseum2014-4.jpg

 

The infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre Guns.

 

 

 

 

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp227/Colt1928/Mob%20Museum%202014/IMG_2077.jpg

 

Undersheriff Mike Heit and Lt. Mike Kline set-up for the Press Conference on February 14th.

 

 

 

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp227/Colt1928/Mob%20Museum%202014/IMG_2127.jpg

 

Undersheriff Mike Heit of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department assisted Mike Kline with the display and answers questions from the enthusiastic onlookers.

 

 

 

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp227/Colt1928/Mob%20Museum%202014/MobMuseum2014-69.jpg

 

 

Mike and myself in front of the brick wall from the garage at 2122 N. Clark St.

 

 

 

 

 

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp227/Colt1928/MobMuseum2014-68.jpghttp://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp227/Colt1928/MobMuseum2014-64.jpg

Mike Kline during one of the several presentations he did over two days. The presentation pictured was in a former courtroom of the building which had, in past years,housed the Federal Courthouse and Post Office. This courtroom severed as the setting for one of the several Kefauver Hearings on Organized Crime in the early 1950's.

 

 

 

 

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  • 11 months later...

I spoke with Lt. Kilne this weekend, and he informed me that the Mob Museum had invited him back out this year on St Valentine's day to do another round of presentations.

 

If you missed it the first time, now is your chance!!!

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Wow,

What a great thread Chuck!!

-Darryl

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I thought the serials were ground off these weapons,it looks to me like they are still there.

 

They were ground off one of the weapons (the one with the compensator), the other gun has the serial number intact.

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While You're in LAS anyway, why not drive the extra hour to Pahrump, NV, for a machinegun course at Front Sight? They provide the gun (Uzi, in my case) and sell you the ammo. I was very pleased with the conduct of this course and the skills that I acquired.

 

https://www.frontsight.com/courses/uzi-submachine-gun-training-2.asp

 

I have no affiliation with Front Sight.

Edited by TSMGguy
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