Christie's expecting six-figure bid for Al Capone's revolver
The auction for gangster Al Capone's six-shot revolver is expected to draw bids in the neighborhood of $100,000.
June 21st, 2011
02:53 PM ET

Christie's expecting six-figure bid for Al Capone's revolver

Eliot Ness would probably be a little annoyed to see his nemesis's revolver drawing six-figure bids.

The Prohibition agent of "Untouchables" fame spent about two years trying to nail Al Capone and his murderous cabal, only to see the Chicago gangster dodge charges of smuggling, bootlegging, prostitution or, if we're pointing fingers in the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre (we aren't), much worse.

Capone eventually went down on tax evasion charges stemming from a separate investigation. The seven years and change that the mobster spent in prison ultimately were his undoing; he died about seven years after his 1939 release.

Now, more than six decades following Capone's death, one of his belongings is drawing the cult fascination that so often accompanies the appurtenances of gangsters, psychos and other monumental miscreants.

Christie's, the world-famous auction house, is selling Capone's .38 special, a "police-positive" Colt nickel-plated, six-shot double-action revolver. It also has a handsome checkered walnut grip.

Christie's expects the winning bidder to cough up between $80,600 and $112,840. Hardly an offer you can't refuse. A similar firearm sans the Scarface pedigree would run you a few hundred dollars.

Scarface, at his 1931 tax evasion trial.

In a world where U.S. marshals snap up a quarter-mil selling the Unabomber's stuff and where Charles Manson's artwork and serial killer John Wayne Gacy's clown paintings pull mad scratch, is anyone surprised? Murderauction.com and serialkillersink.com are viable business opportunities, after all.

The auction listing for the Brooklyn-born mob boss's pistol says that Madeleine Capone Morichetti, wife of Capone's brother, Ralph, explained in a 1976 letter to Edmund Koeski that Ralph "Bottles" Capone wanted Koeski to have the gun upon Bottles' death. The letter further described the weapon as "a gun which previously belonged to and was used only Al Capone while he was alive."

Morichetti also stated in a 1990 affidavit, which cites the gun's serial number, that Bottles got the gun from his little brother.

So, it's the genuine article, Christie's is saying.

The auction house opens bidding on the gat Wednesday in London. This would make a fine addition to the decor of any local speakeasy.

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Filed under: Celebrity • Crime • History • Illinois • U.S. • United Kingdom • World
soundoff (55 Responses)
  1. stewie

    All the pictures I've seen of him I'd don't remember him wearing a hat, I'm sure he did at times though. If you're referring to the movie Tombstone they did do a wonderful job with wardrobe on that movie.

    June 21, 2011 at 6:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • Guest

      Strange, most of his most infamous pictures are with a hat! Google him and look at images!

      June 22, 2011 at 9:58 am | Report abuse |
  2. Pat

    It's Capone's pistol because his crooked little brother says so, lol.

    June 21, 2011 at 6:58 pm | Report abuse |
  3. stewie

    CSnSC, Is it a 45 caliber? Also thanks for the info.

    June 21, 2011 at 7:14 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Mario Gomes

    I hardly would believe that it's Al's gun. It may have came from Ralph Capone, but that's about it. The price is insane!!

    June 21, 2011 at 7:38 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Jim NYC

    Pretty much the same as the Colt Metropolitan, 38 Police Special. Six rounds, four inch heavy duty barrell. If memory serves me, the difference was a shroud at the ejector rod. The Metropolitan was one of two choices when I went on the Police Department in the early seventies. The other was the Smith & Wesson Model 10, Military and Police. Most of us selected that. A good firearm. It saved me a few times, has some holster wear, from being drawn, but the action got smoother the more ammo I put through it. It cost me $67, and I've had it for 37 years.

    June 21, 2011 at 8:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Hi

      I have my dads 1949 S&W M&P Model 10.. Pretty good gun for the 45 dollars the NYPD made him pay for it.. 61 Years old and fires like brand new..

      BTW, the are relatives of Al Capone's still living in Brooklyn..

      June 22, 2011 at 5:10 am | Report abuse |
  6. Riff*Raff

    This gun will make a fortune. If someone paid $14k for the Unabombers sweatie used hoodie and sunglasses, and $400 for Madoff's used underwear they'll get at least $100k for Capone's gun. This country is full of people with money and no sense.

    June 21, 2011 at 8:27 pm | Report abuse |
  7. kim

    The hat was nice. The gun is a part of history but I would fear it was cursed or something if a museum brought it I would take a look at it but the gun was just a instrument that a killer used. People collect guns all the time and this one has a very interesting past. We all know who these gangster where even today. They where not nice people but they change the face of law and help form the FBI. There just somethings that set events into motion that change the way thing where done there no denying that!

    June 21, 2011 at 9:02 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Rayster123

    The gun should have been destroyed before. Anyway, people always look for ways to profit from something of long ago, even if it was the soul of a demon, they will sell it! And some lunatic is always willing to buy. Talk about root of all evil.

    June 21, 2011 at 10:53 pm | Report abuse |
  9. jj

    haters without a future!

    June 22, 2011 at 2:58 am | Report abuse |
  10. jj

    try typing the animal racune the correct way hahaha

    June 22, 2011 at 3:04 am | Report abuse |
  11. jj

    rakoon lol

    June 22, 2011 at 3:05 am | Report abuse |
  12. jj

    its all the MO rackoons getting the attn now a days i like girls but CNN wont write a story @ me... why doesnt CNN love me too??? i said rackoon!

    June 22, 2011 at 3:22 am | Report abuse |
  13. Jim NYC

    Memory is faulty. There is no shroud for the ejector rod on the Colt Metropolitan

    June 22, 2011 at 9:20 am | Report abuse |
  14. Qiro Justien

    7th suggestion, look into getting a handful of colleagues overseas. Spots such as "Brickwork" tend to be firms offering virtual helpers and also scientists in order to meet your needs. re-pointing London

    January 13, 2012 at 11:32 pm | Report abuse |
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