LOT #57676 |
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The Dillinger Family Sporting Arms.... (Total: 4 Items)
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Sold on Dec 12, 2009 for:
$8,962.50
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Description
Likely the first gun John Dillinger ever fired and the first gun he personally owned.
The Dillinger Family Sporting Arms. The group includes four guns as follows:(1) Circa 1870 side hammer, single barrel, percussion 16 gauge shotgun that was the property of John Dillinger's grandfather. Completely unmarked, metal generally smooth and dark with some pitting around the nipple. Mechanically fine, brass ramrod ferrules and band, brass tipped hickory ramrod. Iron forend tip and butt plate. Walnut stocks fine with some decorative carving.
(2) Circa 1900 double barrel outside hammer 12 gauge shotgun that was the property of John Dillinger Sr. Marked A. Richard on the locks, Laminated Steel Belgium on the rib, #23868. Metal generally smooth and gray, action fine, bores excellent. Checkered pistol grip and forestock. Wood very good with one chip on the toe of the butt.
(3) Circa 1890 Flobert lift block action, 8mm long, rifle, held by family tradition to be the first gun young John Dillinger ever fired. Marked Belgium on the top of the barrel with additional Belgian proofs at the breech. 24" octagon barrel with very good bore, mechanically fine. Gun overall with smooth dark patina, wood fine with checkered pistol grip. Iron furniture, including typical elaborate Flobert trigger guard. These rifles represented a cheap alternative to more expensive American arms, and were produced and imported in large quantities from the late 19th through the early 20th centuries.
(4) Fox-Sterlingworth 16 Gauge double barrel shotgun #352518, manufactured 1915, and the first gun owned by John Dillinger, having been purchased for him by his father. Dillinger was twelve or thirteen years old when his father presented him with this field grade Sterlingworth, the slightly smaller gauge, as compared to his father's 12, doubtless representative of Dillinger's youth. The gun retains 95% of the original bright blue on the barrels, the engraved frame smooth and gray. Mint bores, mechanically fine. The stocks have been replaced and the rear of the trigger guard broken as the result of the gun being struck by lightning, circa 1920. Dillinger's youngest brother, Hubert, hand crafted the stocks that are now on the gun, and added the recoil pad, while John was serving his term in Indiana State Prison, circa 1930. Frances Helen recalls John returning from hunting expeditions, using this gun, with rabbits, which her mother would prepare for one of the family's favorite meals, "fried rabbit."
Accompanied by a detailed letter of provenance and lineage, including serial numbers, from Frances Helen Thompson (Dillinger).
For more information on the history of this Dillinger lot, please click here.
Auction Info
2009 December Signature Arms & Militaria Including Civil War Auction #6021 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2009
12th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,829
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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