Bid On Dillinger's Derringer
This past weekend many people went to see Johnny Depp as John Dillinger in "Public Enemies," spiking renewed interest in the gangster. That makes it perfect time to float a piece of Dillinger memorabilia on the market. The small pistol gangster John Dillinger was carrying hidden in a sock when he was arrested in Tucson, Arizona 75 years ago, six months before he was shot and killed in Chicago, will be up for bid at Heritage Auctions in Dallas (and online) on July 25.
The Remington .41 caliber Double Derringer was confiscated from Dillinger when he and members of his gang were taken into custody in 1934. According to Dennis Lowe, Director of Militaria at Heritage Auction Galleries, the gun ended up in the hands of Tucson Sheriff, John Belton who gave it to Deputy Probation Officer, Evelyn B. Jenney. Jenney's son, William LeBaron Jenney III, sold it to the current owner in 1959, who has held on to the gun for 50 years. The seller wishes to remain anonymous but is said to have put the piece up for sale because he is in poor health. The gun has been shown to friends and family over the years but never was never publicly displayed. The pistol is expected to sell for $35,000 or more.
UPDATE: This gun sold for $95,650 at auction to a Los Angeles area collector.
