Dillinger's Derringer Sells at Auction for $95,000

There are few bank robbers more infamous than John Dillinger who was shot dead by FBI agents in 1934. A pistol that had once belonged to him sold at auction for almost $100,000. Read all about this odd purchase by a private collector in Los Angeles.

According to news sources, a private gun collector in Los Angeles has purchased a small pistol belonging to John Dillinger at more than double the pre-sale estimate of $35,000. The Remington .41 calibre Double Derringer (known as the Dillinger Derringer) was said to have been hidden in one of Dillinger’s socks when he was arrested in Tuscon, Arizona, in January of 1934. The chain of ownership has been well-documented according to Dennis Lowe of the Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. Affidavits attest that the pistol was taken from Dillinger and given to the then Tuscon sheriff to a probation officer who kept it in the family until 1959 when he then sold it. The owner, who wished to remain anonymous, sold the gun through the auction gallery because he was in declining health and in need of funds. It was a surprise to everyone that the infamous pistol netted more than double what was expected. One of the most infamous bank robbers of the 1930s, John Dillinger’s infamy has reached iconic proportions. Emulating a career criminal who robbed banks for a living seems a poor choice for a hero and yet oddly, "status" is there and cannot be denied. Dillinger’s exploits have inspired several movies and films, the most recent being “Public Enemies” in which actor, Johnny Dep portrays the notorious bank robber. What is wrong with our society that we emulate people like this?