Al Capone’s Favorite Gun Hits the Auction Block

Al Capone’s Colt 1911 is up for auction! (Photo: Richmond Auctions)

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Get ready, history buffs! Al Capone’s beloved “Sweetheart,” a Colt 1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol, is up for grabs.

With an estimated value between $2 million and $3 million, the starting bid kicks off at a cool $500,000!

This piece isn’t just any firearm. It’s a significant slice of Americana, famously named “Sweetheart” by Capone himself.

The notorious gangster, often dubbed “The Most Shot at Man in America,” credited this gun with saving his life numerous times during the roaring Prohibition era.

The Colt has been a Capone family heirloom for nearly 75 years, passing from Al to his wife Mae, then to their son Sonny—a marksman who upgraded it for precision and speed—and finally to his daughters, Diane and Barbara Capone.

Rich in history, this pistol comes with a full package of provenance, including a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Al Capone’s granddaughter, Diane Capone Pette, in April 2024.

The buyer will also receive a notarized Letter of Provenance detailing the gun’s history and a Colt Historical Archive letter confirming its 1912 origins.

SEE ALSO: The Guns of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre: Al Capone Gets Away with Murder

This unique offering was initially a commercial model, boasting a 5-inch barrel equipped with a Micro barrel bushing and target-style sights for accuracy.

The slide is ornately decorated with floral scroll engraving, and its thorough craftsmanship is evident in every detail—from the historic Colt’s PT.F.A. markings to the distinctive serial number C 837 stamped on the frame.

The pistol is in nice condition, maintaining 90% of its re-blued finish. Despite a few signs of wear and light pitting around the grip panels, the firearm functions, with a clean bore and smooth action.

Its grips, although aged, are still in solid shape, adding to the vintage allure of this iconic weapon.

For those looking to see this legendary gun in person, Richmond Auctions in Greenville, SC, invites you to a preview by appointment before the live auction on May 18th, 2024.

Whether you’re bidding onsite, online, or over the phone, this could be your chance — assuming you have that kinda scratch — to own a piece of true crime history.

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  • Kane May 6, 2024, 11:01 am

    Of course today a firearm like that would be confiscated by a task force of ATF, CPD, ISP, Cook County Sheriff Department, IRS, EPA etc. I do NOT believe Capone was ever convicted of a murder. It took years but Capone was eventually convicted of being a tax cheat.

    Right now, there is a tax case against the Biden crime family but the CIA puppet masters will protect their asset. If the asset becomes more trouble than they are worth the CIA might terminate their problems. Wonder what will happen to the other Biden criminals after the fake POTUS (genuine POS) is gone?

    Find it hard to believe that Shaun Combs did NOT have any firearms in his mansion when the ‘surprise’ raid was conducted. Oh yeah, he is a rat for the feds.

  • Clint W. May 4, 2024, 10:02 pm

    Does the auction house have an FFL or will this fall into the category of being an illegal gun sale because it sells for more than its fair market value? Who will establish that fair market value?

  • Nobody May 3, 2024, 5:50 pm

    Pass as Hondo said, bad MoJo..

  • Mike in a Truck May 3, 2024, 3:29 pm

    I would bid on it if I was a wealthy guy. As far as bad JuJu I’d take it to a priest for a blessing. I would also set it on the floor and make a circle around it of sea salt and dance naked with a young virgin lass, maybe two. That should banish any evil spirits.

  • Hondo May 3, 2024, 7:16 am

    That’s got bad mojos attached to it, hard pass.

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