Alphonse Capone, who fancied himself something of a Robin Hood figure while running the Chicago Outfit, spent eight years of an 11-year tax evasion sentence behind bars. He was released when his advanced syphilis became debilitating and died in 1947. Not exactly the blaze of glory end most people expect for notorious mobsters.
His granddaughters — who describe Grandpa Al as “a very devoted family man, very committed to his family,” have amassed an impressive collection of his belongings, as well as those of Al’s son, Sonny (who was not, in fact, shot on the causeway).
Along with photos, letters, knives, furniture, jewelry and assorted ceramic tchochkes, they also have a lot of Al’s and Sonny’s guns, including what’s purported to have been Al’s favorite .45, a Colt 1911 (above).
The granddaughters have decided to unload all of those curios, including the firearms, through an auction to be conducted by Witherell’s in Scaramento, California on October 8. The auction house values the 1911, above, between $100,000 and $150,000.
Al’s Colt .380 Hammerless is also on the block, valued at between $30,000 and $60,000.
Sonny, who lived most of his life in Florida, seems to have been something of a gun collector. There are lots of his firearms in the lot at far more reasonable prices than those owned by his father.
You can see the full auction catalogue here.
By Dan Zimmerman via TTAG and republished with permission.