Starting bid at only 500,000.00. Expected to get up to 3 million.

Original article on Daily Mail

I do have to say that it's a beautiful boss-level 1911 pistol that is tastefully done with actual shoot-ability improvements.

Nice suppressor height sights.

Seriously though, what is up with those sights? Especially the rear one?

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInAR:
Nice suppressor height sights.

Seriously though, what is up with those sights? Especially the rear one?

Remember, this was a much earlier time in the 1911 era (pre WW2). Capone was indicted in 1931 and had this pistol with him the entire time he was still the mob boss, so a very early version. I'd guess the rear is a sight off some other pistol and modified to fit and work on this 1911, so it's not going to be all perfect. Wasn't like there was a Wilson's Combat to order stuff from back then. Compared to the typical 1911 sights of the time, I bet they were a vast improvement in sight picture. Heck, maybe he did run a suppressor sometimes, he was a Mafia Boss after all.

Were these illegal in Chicago back then? Asking for a friend.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInAR:
Seriously though, what is up with those sights? Especially the rear one?

To me, that rear sight looks a lot like a "Micro" rear sight as was used on USGI NM pistols in the 1960's or so. I wonder if the sights on this pistol are period or if they were done much later?

From what is said on the auction site his son modified it for competition use. Probably S&W revolver or Eliason sight.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
Were these illegal in Chicago back then? Asking for a friend.

Not if he had a FOID card.

So that isn’t actually in the form that Al Capone carried it as? I am far from a collector, not wired that way but it seems wouldn’t that be akin to refinishing Doc Holidays Colt in Cerakote Blue? I would think it would diminish the value a bunch. Taken further, did the son add the frontstrap checkering as well? I would be curious if anyone knew what configuration it was during Capone’s reign?

Sights look like those on my 1911 set up for service pistol competition. Rear appears to be a Bomar.

I guess it would be fun to be able to say that you had Al Capone's 1911. BUT NOT $3 million worth of fun!
Rod

'you can get more with a kind word and a gun than with just a kind word.'

Words to live by…