Handgun purchased in Chicago Same Day as St. Valentine's Day Massacre

32 Scadoo · Jan 16, 2022

I picked up this Colt Revolver a while back. It was originally purchased new in Chicago on the same day as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, February 14, 1929.

The hardware store from which it was purchased, Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett, & Co., was located about 1 1/2 miles from the warehouse where the gangland shooting took place.

It is a Colt Police Positive model chambered for the Colt .38 New Police (.38 S&W) cartridge.

Orion Jim · Jan 16, 2022

That’s a beauty with box and papers. The Police Positive is my all time favorite.

Dr.Rob · Jan 17, 2022

Great find!

Johnm1 · Jan 18, 2022

32 Scadoo said:
the same day as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, February 14, 1929.

That is just super cool.

Col. Harrumph · Jan 18, 2022

And he paid $21.75... $354.62 today. Someone (besides the OP) knew a good deal!

BigBlue 94 · Jan 18, 2022

Thats a curious story! It would be neat to know more of it, like was it bought before or after the massacre?

Just for posterity...

Its little brother, a Police Positive Special, in 32 CNP! I think i have the box as well.

22250Rem · Jan 22, 2022

What an incredible provenance for a beautiful old gun. Do you know any of its history after that initial purchase? Someone thought enough of it to keep all the original paperwork & box. I've seen a few old guns like that which still had all of that original stuff and they were generally guns with the same owner for many years or passed down through the same family. Even though that gun has no connection to that event in Chicago history it is still a fantastic find and the location and sale date provenance give it even more of a historical "coolness" factor. What a fascinating find. Thanks for the picture & story.

32 Scadoo · Jan 22, 2022

22250Rem said:
What an incredible provenance for a beautiful old gun. Do you know any of its history after that initial purchase? Someone thought enough of it to keep all the original paperwork & box. I've seen a few old guns like that which still had all of that original stuff and they were generally guns with the same owner for many years or passed down through the same family. Even though that gun has no connection to that event in Chicago history it is still a fantastic find and the location and sale date provenance give it even more of a historical "coolness" factor. What a fascinating find. Thanks for the picture & story.

I haven't been able to find much on the purchaser, S. Harris & Co., but the seller, Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. was founded in 1855, and ultimately became True Value Hardware. A short history can be found here: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2700.html

The map below shows the relative distances between the buyer, seller, and the massacre. The other photos shows the massacre site previously, and now. Note the same building stands to the left of the warehouse.

Handgun purchased in Chicago Same Day as St. Valentine's Day Massacre

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