Supposedly this Fitzgerald Special style revolver belonged to Clyde Barrow of “Bonnie & Clyde” fame. It was originally pictured in a Guns & Ammo publication entitled, Guns and the Gunfighters, with the following caption:
Maybe, maybe not. It wasn’t a .38 Colt Police Positive. Production of that model ended around 1943, with the terminal serial number being somewhere around 406,700, and in May 1930 probably the highest number was around 329,000 or maybe a little higher.
A more careful examination of the picture – especially the butt/handle – convinced me that the revolver was not a Police Positive, but either an Army Special or Official Police. And quick check of the serial number records showed that Army Special’s were in the 502,000 to 514,000 ballpark during 1924. If my observations concerning the model are correct then it is possible that Clyde did have the gun in 1930. Otherwise no. It is also clear that someone other then the factory made it into a Fitz Special.
But in any case it’s a interesting gun with a possibly interesting history.
“This .38 caliber Police Positive Colt, SN 505844 was taken off of Clyde Barrow when he was apprehended by Sheriff Peavyhouse in May of 1930. The front of the trigger guard has been cut away for rapid fire, and the hammer spur has been ground down to allow the gun to be drawn from the pocket quickly.”
Maybe, maybe not. It wasn’t a .38 Colt Police Positive. Production of that model ended around 1943, with the terminal serial number being somewhere around 406,700, and in May 1930 probably the highest number was around 329,000 or maybe a little higher.
A more careful examination of the picture – especially the butt/handle – convinced me that the revolver was not a Police Positive, but either an Army Special or Official Police. And quick check of the serial number records showed that Army Special’s were in the 502,000 to 514,000 ballpark during 1924. If my observations concerning the model are correct then it is possible that Clyde did have the gun in 1930. Otherwise no. It is also clear that someone other then the factory made it into a Fitz Special.
But in any case it’s a interesting gun with a possibly interesting history.
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