Americans have a unique fascination with the old-school mob that once ruled some of the largest cities in America. They were criminals intent on using everyone around them for their own personal gain. Most of their money came from extortion and running gambling operations where even the politicians rubbed shoulders with “the big guys.”
They were feared because even the police (most of them at least) were on the payroll of one or multiple organizations. So why were a bunch of outlaws who murdered without a second thought so popular, compared to other criminals? One reason is the fame that elevated some of them to levels beyond that of anyone else. They appeared to be successful, and they didn’t hide how successful they were.
Some of them liked to show off their flashy watches, cars, and homes. They took what they wanted and killed anyone who stood in their way. But as violent as these people were, the American public could not get enough of them. They made great headlines for the newspapers and their power appeared to be above anyone else.
Some of the outlaws that reached legendary status continue to catch our attention with their fine suits, luxury homes, and yes, even the guns they carried. So, what guns did these notorious outlaws use to wreak havoc on those around them? Here are some of the guns that became a popular choice for members of the American mob.
Thompson 1928 (Tommy Gun)
It’s hard to talk about the mob without picturing a Tommy gun. While it was created for the military on the outskirts of the great war, it wasn’t the military that took notice of the gun. It was the mafia that started using the legendary gun even while it was being marketed as a weapon for law enforcement. The mafia used the sub-machine gun a great deal before it ever reached the hands of US soldiers.
One of the most famous massacres in American history involved a Thompson. In 1929, seven people were gunned down as part of a war turf between two criminal organizations. George “machine gun” Kelly used a Thompson during his 1933 kidnapping of Charles Urschel. Pretty Boy Floyd also used a Tommy gun during the famous shootout at Union Station in Kansas City where four police officers were killed. John Dillinger and a host of others used the gun extensively during the 20s and 30s.
Colt 1911
While police officers in the 1920s were using revolvers, members of the mafia were packing the 1911. This gave the bad guys an advantage. The gun could fire faster, hold more bullets, and reload in seconds. One of the most notorious members of the mob that carried a 1911 was Al Capone (Scar Face). His Colt .45, which he nicknamed “Sweetheart ,“ once sold at auction for more than a million dollars.
John Dillinger, who robbed more than a dozen banks in the early 1930s, carried a Colt .38 Super, and some claim even had it modified to be fully automatic. After the “public enemy number one” gangster was killed by the FBI, Baby Face Nelson became public enemy number one. He also favored the Colt 1911 but stuck with the traditional .45 caliber model.
Remington Model 870
This modern shotgun isn’t one you expect to hear about when talking about guns used by the mob. Rather, you tend to think of the guns from the Roaring 20s and into the 1930s. But the mafia was still a huge problem in the 1950s when the Model 870 was released. The mob was quick to start using this modern shotgun as the mob continued to fight for power. By the early 1970s, Remington has sold more than two million of these classic shotguns. The 870 continues to be a popular and well-respected shotgun today.
Smith & Wesson Model 10
The .38 special revolver made by Smith & Wesson in the late 1800s is a famous revolver that was used by the military and police all over the world. Its popularity was not limited to the police however, the mob also liked the classic gun and used it on occasion. One of these mob members was none other than Al Capone. Capone was known for using multiple guns and along with his Sweetheart 1911 was a .38 Special Model 10. Sitting on display at the Mob Museum in Mami is a Smith & Wesson Model 10 (pictured below) that is believed to have been seized from Capone in 1928.
Summary
Guns have been used to start wars and guns were used to end them. The bad guys use guns, but so do the good guys. We may like to read about the guns famous outlaws carried and used, but let’s be clear. They were deadbeat criminals that robbed and murdered innocent people. The Hollywood screens helped their legendary status grow, but they were greedy people that didn’t want to follow the law.
From Lucky Luciano to John Gotti (the Teflon Don) they made their riches by terrorizing innocent people. They used guns that were designed to help our military or police and turned them against others. The guns will remain legendary masterpieces. The mobsters, however, should be remembered for who they were, low-life criminals.
