'Scarface' Gun Sells for £67,000 in London Sale
A revolver belonging to notorious U.S. gangster "Al" Capone sold at a London firearms auction Wednesday for £67,250 ($109,079, 75,656 Euros).
The 1929 .38 "Police Positive" gun was used by the mobster, full name Alphonse Gabriel Capone, during his reign as king of the Chicago underworld in the prohibition era.
The Christie's Antique Arms, Armor and Collectors Firearms sale displayed 209 lots dating from the 10th to the 20th centuries and raised a total of £634,825.
"This sale saw strong international interest from a notable number of new clients, including the successful purchaser of Al Capone's revolver," Howard Dixon, Head of Sale, said.
"The clear demand for quality, condition and rarity reflected the hunt for perfection in this category," he added.
New York-born Capone gained notoriety for his involvement in the 1929 St Valentine's massacre which claimed the lives of seven rival mobsters and for his sharp suits and hats, which became the stereotypical image of gangsters thereafter.
Capone, who was also known by the nickname "Scarface", once mused: "You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone."
Source: Agence France Presse
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