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LOT 3101
Historic, Documented Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action Rifle that Belonged to Public Enemy No. 1 and Member of Bonnie and Clyde’s Barrow Gang, Floyd Hamilton - Serial no. 43830, 35 WCF cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1903, this historic Winchester Model 1895 rifle includes a handwritten letter from former outlaw, Floyd Hamilton, stating that the rifle belonged to him and was lost in a shootout in Ashdown, Arkansas. Hamilton was once a member of the notorious Barrow Gang, headed by the infamous Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Floyd and his brother Raymond had met Bonnie and Clyde at a young age, also growing up in West Dallas. Raymond Hamilton was also part of the Barrow Gang and by the age of 20 had accumulated a total prison sentence of 362 years. Raymond was serving this prison sentence at Eastham Prison Farm near Huntsville, Texas, when in January 1934, his brother Floyd along with Bonnie and Clyde helped him and four other prisoners escape. A guard was killed during the escape, a murder that was later pinned on Raymond. He was recaptured in April of 1934 and was imprisoned when Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed and killed in Louisiana in May of that year. Raymond again escaped and went on a short rampage, joining with Floyd and an accomplice to rob the Grand Prairie State Bank in Texas before being recaptured and executed by electric chair in May of 1935. Floyd had been captured shortly before Raymond and was charged with harboring Bonnie and Clyde and sentenced to two years in prison. After his release
in August 1936, Floyd quickly slipped back into a life of crime, joining Ted Walters and Jess Keathnley for a robbery spree. Keathnley was captured and gave up the other two in exchange for his own charges being dropped. Floyd Hamilton was again captured and imprisoned, that time being sentenced to 25 years. In April of 1938, Hamilton and Walters escaped prison and began a long string of robberies including vehicles, banks, and even the Coca- Cola bottling plant. Floyd and Walters were named Public Enemies No. 1 and 2 by the F.B.I. at this point, titles they would hold until their capture. One of these banks was the Bank of Bradley in Bradley, Arkansas, after which it appears they fled northward. As confirmed in his August 1968 dated letter, Hamilton lost this rifle in a shootout,
as Ashdown, Arkansas, is about 65 miles north of Bradley. In August of 1938, he was captured in Dallas and again sentenced to prison, this time being sent to Alcatraz, also known as The Rock. In 1943, he attempted to escape Alcatraz but was apprehended shortly after and placed in solitary confinement for at least 21 days. After his time in solitary, it appears that Floyd made a serious choice to change his ways, becoming quite religious. Between Alcatraz and Leavenworth prisons, Hamilton served about 18 years federal time when he was released in 1956, turning himself in to Texas authorities to serve another sentence of 25 years. The following year he was released, mostly due to good behavior, and was hired as a car dealership’s night watchman, where he worked for 16
years, as well as actively working to keep others from turning to a life of crime like he had. The rifle has standard Winchester markings and an import mark under the forearm. It is fitted with a beaded blade front sight, filler in the rear sight dovetail, and a Lyman peep sight mounted on the left of the receiver. It is mounted with a smooth Schnabel tip forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. The included note signed by Hamilton lists the rifle by manufacturer, caliber, and serial number and is signed on the back by three witnesses.
Includes a plethora of other documentation regarding the rifle and Hamilton, including a copy of the F.B.I. identification order no. 1521 dated 8 July 1938, which features Hamilton.
CONDITION: Very good, retaining traces of the original blue finish, a few scattered patches of light
pitting, and the balance mostly a smooth grey patina. The wood has some scattered minor dings throughout and a few hairline cracks. Mechanically fine. Overall the rifle shows the look of spending
time on the run alongside the F.B.I.’s Public Enemy No.1 and would be an incredible piece of Public Enemy era history to add to your collection!
Provenance: The David Gainsborough-Roberts Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 15,000
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