Page 68 - 4091-BOOK3

LOT 3102
Historic, Documented, Period Modified Remington Model 11 Semi-Automatic “Sawed Off” Shotgun Attributed to Notorious Oklahoma Outlaw and Rival of “Pretty Boy” Floyd, Ford Bradshaw When He was Slain - Serial no. 315732, 12 gauge, 18 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in March of 1930, this historic Remington Model 11 shotgun is attributed to the notorious prohibition era bank robber and outlaw Ford Bradshaw. Born in 1907 in the Oklahoma Territory, Bradshaw’s life of crime began in the late 1920s. Bradshaw was a contemporary of other famous prohibition era outlaws including Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, and Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd. Floyd operated in much the same region as Bradshaw and somewhat overshadowed him. Many sources claim that the two outlaws had a friendly rivalry. Floyd’s preferred targets were banks in larger cities with a larger single haul, while Bradshaw had a tendency to strike banks in smaller towns which were lower profile. While “Pretty Boy” Floyd is more infamous to this day, Bradshaw’s rural bank raids far exceeded Floyd’s heists both in number and value. In late 1933, one of Bradshaw’s associates, Wilbur Underhill, was shot and killed while on honeymoon, leading to Bradshaw and several other men driving into Vian, Oklahoma, on New Year’s Eve and shooting up the town. The shooting spree in Vian landed him on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List. In some sources, Bradshaw is noted as being a leader of the Cookson Hills Gang and was one of the prime targets, along with Floyd, during a massive manhunt of the Cookson Hills in February of 1934, following the New Year’s Eve rampage. The manhunt involved as many as 1,000 law enforcement as well as National Guard, road blocked highways, and combing the hills for criminals, 21 of which were arrested, but Floyd and Bradshaw slipped the noose. In early March, Bradshaw came out of hiding and decided to stop for a drink at a roadhouse in Arkoma, Oklahoma, right along the border with Arkansas. The roadhouse was owned by LeFlore County Deputy Sheriff Bill Harper and was operated by his brother Bob Harper. Some sources claim that Bradshaw caused a scene or even threatened and robbed the patrons of the roadhouse, while other sources simply claim that he was recognized. Either way, law enforcement was contacted and showed up some hours later. Most sources claim that Ford Bradshaw initially surrendered and was disarmed, as well as having his bullet proof vest removed. What happened next is not entirely clear from the sources, but it appears there was a scuffle, possibly a violent move towards Bob Harper, or simply an attempt to flee to his parked vehicle. However the events played out, the end result was Ford Bradshaw being hit with approximately seven .45 rounds fired from Bill Harper’s semi-automatic pistol. The outlaw’s death resulted is Bill Harper being charged with murder, which was later dropped due to a statement from Bradshaw’s family. It is said that Harper became paranoid about retaliation, always carrying a gun and turned to alcohol, and died a few years after the slain outlaw. The shotgun itself shows mostly standard markings and features, as well as period modifications and an import mark under the forearm, likely made by Bradshaw himself. The modifications include the barrel having been shortened to 18 1/2 inches and the buttstock shortened to a trigger pull of approximately 9 1/2 inches, both modifications that would have made the gun handy for an outlaw operating primarily out of automobiles. A shotgun that is believed to be a Remington Model 11 with similar modifications is often seen carried in photographs of Bonnie Parker, and these were referred to as “whippet” guns by members of Bonnie and Clyde’s “Barrow Gang”. The choke is marked as “MOD”. An included 1949 dated affidavit signed by A.L. Babb, who was LeFlore County under sheriff in 1934, states that on 2 March 1934, he was dispatched to investigate the killing of Ford Bradshaw by Bill Harper and found this shotgun, listed by manufacturer, gauge, and serial number, in Bradshaw’s car and that it remained in his possession until he sold it to M. Hamby. Other documents are included related to Bradshaw’s criminal career and death, including newspaper clippings, with some referring to a semi- automatic shotgun recovered at the scene. Also included is a Hall Funeral Homes Inc. document listing the bullet wounds found on Bradshaw’s body. CONDITION: Fine as period modified by notorious outlaw Ford Bradshaw, retaining about 30% of the original blue finish, some scattered light pitting, and the typical mild wear of an outlaw firearm. The wood is also fine with the scattered minor cracks and dings of a hard life of crime. Mechanically excellent. Do not miss this opportunity to add a documented piece of prohibition era outlaw history to your collection! Provenance: The David Gainsborough- Roberts Collection. Estimate: 5,000 - 10,000
66