The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were petty thieves that catapulted into legend. Although know as bank robbers, they actually hit more small businesses than banks. They would not be nearly as famous, except for some photos discovered after a shootout in Joplin Missouri. The gang fled leaving behind a camera and weapons. The film was developed and Bonnie and Clyde’s fame skyrocketed. Their fame took another leap into legend with the 1967 movie, Bonnie and Clyde, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.

Getting back to the raid and shoot out in Joplin, two police officers were killed and a lot of weapons were recovered. Two of the recovered weapons were sold at auction recently. A Thompson submachine gun and a Winchester Model 1897 riot gun belonging to the infamous pair were sold. The weapons were sold to the same bidder for a combined $210,000.

I was able to get close, but of course unable to handle the weapons. The Thompson was sold for $130,000, a bargain price for the only gangster connected Thompson in private hands that I know of. The shotgun went for $80,000, a very high price, but again connected to two bandits. Bonnie and Clyde still hold the publics’ imagination and are larger than life. Their guns are too.