Al Capone’s “Sweetheart” Pistol Seeks New Suitor at Auction
Considered the notorious mobster’s favorite gun, the Colt 1911 could fetch as much as $3 million during a May 18 event at Richmond Auctions.
A gun affectionately known as “Sweetheart” by Al Capone, the country’s most notorious mobster, will find a new lover when it comes to auction on May 18 at Richmond Auctions in South Carolina. But the .45 semi-automatic pistol is no cheap date, what with presale estimates for the piece at $2-$3 million.
“This particular Colt 1911 is more than just a firearm. It’s a relic of an era marked by lawlessness and larger-than-life personalities,” said Kimmie Williams, Richmond Auctions’ firearms specialist. “Its profound connection to Al Capone adds an extra layer of allure, making it a must-have and trump card for any world-class collector.”
The same gun sold for $1,040,600 (including buyer’s premium) at auction less than three years ago at Witherell’s. Sales of historical firearms belonging to famous figures have fetched millions at auction over the past several years, including Ulysses S. Grant’s pistol, which sold for $5.17 million in 2022, and the Colt Pat Garrett used to kill Billy the Kid, which sold for more than $6 million in 2021.
In several documented interviews, Diane Capone, Al Capone's granddaughter, revealed that the “Sweetheart” was her grandfather’s constant companion. The mobster often referred to his Colt 1911 as his favorite gun and his “Sweetheart” for saving his life on several occasions.
Capone ruled Chicago’s underworld with an iron fist from 1925 to 1931. Known as Scarface, Capone was the country’s most notorious gangster during Prohibition when bootlegging, speakeasies, gambling, and prostitution made him a rich and powerful man.
Although never officially linked to the crime, Capone was generally considered responsible for the murders of seven men in the headline-grabbing Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929.
At his height of power, it’s estimated that Capone made $105 million a year and spent roughly a third of it on bribes and muscle — gangsters, judges, politicians, reporters, and half the cops in Chicago crowded onto the payroll. With an ever-present cigar and willing smile, Capone was the perfect bigger-than-life Bad Guy and the most famous gangster in history.
Capone’s Chicago empire finally crumbled when he was convicted of tax evasion in 1931. He was sentenced to eleven years in federal prison and, after serving some time in jail while his case was appealed, was released in 1939, having served seven years, six months, and fifteen days and having paid all fines and back taxes.
Capone died of complications from a stroke and pneumonia in January 1947 in his villa in Palm Island, Florida. He was 48.
For more information on the sale of the gun, go to Richmond Auctions.
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Paul Kennedy is Editorial Director of the Collectibles Group at AIM Media. He enjoys Mid-century design, photography, vintage movie posters and people with a good story to share. Kennedy has more than twenty-five years of experience in the antiques and collectibles field, including book publishing. Reach him at PKennedy@aimmedia.com.
