Texas Tower Killer's Rifle Up for Auction

[gun sane]

The Remington Model 700 rifle used by Charles Whitman to snipe at University of Texas bystanders in 1966 has been put on the auction block, with a starting bid of $25,000.

 

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Rifle-reported-to-be-used-in-Charles-Whitman-5777479.php

[10-Ring]

I wouldn't throw it away if it was given to me but I have zero interest in owning the gun simply on the basis that it was used in a mass shooting.  IMO anyone who would want to own a gun simply because it was used to kill people is sick in the head.  I would have no issue owning a gun that was used to take a life, but the fact that it did so would not add any appeal for me.

[56FordGuy]

Regardless of personal opinion, it's a piece of history that can't be replicated. Someone who appreciates history, regardless of intent or what side of "right" an item was on, would love to have that. I'd be willing to bet that rifle hits six figures before its all said and done.

[DaveTN]

I‘m surprised it got out of the possession of the state. The Federal government seized ownership of the Kennedy rifle.
I think it will probably bring a lot more than $25K with the documentation it appears to have.

[bersaguy]

I wonder if when the guns were sold the first time if any of the money went to any of the families of the people he killed or wounded. I'm betting not. His family probably made a small fortune off of the misfortune of all of his Victims..................I would have thought that all those guns would have been destroyed. But then we are talking about a different time in History.  Many pieces of evidence was kept by law enforcement and Judges back then. A rifle kept by a judge lead to the conviction of a murderer that had been tried and release 4 times in Mississippi back then because the man that was murdered was black and his killer was white. It took about 30 years but they did get a conviction and the man did die in Prison for his crime. He was finally convicted in 1994 and died in 2001......I have always believed if you take a persons life for the pure pleasure, your plain evil and eventually it will come back to bite you. It took 30 years but he did pay the piper in the end.............I would never pay money for a weapon that I know was used like that rifle on the auction block right now..........................jmho. 

[Peace]

It is worth book value - no more.  If it has museum/history value, then so be it.  Its "history" certainly doesn't raise its value to me.

[bersaguy]

I‘m surprised it got out of the possession of the state. The Federal government seized ownership of the Kennedy rifle.
I think it will probably bring a lot more than $25K with the documentation it appears to have.

Edited September 26, 2014 by bersaguy

[Guest tangojuliet]

hmmmmmmmmmmm the sling is on wrong....

[Hershmeister]

strange to think one would sell a historical item on a local trader vs an auction house

[Guest carter]

strange to think one would sell a historical item on a local trader vs an auction house

very true...something of that stature i think would end up at Christie's or something... I just watched a DOC on James Earl Ray and his gun is in the museum in Memphis...

[Flyboy]

Couldn't be the gun.

Is not a Simi automatic black AR.

Can't shot a bolt action and kill that many folks

Fly Boy