OT- Frank Hamer's custom Remington used on Bonnie & Clyde.

[rangerider7]

I took two of my grandsons to the Texas Ranger Museum yesterday. I noticed that they had put the custom Remington 35 caliber into the correct display this time. I argued with the curator through emails a few years back about the fact that when they moved the displays into the new addition they put this rifle in the wrong display. They had it leaning up against a TR horse trailer not identified as Frank Hamer's at all. I finally gave up, but I see they finally came to their senses. I guess she decided to do a little more research.

[Terry Murbach]

SORT OF THE ORIGINAL AK47 IMAGE BUT WITH A REAL CARTRIDGE !!!

[rjohns94]

very neat. is that a silencer just off the muzzle?

[BigSky56]

Guess that would settle a gunfight, did they have his 38 super in the display to. danny

[airedaleman]

very neat. is that a silencer just off the muzzle?

Barrel of another Model 8 or 81. Can't put a silencer on the long recoil Model 8 design.

[C. Cash]

I don't know what is more amazing; finally seeing this gun emerge into the light of day, or the fact that the museum staff there did not recognize what is easily one of the most famous firearms of all time. From appearances, it looks to be the right one, though as I understand it some others were made up with the 20 shot mag? Great work Rangerider, and thank you for sharing your photo/info. Maybe now you could convince the staff to hit that puppy with a good protective oil...looks the mag has had some pitting.

PS: you can count the bullet holes in the windshield where Bonnie Parker was sitting in that car, and you can easily see it was this gun with the extended mag. that was used. Too many holes for anything else. Why other's try to suggest he used his other Remington 30 cal. is a mystery.

[bigbore442001]

You are perfectly correct Terry. Not to start a thread drift but it was a shame in a way that a movie was made that glorified the two miscreants instead of making a movie about the life of Frank Hamer.

[86er]

I didn't think the Model 81 was out yet when the shooting occurred.

[TedH]

I believe you are correct Joe. The shooting took place in 1934, and production of the rifle known as the Model 81 began in 1936.

That rifle may have been used by Frank Hamer, but not on Bonnie and Clyde.

[Booger Bill]

That movie bonnie and clyde really torked my jaws. I had already read the book "I am frank hammer" and he had stated he never actualy saw either bonnie or clyde untill the shootout. I think he did know some of the older family members prior. In the movie it showed bonnie and clyde getting the drop on hammer and makeing sport of him! I was glad to hear hammers family sued over that and was paid a settlement. Why does hollywood have to make lies when the truth is more interesting?

[C. Cash]

I believe you are correct Joe. The shooting took place in 1934, and production of the rifle known as the Model 81 began in 1936.

That rifle may have been used by Frank Hamer, but not on Bonnie and Clyde.

There are a couple of other possibilities in my mind:

-It's been misababled as an 81 by museum staff, when it's a Mod. 8

-It's a 1936 or later model 81 that also got the 20 round mag. treatment at Petmecky's Police supply.

-The Texas Rangers might have got an 81 before it was available to the general pubic, and Hamer might have had access to the model 81 in 1934? Total shot in the dark there...maybe showing how dumb I am there as I don't know how slow things worked in the 30's. It looks EXACTLY like the gun that has been pictured for years as the Bonnie and Clyde weapon, down to the wood grain, and also by Hamer's son back in the 60's or 70's.

[SFRanger7GP]

Frank Hamer has been my hero since childhood. He used a custom model 8 that he had ordered from Jake Petmeckey's in Austin. Some sources state serial number 10045. Since it was custom and the dates are so close, could it have been a pre-Model 81 experimental model?

Thanks rangerider7. I always enjoy you sharing historical information with us. You are a true Texas Ambassador.

[rangerider7]

SFranger7GP, I think you are right on, at least the way I understand it. Hamer told them what he wanted and they carried it on to the model 81 or it was a collaboration between the two of what they were already working on.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Frank Hamer has been my hero since childhood. He used a custom model 8 that he had ordered from Jake Petmeckey's in Austin. Some sources state serial number 10045. Since it was custom and the dates are so close, could it have been a pre-Model 81 experimental model?

Thanks rangerider7. I always enjoy you sharing historical information with us. You are a true Texas Ambassador.

SFranger7GP, I think you are right on, at least the way I understand it. Hamer told them what he wanted and they carried it on to the model 81 or it was a collaboration between the two of what they were already working on.

That was what I had always heard too. IIRC the Hamer Model 8 was on display at the Museum and correctly marked as a model 8 but it wasn't displayed with all the other stuff pictured. But, that was at least 10 years ago, though.

[Ysabel Kid]

Cool picture!

[BigSky56]

Nate thats what I read also that it is a model 8 that was altered to take a 15 or 20 rd magazine. A researcher would assume because it has a removable mag that its a 81 as the 8 had a fixed mag and it was a pain to remove them. The 35 is a good round theres a guy Ralph Edwards who used a model 8 in 35 rem to take grizzlies in BC Canada he quite counting at 50. danny

[KCSO]

When I get home I will dig out my Model 8 book and get the picture of the MODEL 8 Bonnie and Clyde gun, and all the info.

[JohndeFresno]

...Too many holes for anything else...

I've found several sources that state that other lawmen used a variant of the BAR known as the 'Colt Monitor'" in the shootout.

[C. Cash]

...Too many holes for anything else...

I've found several sources that state that other lawmen used a variant of the BAR known as the 'Colt Monitor'" in the shootout.

Hey John,

The holes I'm talking about are straight on through Bonnie's passenger side windshield. Only Hamer was standing directly in front of the Car to make those holes with his Remington. The other officers were beside the road on the drivers side, shooting toward the side.Totally different angles on those. You can see the holes on this video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh0luSsP91I

[JohndeFresno]

...The other officers were beside the road on the drivers side, shooting toward the side. Totally different angles on those. You can see the holes on this video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh0luSsP91I

Now I remember. Thank you!

[tman]

after seeing it, i want a 20 round mag for a remington 760 in 30-06 springfield

[Dave James]

Have seen a few of the 81's in old Correctioins armories,set yp like that they where for the "wall' patrols.

Kind of puts to rest about the argument some have over weather it was a 25rem or 35rem he used

[Gaucho Gringo]

I don't remember where I read it but according to what I read was that he bought a .35 cal Remington model 8 and had it modified for a 20 round magazine. People today take fixed magazine rifles and convert them so why couldn't they do this in the 1930's?

[capfiremedic]

If I remember my history correctly, there were a few BAR's used in that fatal battle. BTW, the BAR, with a cut down barrrel was a favorite of Clyde's.