Charles Winstead Pistol.

[Keith C.]

Good Afternoon!
I am a new member and not familiar with how this all works. Please have a since of humor with my fumbling 1st attempt at posting.
I have been told by a few friends that I should share this with other collectors as some may be interested. About ten years ago, A co worker and I were looking over Mr. Larry Wack's "Dusty Roads" website and I suggested he search for Charlie Winstead. To my surprise, there was quite a bit of information. To make a long story shorter, of particular interest was a hand written list of Charlie's firearms, including description and serial numbers. The article went on to say that none of them had been accounted for. My co worker said "that's a shame no one knows where any of his guns are", to which replied, "I know where the first one is". He ask me how I knew and I told him it was in my Gun Safe. I got in touch with Mr. Wack and he asked me if I could provide him with some pictures in the interest of history, which I did. Larry amended his section on Charlie's guns with the photos and story. The one photo I know of Delf Bryce's 44 Special "lucky" pistol and the one apparently owned by 05CarbonDRZ pictured in the same post seem to have similar mediocre engraving and and grips. I hope this is of interest for some of you and I will sign off for now.

 

[S&W ucla]

Welcome to the forum. You've done exceedingly well with your first post! Larry Wack was a gentleman and a scholar. His work and website are a great resource for early FBI research.

Faded Glory: Dusty Roads Of An FBI Era

Sure would like to hear some more of the story! Did you know Mr. Winstead?

 

[StrawHat]

…The one photo I know of Delf Bryce's 44 Special "lucky" pistol and the one apparently owned by 05CarbonDRZ pictured in the same post seem to have similar mediocre engraving and and grips...

The engraving and steer head grips are very much indicative that these revolvers were purchased from Wolf and Klar, a merchant known for those two embellishments.

Kevin

 

[Bullet Bob]

To save other people who may not know who Charlie Winstead was, as I didn't, he was one of the FBI agents who killed John Dillinger. Thank you Google!

 

[Truckman]

To save other people who may not know who Charlie Winstead was, as I didn't, he was one of the FBI agents who killed John Dillinger. Thank you Google!

Thanks...That saves me from running up my Google bill......Ben

 

[quinn]

That is an exceptional find on several different levels. I, too, would expect a SWHF letter to show that one being shipped to Wolf & Klar. Welcom to the forum.

 

[DWalt]

This is a picture of Wolf & Klar's store in downtown Fort Worth, probably from sometime in the 1950s. W&K was principally a pawn shop but they also distributed guns all over the Southwest. SN 473732 would probably have shipped from S&W in 1924.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

This is a picture of Wolf & Klar's store in downtown Fort Worth, probably from sometime in the 1950s. W&K was principally a pawn shop but they also distributed guns all over the Southwest. SN 473732 would probably have shipped from S&W in 1924.

I would love to stroll that store right when this picture was taken, but more so in the'20s. What a great find this Winstead gun is.

 

[SS336]

Very interesting, thanks for posting this piece of history.
Must of been Mr. Winstead's barbecue revolver. Pretty flashy.

 

[Keith C.]

If you go to this page of Mr. Wack's Dusty Roads website, it tells the story pretty well. I will attach a few more photos. The photograph of Charlie was given to my Dad with the pistol. I have no idea who captioned the back of the photo. I doubt it was Charlie. The hand writing is completely different from his. All I know is the caption was on the photo when Charlie gave it to my Dad. Charlie kept this pistol under the cushion of his couch next to where he always sat.
In reference to the factory letter, I have no idea how the pistol went from Providence RI (1927) to El Paso TX (1935). This could be a good story in its own right.
.

The Handguns Of SA Charles B. Winstead