"I remember reading in Elliott Ness's book that many of the handguns used by criminals in the 20's/30's were stolen from returning GI's...I think he was referring to M1911's, but how he determined where they were gotten from or how was not explained... "
Here is one theory: Early 1911's were (mostly?) marked US Property, and I suspect that at one time it was not a good idea to get caught with one so marked. Of course now it is OK, but then it may have suggested that it was indeed stolen.
dju
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