The carved wooden gun Dillinger used to escape from jail paired with a framed newspaper detailing the moment. Dimensions: Newspaper: 19H x 25W inches, Wooden Gun - About 2.75H x 7L inches S/H: $60 From the consignor: How John Dillinger came by the wooden pistol he used in his famous Crownpoint jail break is one of the little known events in Dillinger‘s career, so is the wooden pistol's fate. John Dillinger's famous wooden gun. was actually made by a German woodworker in Chicago. and smuggled in by his attorney. Louis Piquett, inside a carved out Bible. A broken washboard, and some wood chips were left behind to make Johnny the carver's story more believable. He used his newly acquired weapon on March 3, 1934 to lock up 32 guards, take two hostages and escape in Sheriff Holly's new police car. Dillinger would arrive at his family farm for a family reunion on April 6. Before he would leave his family for the last time he would give his father, John Senior, his wooden gun and ask him not to part with it for any price. "For when you are blue, all you’ll have to do is look at my gun and laugh your blues away. Ha; h,a ha!" John Sr. promised his son he would never part with it. Soon after John Dillinger was killed John Senior, did an interview with a reporter, it was the only time the real wooden gun was ever photographed, and the real details of Dillinger's Crownpoint escape were revealed. Before John Senior died. on November 3, 1943 he gave Johnny’s older sister, Audrey Hancock, the wooden gun., later. Fred Hancock. Audrey‘s oldest son. would show the wooden gun. to a war buddy of his. Audrey would never see the wooden gun again. As told by Mike Thompson, John Dillinger‘s oldest living relative. Fast forward: Fred Hancock's war buddy's name was. Dave Catuno. Unfortunately Mr. Catuno passed away in 2002. His son Jonathan was left with the wooden gun as part of his father‘s estate. But not until after his mother passed away did he think about the wooden gun. Jonathan saw the interview that I did with ABC News, nd I was contacted. The mystery of what happened to the real wooden gun was solved. The provenance and family heritage of this wooden gun is undeniable. it is and always will be the real wooden gun.