Charles Whitman's Guns (UT Sniper)

[John Stanley]

Just a little background on this. Charles Whitman was a Marine who went up on the University of Texas Tower and began shooting people in 1966. He killed around 16 and wounded almost 40.

I am in search of those guns and am very interested in purchasing them. This is what I have so far. A man named Wayne Buxton purchased the guns from an estate sale of a rich oil man from Wichita Falls, Texas and then ran an add in Shotgun News in 1989 and sold them all. I got in touch with Mr. Buxton in an attempt to find out who he sold them to. For some reason Mr. Buxton caught all kinds of hell over selling the guns which I do not understand as they have a significant historical value. No one gets upset over JW Booth's guns or Oswald's rifle. Anyway, Mr. Buxton's original shop burned down along with all his receipts and records and does not remember the name of the guy who bought them. He just recalls that he was in his 30s or 40s in 1989 and sold them for 4500 dollars. If anyone on here knows who is in possession of those firearms please let me know. I want to purchase them but if that is not possible I'd like to photograph them in the condition they are today. Thanks to anyone who can help!

Mods, I apologize if I posted this in the wrong category.

 

[azkcr]

I know it's no help at all other than a bump to the top.
But why? Just wondering

 

[franzas]

I know it's no help at all other than a bump to the top.
But why? Just wondering

x2

 

[robertc1024]

Well, that's interesting

 

[Dawico]

Just a guess here but $4500 seems like a good deal for the buyer.

That being said, I wouldn't pay that much for them besides to resell them for a profit.

 

[John Stanley]

I've just always been fascinated with that particular crime and had the opportunity to speak with Houston McCoy, the police officer who killed Whitman and would like them for there historical value. Mr. Buxton bought them at the estate sale for 1500 dollars which, seems to me, quite a low price and he made a 3000 dollar profit. If I get lucky and find them I will pass them on to my children as this crime, although very tragic, has become a sort of Texas lore over the years. I mean no disrespect to the men and women who died or were injured on that day.

 

[Dawico]

They are definitely part of Texas history and for that reason very collectable.

Good luck on your quest and I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

[Dash Riprock]

What typically happens to weapons used in these types of things? It seems strange to me that they would be floating around somewhere in someone's personal collection rather than being held or destroyed by the police after the investigation was concluded or donated to a museum.

 

[London]

What typically happens to weapons used in these types of things? It seems strange to me that they would be floating around somewhere in someone's personal collection rather than being held or destroyed by the police after the investigation was concluded or donated to a museum.

I was thinking the same thing. The National Funeral Museum in Houston has a LOT of historical stuff and would be a perfect place for these.

 

[Texasjack]

History?

Morbid.

 

[TXARGUY]

I think the government sold them to Mexican drug cartels.

 

[sonuvaTXgun]

History?

Morbid.

That's what makes it so interesting to some. Morbid curiosity peaks human interest and the story of this tragedy is a popular one. I myself enjoy researching the Chernobyl meltdown, not because of the death but because of the aftermath and damage to the infrastructure. I suppose that's why apocalyptic movies are so popular.

To the OP: good luck on your search. It seems all too convenient that the records were lost in that fire. Does the man know where the buyer lives?

-PAK-

 

[franzas]

That's what makes it so interesting to some. Morbid curiosity peaks human interest and the story of this tragedy is a popular one. I myself enjoy researching the Chernobyl meltdown, not because of the death but because of the aftermath and damage to the infrastructure. I suppose that's why apocalyptic movies are so popular.

To the OP: good luck on your search. It seems all too convenient that the records were lost in that fire. Does the man know where the buyer lives?

-PAK-

Wow, that's the first unsarcastic thing I've seen you post.

Chernobyl? Don't get me started

 

[sonuvaTXgun]

Wow, that's the first unsarcastic thing I've seen you post.

Chernobyl? Don't get me started

Once in a blue moon I'll slip up

I'd like to start a thread on Chernobyl. I started a thread last year about abandoned buildings and shipwrecks. There was some good discussion and plenty of amazing pictures.

-PAK-

 

[franzas]

Once in a blue moon I'll slip up

I'd like to start a thread on Chernobyl. I started a thread last year about abandoned buildings and shipwrecks. There was some good discussion and plenty of amazing pictures.

-PAK-

If you give me a minute, I'll bore you to death with the engineering side of Chernobyl. Look what I did to London's lawnmower thread!

(seriously, look)

 

[London]

History?

Morbid.

What is history but the story of whom killed what?

 

[Texasjack]

What is history but the story of whom killed what?

History is about the winners, not the losers. (History is, in fact, written by the winners.)

Yeah, people get killed. But Whitman wasn't trying to accomplish anything other than just the slaughter of innocents. Collecting and displaying his guns does nothing more than memorialize an oxygen thief who is best forgotten.

 

[rsayloriii]

History is about the winners, not the losers. (History is, in fact, written by the winners.)

Yeah, people get killed. But Whitman wasn't trying to accomplish anything other than just the slaughter of innocents. Collecting and displaying his guns does nothing more than memorialize an oxygen thief who is best forgotten.

Gotta disagree. It can start a conversation about who he was and what he did, and ultimately how we could possibly prevent it in the future. You can't cover up history just because it was "bad". When we cover it up, we fail to learn and are doomed to repeat it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[Dawico]

Gotta disagree. It can start a conversation about who he was and what he did, and ultimately how we could possibly prevent it in the future. You can't cover up history just because it was "bad". When we cover it up, we fail to learn and are doomed to repeat it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

This. Good post.

 

[breakingcontact]

Once in a blue moon I'll slip up

I'd like to start a thread on Chernobyl. I started a thread last year about abandoned buildings and shipwrecks. There was some good discussion and plenty of amazing pictures.

-PAK-

You see the Vice doc on Chernobyl?