# Guns in violin cases **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2000, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793 "2000-04-21T02:06:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drollman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@drollman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drollman)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/1 "2000-04-21T02:06:00Z")
It’s a movie cliche we’ve all seen, but has a gangster ever carried a machine gun (or any gun for that matter) in a violin case. Where does this image originate? * * * My fate keeps getting in the way of my destiny. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/2 "2000-04-21T02:30:00Z")
Please do not attempt tp infringe upon my 4th am. right to carry my machine gun in my violin case. 😃 Peace, mangeorge ( _Smartass_ ) * * * Teach your kids to bungee jump. One them might have to cross a bridge someday. ---
**Author:** ![ellis555](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@ellis555](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellis555)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/3 "2000-04-21T02:40:00Z")
i can’t directly address the OP, but i do recall that in “Tintin in America,” (Herge) one of the gangsters carries around a tommy gun in a violin case. so, if this is a cliche completely unbased in reality, it has been so unbased for a while. -ellis ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/4 "2000-04-21T02:41:00Z")
One of my girl friends growing up had a photo of her dad carrying a violin case and wearing dark clothing (suit and winter wool coat, I think) with the collar up and a scowling look. The idea was that they were to show the photo to new prospective boy friends. It got comments every where they showed it. ## But the violin case did have a real violin inside I can’t imagine getting much of a fire arm into a violin case. Now a cello - that’s a different matter! Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley ---
**Author:** ![Smile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Smile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smile)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/5 "2000-04-21T10:59:00Z")
Nah, what you really want is a guitar case, El Mariachi style. There’s also the famed Secret Service tradition of Uzis in briefcases… * * * Luther Blisset is Everyman. So Smile. ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/6 "2000-04-21T13:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Smile: > \*\*There’s also the famed Secret Service tradition of Uzis in briefcases… > \*\* Heckler & Koch makes a version of the MP5 that fits inside a specially-designed briefcase. Go [here](http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/Media/mp5kcase.jpg) to see a picture. * * * **TMR** _If you believed in yourself, and tore enough holes in your pants, there was always a mist-filled alley right around the corner._ ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/7 "2000-04-21T15:26:00Z")
Wow Trout… I’ve just GOT to get one of those for my next meeting with a difficult customer 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/8 "2000-04-21T15:59:00Z")
Deputy Marshall Bill Tilghman supposedly used a violin case to sneak a sawed-off shotgun into Eureka Springs, Arkansas, when he went to capture the outlaw Bill Doolin. This was Jnuary 15, 1896. But I haven’t found any credible cite to substantiate this claim. _ **ExTank** _ ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/9 "2000-04-21T16:38:00Z")
I’m no musician, but as far as I know, you can fit a Thompson Submachinegun with the drum magazine into the case for whatever you call the next full size up insturment above a violin. Is it a viola? A cello case is too big. I beleive this was actually used quite a bit back when Thompsons with the round drum were popular with the crooks. The FBI used to issue them in a sort of a rectangular box with a suitcase handle that Thompson made specifically for the weapon. Concealability was not an issue with legit users like the Feds. It carried at least one extra magazine, the cleaning kit, and a lot of other stuff. If you consider it, this insturment case method would be one of the few ways to carry the Chicago Typewriter with its higher capacity drum magazine without attracting undue attention. It’s not something you could stick in your pocket or whatever. In addition to its size, the basic gun itself weighs something like 12 pounds, and I would bet the drum (75? rounds of .45 cal) weighs a fair piece as well. Thus a case with a handle is very much in order. I hear where Clyde Barrow used an M1918 BAR with the barrel and stock cut off short. He had an improvised strap on it so he could carry it (sort of) under his right arm beneath a coat with the butt in his armpit. He called the gun a “Whippet” gun because he’d whip it into position quickly and fire away. Supposedly, Bonnie Parker was quite handy with the BAR as well. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/10 "2000-04-21T16:53:00Z")
JC: the term “Whippet” is actually in reference to any weapon so modified as to be able to “whip it” out fairly quickly, from sawed-off shotguns, to short-barreled rifles (think of the M-16 “Shorty” Carbine, with the short barrel and folding/telescoping stock). _ **ExTank** _ ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-in-violin-cases/10793/11 "2000-04-21T16:59:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m no musician, but as far as I know, you can fit a Thompson Submachinegun with the drum magazine into the case for whatever you call the next full size up insturment above a violin. Is it a viola? _A cello case is too big._ -snip- - JCHeckler - - - The cello case is for the rocket launcher. - - - - And H&K’s cost too damn much. You’d really have to like someone to shoot 'em with that. - MC