Police just arrested a man for armed robbery, and the antique weapon he used might be worth more than what he stole

A man in Oklahoma was arrested for robbing a liquor store with a rare gun from the 1800s. The gun he used is probably worth more money than what he actually stole. Dyllon Redfern, 24, is now charged with first-degree robbery after what happened on December 5 in Tulsa.

According to The Guardian, Redfern went into Primo’s Wine and Spirits that night wearing pajama pants and a hoodie. Workers at the store said he tried to buy something but couldn’t because he didn’t have his ID. Instead of leaving and going home, he came back right away with a gun.

The employees said the gun looked like an “old timey musket.” Redfern pointed it at the workers and told them to give him money from the cash register. He also demanded their personal IDs before leaving the store.

The gun he used is a rare piece of history

Police found Redfern the next morning after someone at a nearby QuikTrip store reported seeing him. Officers searched the area and caught him in a parking garage close by. He had the antique gun with him, along with stolen cash and an ID from the liquor store.

The weapon turned out to be a derringer, which is also called a “muff” or “pocket” pistol. This type of gun only fires one shot and is extremely old. These guns haven’t been used in crimes since the old west days of the 1800s, which makes this robbery even stranger. Criminals have used all sorts of unusual methods lately, including thieves who allegedly used pythons during a recent robbery.

The derringer is famous for a very dark reason in American history. John Wilkes Booth used one of these small guns to kill President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, in Washington DC. The gun is easy to hide because of its small size.

After arresting Redfern, Tulsa police posted a photo of the gun on Facebook. They asked people who know about antique weapons to share their thoughts. Gun experts quickly replied and said the gun was made around the 1850s based on its design. They were shocked at how rare it was.

One expert said it’s a “very rare and valuable weapon.” Others think only about 500 of this exact model were ever made. All the experts agreed the gun is worth way more than the cash Redfern stole. This isn’t the first time a robber made terrible decisions right after committing a crime. If convicted, Redfern faces at least 10 years in prison under Oklahoma law for first-degree robbery.