TexasCHLforum.com

In brief, I inherited one of these firearms and I have been hard pressed to locate a lot of information regarding them along with their value. Let me provide you what I know. Dick Casull, the original manufacturer made approximately 80 of these .22 caliber weapons. They were originally provided as a means of control as they were distributed to locations such as correctional facilities as the low caliber, 290 round drum magazing and rapid fire they provided. These were open bolt rim fire rifles. They are the precursor to the American 180 which has much more info available and they are made in either full auto or semi=auto. Originally when manufactured the Casull 290 was one of the most expensive guns made as they were all hand made and assembled. The original cost of a Casull 290 back in the early 60's was around $1,100. The rifle does not have any serial numbers but are marked by Alpha characters for its parts, a process allowable back in the day. Your collective wisdom and information would be appreciated.

Wow, I don't know, but I wanna know!

I know the American 180 and its pretty obscure, not many poeple know about it. I didn't know Casull made an earlier version.

I guess you can't buy ammo at Academy, huh? But wow, it's gotta be worth a bunch. Might be so rare you can't find any others to compare. Sounds like a job for the real rare arms deals.

Google Casull 290.There is one for sale for $13500.I think you are sitting on a gold mine,with sale problems if there is no class 3 papers on the gun.

The firearm is actually not a class III. It is semi-auto as were all but two of the weapons ever produced. Two were made full auto for the Utah department of corrections and that was the only allotment. Apparently from what I did find was that they were used to demonstrate to the prisoners the fire power that existed in the towers as a deterant. Interesting concept.