Originally Posted By: IvyLeague
Originally Posted By: mulberry

I'm making a mockery of their claims that guys like Gambino and Bonanno never killed anyone. People don't just become feared and respected mafia capos and then bosses for no reason. The only one who possibly didn't make his bones was Castellano. He was riding Gambino's coattails. He wasn't feared or respected by many in his family because his soldiers didn't believe he made his bones.


I see. Well, it's a rather futile discussion because there's just no way to know with some of these guys, one way or the other.


In some cases it is futile. Carl Sifakis in The Mafia Encyclopedia describes the making bones requirement as a myth. Being a cash cow or "producer" can be enough to get someone made. This was brought up in the mob myths thread.

I also found this article:
http://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_393.html