This historic deluxe, factory engraved and inscribed Colt Single Action Army revolver was presented by Louisiana Governor R.W. Leche to Burel Mulkey of Salmon, Idaho, as Outstanding Contestant/Best All-Round Cowboy at the Ft. Worth, Texas, Rodeo in March 1937. The detailed steer head carved in raised relief on the right grip panel is certainly appropriate for the occasion. The factory letter dated 1967 describes the revolver as in .45 caliber with a 5 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, ivory stocks, and factory engraving and indicates it was sold to "Hon Richard W. Leche" of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and shipped to "Mr. A. A. Lund" in Ft. Worth, Texas, on March 3, 1937. It was the sole gun of this type in the shipment. In his included letter, R.L. Wilson states that the profuse scroll, floral and punch-dot engraving on this revolver was executed by Wilbur A. Glahn and is "more than C" engraving. Wilson notes that: "The scrollwork throughout the revolver is closely packed, with virtually no space from scroll to scroll and nearly everything filled in with punched dots, line-work, and other decor." Wilson concludes: "The Wilbur Glahn-engraved Colt Six Shooter No. 355376 is not only the most profusely engraved of any Single Action Army by Glahn, it is one of the finest and rarest of all of Glahn's work for the Colt factory." The revolver is also featured in "The Book of Colt Engraving Volume II" by R.L. Wilson on page 580. The revolver is also accompanied by a copy of pages of the April 1997 "Gun Report" article "A Cowboy's Gun" by Richard Garvis stating this revolver was won by and owned by Burel Mulkey (1904-1982) for his victory at the rodeo in 1937 after riding the legendary bronco "Five Minutes to Midnight." He went on to win the title of Saddle Bronc Rider Champion in 1937 and 1938 and All Around Champion Cowboy in 1938, retired from the rodeo life in the 1940s and ranched near Lake Isabella, California, worked as a state brand inspector, and retired in the 1960s. He was a Charter Member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. The revolver was sold by Mulkey to a friend who was a gun collector in 1967. The friend sold the revolver in 1992 to a dealer in Visalia, California, and it was sold to another dealer who displayed it at the 1995 Texas Gun Collectors Association Show in Ft. Worth where it won best weapon of the show. It is also noted winning the same prize at the Cody, Wyoming Gun Show. It is only fitting that the revolver now returns to Texas for the largest gun auction ever held in the state. The revolver has the Colt commercial blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard, back strap and trigger. The frame and loading gate are color casehardened. The hammer is blued with polished sides and has borderless knurling on the spur. The two-piece grips are inlaid with silver Colt medallions, and the right grip has an exceptional relief-carved steer head. The left side of the barrel is inscribed: "Presented by/R. W. LECHE/Governor of Louisiana" in three lines. The back strap is engraved: "Outstanding Contestant, Ft. Worth, 1937." The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "COLT"S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." enclosed in an engraved panel. The "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45" is roll stamped on the bottom of the barrel instead of the left side and is contained in a hand engraved panel, a truly rare modification made by the factory to accommodate the presentation inscription. Colt's "Three-Date/Two-Line" patent marking and the Rampant Colt trademark are roll-stamped on the left side of the frame with a scroll-work border. A "4" assembler's mark and the Colt "Triangle/VP" proofmark are stamped on the left front trigger guard bow. The assembly number "72" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame and on the right side of the back strap beneath the grip. The partial serial number "76" is stamped on the back of the cylinder between the chambers, on the inside surface of the ejector rod housing and on the barrel adjacent to the ejector rod housing stud. All of the visible serial numbers match. In addition to the article and book noted above, the presentation of the revolver by the Governor to Mulkey was noted in multiple period newspapers, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on March 13, 1937, which stated under the headline "Leche Offers Award to Champion of Rodeo" that "Governor Richard W. Leche will present a $150, made-to-order engraved and gold-ornamented pistol to the winner in the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Rodeo at Fort Worth. The pistol was made especially for him by a nationally known arms company. It is a .45 caliber, Texas style revolver with ivory grips and gold seals of the States of Louisiana and Texas. The Governor will make a personal presentation at Fort Worth." An included print of pages from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Morning Edition on March 22, 1937, states that "for winning more than $700 in day money and the finals, Mulkey also took the title Best All-Around Cowboy and walked off with the silver gun engraved with the seals of Texas and Louisiana-the give of Governor Leche of Louisiana" and "The Post-Register" from Idaho falls on April 30, 1937, notes: under the headline "Burel Mulkey of Salmon is Honored [sic]" that Mulkey was "adjudged the best all-around cowboy at the Texas centennial, has been made a colonel aide de camp to the governor of Louisiana. The governor also gave him a revolver with carved ivory grip mounted with gold, and decorated with the state seals of Texas and Louisiana." The comments about the silver, gold, and state seals appear to be reporting errors repeated by both papers given this revolver is factory documented as ordered by the governor and shipped to Ft. Worth and has clear presentation inscriptions for the event's Outstanding Contestant as well as the provenance laid out in the article noted above. Provenance: Governor Richard W. Leche of Louisiana to Burel Mulkey; The Francis W. Goble Collection; Property of a Gentleman; The Brad Witherell Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Exceptionally fine. This one-of-a-kind revolver is all original and retains 85% plus of the blue finish and 70% color casehardened finish. The blue on the grip straps and edges of the trigger guard has faded to a silver-gray patina. There are several tiny spots of pitting on the left edge of the trigger guard at the junction with the frame. The expertly factory engraved crafted scroll and floral engraving is deep and sharp. The inscriptions on the left side of the barrel and back strap are sharp. The Colt markings and serial numbers are perfect. The excellent relief carved grips have an attractive mellow aged patina, the relief carved steer head is sharp, and the grips show the typical hair-line age cracks. Mechanically excellent This is a one-of-a-kind, factory engraved and inscribed, presentation pre-war Colt Single Action Army revolver awarded to a real cowboy and accompanied by extensive and complete documentation. This revolver is a truly special example of the Colt factory and Wilbur Glahn's finest work in the 1930s, and is made all the more desirable by its historic presentation by the Governor of Louisiana to the Outstanding Contestant at the 1937 Ft. Worth Rodeo: World Champion Cowboy Burel Mulkey.