The factory letter confirms this revolver had a 5 1/2 inch, .45 caliber barrel and blue finish when it was part of a five gun shipment sent to Shapleigh Hardware Co. in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 24, 1915. The revolver has classic American scroll engraving, a Texas Ranger badge star on the bottom of the trigger guard, and is inscribed "H. Joaquin Jackson/Texas Ranger" on the back strap. Haynie Joaquin Jackson (1935-2016), best known as Joaquin Jackson or Ranger Jackson, is among the most legendary Texas Rangers. He served from 1966 to 1993. Documents with the revolver indicate he purchased it from the widow of WWI era Texas Ranger John Sittre. Among other exploits, Sittre was one of three Rangers investigated for the murder of a Mexican bandit during the Mexican Revolution. The man's body was found three weeks after they interrogated him and reportedly released him on the condition he act as their informant within the ring of bandits. The Rangers said he was slain by his fellow gang members who must have seen him being released from their custody, but others say they each shot him and then dumped his body. Jackson had the barrel cut down and then the gun engraved by Jim Riggs. He carried the revolver for five years on duty and is pictured with it in an included photograph of him examining a crime scene. The back side has "Note-Ranger Jackson carrying Colt Single Action Revolver .45 cal ser #331889" and is marked as a "government exhibit" from the 1966-67 O'Hanis Bank burglary investigation and signed by Jackson. He rose to stardom just after ending his career when he was pictured on the February 1994 cover of "Texas Monthly" and appeared within in the cover story "The Twilight of the Texas Rangers" by Robert Draper after his long career which included a shootout at the Carrizo Springs jail, murder investigations, the capture of the "The See More Kid," and other exploits. He became the face of the Rangers in American popular culture as a result of the magazine, but he had already shaped their portrayal seven years earlier when he personally advised Nick Nolte for his role in "Extreme Prejudice" (1987). Jackson had roles in "The Gold Old Boys" (1995), "Streets of Laredo" (1995), "Rough Riders" (1997), "Palo Pinto Gold" (2009) as Sheriff Jackson, and "Wild Horses" (2015) as retired Texas Ranger Jackson in which the Rangers investigate a murder on a ranch owned by a character played by his friend Robert Duvall. He also aided Jeff Bridges for his role in "Hell or High Water" (2016). The binder of documents primarily discusses the Texas Ranger careers of Sittre and Jackson and also includes an autographed NRA advertisement from 1999 and "Harold Atholtz" documents discussing purchasing this revolver, the badge, lot [CYF4-72], and other items from Jackson in 1992 and signed by Jackson. Also included are Jackson's memoirs "One Ranger" and "One Ranger Returns," a tooled leather holster that fits the revolver and is marked "JOAQUIN JACKSON/TEXAS RANGER" around a star marked "SGT," and a "JOAQUIN JACKSON," "SR. SGT.," and "TEXAS RANGERS" marked badge.

Fine as custom embellished with 95% plus of the nickel plating, crisp engraving, some pitting showing through the finish, dark flash marks, and minor wear. The grips are slightly undersized and have moderated aging but are fine. Mechanically excellent. The holster and badge are very good and have only minor handling type wear. Overall an excellent set. Revolvers owned by one Texas Ranger, especially one from pre-World War II, are very rare and highly sought out by collectors. One owned by two Rangers, including the most famous Texas Ranger in recent years, is certainly one-of-a-kind and would be an excellent centerpiece of a Colt, Texas Ranger, Western, or general American arms collection.