Deluxe, factory engraved and inscribed Colt Single Action Army Revolver presented by Louisiana Governor R.W. Leche to Burel Mulkey of Salmon, Idaho, as Outstanding Contestant and Best All-Round Cowboy at the Ft. Worth, Texas, Rodeo in March 1937. Burel Mulkey won the title of World Champion Cowboy in 1938 and was a Charter Member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. This revolver is accompanied by extensive documentation including a Colt Industries factory letter dated 1967 and eight-page evaluation and description by Colt expert R.L. Wilson. The Colt letter describes "Single Action Army Revolver #355367" as: "Calibre 45, Barrel length 5 1/2", Finish Blue, Stocks Ivory, Factory Engraved Yes, Sold to: Hon Richard W. Leche, Address: Baton Rouge, La., Shipped to: Mr. A. A. Lund, Address Ft. Worth, Texas. Date of Shipment March 3, 1937" and "Number of same type of guns in this shipment. 1". 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 a 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 unique marking: "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45" is roll stamped on the bottom of the barrel in a hand engraved panel. 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, "355376" 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. The Wilson letter 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 décor". The Wilson letter 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". This revolver was awarded "Best Weapon of Show" at the Texas Gun Collectors Association 1995 Ft. Worth Show and "Best Weapon of Show" at the Cody, Wyoming Gun Show. The revolver is accompanied by an April 1997 GUN REPORT article, entitled "A Cowboy's Gun", a copy of a 1941 photo showing Burl Mulkey with other rodeo champions in Cody, Wyoming, and a copy of a newspaper article describing the results of the Ft. Worth Rodeo.

Excellent. This one-of-a-kind revolver is all original and retains 90% plus of the blue and 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 engraver 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 age patina and the relief-carved steer head is sharp. The grips show the typical hair-line age cracks but remain in excellent condition. 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.