The accompanying factory letter lists this pistol with a 5 inch barrel in .38 Super caliber, nickel finish and type of stocks not listed when shipped to Oklahoma City Hardware Co., Oklahoma City, OK, on August 9, 1933. The pistol features a characteristic Wolf & Klar zig-zag embellishment in floral, vine and simple patterns. The left side of the frame is inscribed with the name "G.H. FRANKLIN," the right side of the slide is engraved with a bird motif, and the bottom of the mainspring housing is engraved with an eagle. Fitted with stag grips and a nickel plated magazine marked "COLT" and "SUPER/38 AUTO." Special Agent George H. Franklin (1903-1978) served in the FBI for nearly 25 years, participating in investigations that spanned the public enemy era to the hysteria of communist infiltration at the dawning of the Cold War while assigned to FBI field offices in Charlotte, NC, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, MO, El Paso, TX and Albuquerque, NM. He was involved in the pursuit of America's most notorious gangsters. Armed with a shotgun, Franklin was across the street witnessing the shootout between Wilbur "Mad Dog" Underhill and law enforcement and afterwards accompanied Eva Mae Nichols, an innocent woman, to the hospital where she died from her wounds received during the shootout. When John Dillinger was killed outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago, IL, Franklin was pursing a tip by himself that Dillinger was in Hot Springs, AR. Hospitalized with tonsillitis, Franklin was dropped from the detail escorting Frank Nash that was ambushed at the Union Station railroad depot in Kansas City. Known as the Kansas City Massacre, the shootout resulted in the deaths of Nash and four officers. While in pursuit of the George "Irish" O'Malley Gang in Kansas City in 1936, Franklin was shot through the left upper thigh with a .45 fired by Clarence Sparger. Many years later, Franklin visited Sparger in Alcatraz. During World War II, he traveled across the United States teaching Civil Defense classes. His final years with the FBI were spent in Albuquerque keeping a watchful eye over the country's continuing development of the atomic bomb. His post FBI life was spent serving the City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico in various high level positions. Highlights from Franklin's FBI career were taken from an included two-page bio written by his son and his obituary that was published in the "New Mexico Lawman". Comes with seven reprinted photos of Franklin documenting his FBI career including one photo of legendary lawman and marksman Delf "Jelly" Bryce in Franklin's New Mexico home, two congratulatory messages (copies) written when he was appointed to the FBI from the two U.S. congressmen who recommended him to the Bureau and an appreciation of service letter (copy) from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

Very fine, retaining 97% original nickel finish and embellished by the renowned Fort Worth, Texas, retailer Wolf & Klar with some muzzle wear and minor handling evidence. The engraving is crisp. The grips are also very fine with attractive color. Mechanically excellent. A wonderful example of a Wolf & Klar engraving personalized to a public enemy era FBI special agent.

The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a limited production 4 inch barrel, nickel finish and checkered walnut grips when shipped on April 29, 1936 and delivered to George H. Franklin, Federal Reserve Bank Building, Kansas City, MO. The revolver features a characteristic Wolf & Klar zig-zag engraving in floral, vine and simple patterns. The sideplate has an engraved bird motif and the name "G.H. FRANKLIN" inside a banner. Matching serial numbers are on the butt, cylinder and ejector shroud. The hammer is professionally bobbed, mostly certainly the work of Wolf & Klar. The right grip panel has a relief carved Mexican eagle motif. This revolver was shipped while Franklin was with the Kansas City office.

Very fine, retaining 95% nickel finish and embellished by the renowned Fort Worth, Texas retailer Wolf & Klar with some high edge wear. The engraving is crisp. Much of the original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are also very fine showing typical age cracking on the bottom, some minor handling marks and crisp carving. Mechanically excellent. An already desirable Wolf & Klar engraved, 4 inch barreled .38/44 Heavy Duty (pre-war) revolver with the added bonus of being the property of a public enemy era Kansas City stationed FBI special agent that is worthy of any S&W or law enforcement collection. Provenance: The Doug Ellison Collection.