Description
Historic U.S. Colt Model 1911 Semi-Automatic Pistol, Attributed to Famed Texas Ranger Captain Manuel T. Gonzaullas, “El Solo Lobo,” with Display Stand and Book
Manufactured in 1917 on military contract, this U.S. Colt 1911 pistol has been modified and custom embellished. The barrel address, model marking, serial number, and the “29” on the trigger guard shoulder have been preserved, with about 80% of the pistol surface covered in floral motif engraving with punch dot accents and backing, notably distinct from the more traditional Colt scrollwork. The trigger guard has been professionally cut away, with only a small amount of the lower shoulder remaining, and a set of holes have been drilled, tapped, and filled on the underside of the frame and shoulder.
The “HS” marked High Standard barrel retains its original blue, but the other components, including the bushing, spring plug, and magazine, are finished in polished nickel. Finally, a set of Lopez Engraving .925 silver grips have been installed, with engraved and blackened fields on both sides, “M/T/G” in gold lettering down the left panel, and a Ranger Captain’s badge on the right. Born in Spain in 1891, Gonzaullas performed brief stints with the Mexican Army and the Treasury Department before joining the Texas Rangers in 1920 as a mounted ranger on the Texas/Mexico border. In service, he earned the nickname “El Solo Lobo” (literally “The Lone Wolf”), with a reputation for handling more or less whatever was thrown at him, from simple vice crimes up to murder.
In the 1930s, the Rangers were on the wrong end of massive budget issues and in the political crosshairs of Governor Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, who effectively shut down the organization in 1933. During the shutdown and the formation of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Gonzaullas applied his skills in the private sector for oil companies. With the founding of the DPS in 1935, Gonzaullas was brought back on board, first as superintendent of the Bureau of Intelligence and then as Captain of Company B of the Rangers in 1940; his work in both areas was noted as helping the DPS establish its bona fides as a newly forged agency and helping the Rangers recover their prestige. Retiring in 1951, he became a consultant to radio, television, and filmmakers, notably the radio and television series Tales of the Texas Rangers.
The pistol has been attributed as part of Gonzaullas’ inventory by a previous owner; while not explicitly documented, the Captain can be seen in vintage photographs from his service with the Rangers and DPS carrying similarly decorated and modified 1911/Government Model semi-automatics while on duty, and while the grips are more modern the pistol and barrel would be contemporary to his service time. Included with the gun are a padded hardwood case, a hardwood and glass display stand with Gonzaullas-themed decorations and carving, a thick hardwood plaque with additional info on his life and career, and a copy of the biography “Captain M.T. Gonzaullas: Lone Wolf” by Brownson Malsch.
