Description
Here’s something you don’t see every day—a Colt Lightweight Commander with history engraved into every line of steel. This semi-automatic pistol isn’t just a beautiful firearm; it’s a tribute to one of the most iconic Texas Rangers to ever wear the badge: Captain Manuel T. Gonzaullas, famously known as “El Solo Lobo”—The Lone Wolf.
Shipped on September 28, 1950, to the Southwest Sporting Goods Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this .38 Super Commander was one of just five in the order, complete with a 4¼-inch barrel and blue finish. The factory letter confirms the details—though the grips were marked “Not Listed,” what’s on this piece now tells a far deeper story.
Let’s talk engravings. On the left side of the slide, you’ll find “Texas Rangers / 1920–1951” engraved at the front, and just above the caliber markings, “El Solo Lobo”—a fitting nod to a man known for tackling cases solo and coming out on top. Behind the serrations, a detailed outline of Texas. The right side? A Texas Rangers star behind the serrations, “PRESENTED / UPON RETIREMENT” near the ejection port, and “Captain / Manuel T. Gonzaullas” etched beside a small crucifix. Even the smooth metal-backed grips are personal—one side inscribed “M/T/G,” the other showing a Rampant Colt-style horse trotting across a desert scene.
And the trigger guard? It’s been “bobbed,” leaving the face exposed—a small but meaningful touch that lines up with Gonzaullas’s known preferences. A letter from Robert D. Moser, author of Texas Iron: Guns of the Texas Rangers, stops short of calling this pistol Gonzaullas’s personal gun but makes a strong case. Between the timeline, the personalization, the engraving style, and the known fact that the Captain owned an astonishing 580 weapons, this feels like more than a coincidence. Could it have been a retirement gift from an admirer? Very possibly.
It comes in a padded leather case that’s practically a love letter to the Rangers, complete with detailed Western tooling. Also included: copies of Texas Iron and Captain M.T. Gonzaullas: Lone Wolf—a biography that dives into the life of the man behind the legend.
All in all, this isn’t just a collector-grade Colt. It’s a piece of Texas history—a physical, tangible story of grit, pride, and the Lone Wolf who helped write it.
