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LOT 104
Historic California Shipped Colt First Generation Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter and Documentation Attributing to Texas Rodeo Star Clay McGonagill - Serial no. 303512, 44-40 WCF cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, pearl grips. Manufactured in 1907 with the standard two-line address on top of the
barrel and Frontier Six Shooter marking on the left, two-line patent dates and Rampant Colt on the left of the frame, and matching serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with the assembly number “738” on the loading gate. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration, grips not listed, as well as shipment to Harper & Reynolds Co. in Los Angeles, California on 22 April 1909. Includes documentation including two cassette recorded interviews attributing this revolver as having belonged to Texas cowboy Clay McGonagill who was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1975. He was born September 24, 1879 in Sweet Home, Lavaca County, Texas, but by the age of four the McGonagill family moved near Midland where they raised steel dust breeds of quarter horse. It was on the family ranch where Clay McGonagill learned to ride and rope at an early age. When he grew older
he traveled to west Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona and made a living by cowboying for ranches in the areas he was traveling through. He would also get himself in trouble with the law but charges always ended up dropped due to
a lack of evidence such as when he allegedly committed armed bank robbery with outlaw Tom Ross or was suspected of horse theft. He herded and roped steers for prize money across the United States as well as internationally. He
is noted as one of the first cowboys to earn a living competing in rodeos, and
is noted as having won an estimated 500 contests in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Argentina. McGonagill was among a group of cowboys that included famed cowboy humorist Will Roger to participate in the First International Rodeo held in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1902. Tragedy struck in 1921 when McGonagill was killed at age 42 while working on an Indian Reservation. CONDITION: Very good, retains strong traces of the original blue finish and case colors in sheltered areas with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered small patches of light pitting. The grips are also fine with a few minor chips and handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A Colt Frontier Six Shooter that certainly has the look of spending time on the frontier!
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
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