When the cowmangler was released I bought the (Dr. Grordbort's Victory Pack) from the tf2 in game store for $19.99. Back then buying things from the tf2 store caused items to be uncraftable. I had a team spirit paint can that I was saving to use on a cosmetic item I was trying to get for my medic at the time. When trying to use it on that medic mask hat I saw that for some reason the cowmangler was able to be painted not really thinking about it I confirmed the paint and had a painted cowmangler. Fast forwared many years later I was using it in the intox server groups Vs. Saxton Hale game mode and someone noticed its painted status while trying to inspect my H.O.U.W.A.R. and then the server proceeded to flip out. I was constantly asked to see it and was told a rare item like that was worth a lot. Being a medic main I really didn't have much use for a painted cowmangler so I looked to trade it for another rare item or cash. A few unsucessful trading years go by and I meet an aspiring starting out trader steam named "Beejay Simpson" He claimed he could find me a buyer for it and assist me in doing the trading work to take what we get for it and make it into a golden pan. I decided to trust him because he was referred to me by a longtime friend and he proceeded to get to work. In a few months he found me a buyer and we sold this painted cow mangler for a Blizardy Storms Potassium Bonnet (It was new at the time so it had a super inflated price) he then got to work selling unusuals he got for keys and then reinvesting them back into the unusual market. It took just over a year at this and he was able to make an offer on a golden pan and some sweets. Our agreement was he would get me a Golden Pan while he gets to keep any profit made from the deals. I also have bought him quite a few steam games for his service.

How I Had This?
There was about a ~3 month timeframe where the mangler was paintable with team colors. This was due to an error by the TF2 Team. They put out item test changes from the (Now Dead) TF2 Beta into the real game without checking the content they where going to send out first.

July 20, 2011 Patch: was the first day the CM5K could be painted with team colors
Users reported it in the beta here: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2030208

It was not known to be paintable in the main game until someone posted reporting that the cow mangler was paintable on September 26, 2011 Reported here: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2142343

October 14, 2011 [Item schema update]: was the day the Cow Mangler could not be painted anymore

At some point in time between the july update (the cowmangler was put in the game) and the september update around the 20th the Tf2 Team accidentlly allowed the cowmangler to be painted in the main game.

This item has been sold!
and so begins my quest for a golden pan.
with the assistance of a friend we plan to turn what we got for the painted cow mangler into a golden pan before the end of the year. wish him good luck!

QUEST COMPLETED GOLDEN PAN AQUIRED!!!
THANKS AND GREAT JOB Beejay Simpson!