EXTRAORDINARILY RARE, NEAR PRISTINE, CASED “CHARTER OAK” COLT 1855 ROOT MODEL 7 PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE, NEAR PRISTINE, CASED “CHARTER OAK” COLT 1855 ROOT MODEL 7 PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 11060. Cal. 31. Blue finish with 3-1/2″ stepped rnd bbl that has rare dovetailed front sight and 2-line New-York U.S.A. address. Cylinder is usual 5-shots, unfluted with screw-in-the side cylinder pin retainer and has stagecoach holdup rolled marking. Most rare of all the Colt percussion revolvers is the Charter Oak fitted models. This revolver is fitted with a smooth oak 1-pc grip that is undoubtedly from the famed Connecticut Charter Oak. Accompanied by its orig Colt mahogany casing with burgundy velvet lining compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a sgl sided “COLTS PATENT” eagle & stars flask, a 2-cavity blued steel “COLTS PATENT” mold with sprue cutter marked on right side “31 PKT”. Also accompanied by a full lacquered tin of Eley’s caps and an empty packet of combustible cartridges. This revolver appeared as Plate 100 on p. 158 of the book Samuel Colt Presents, Wilson. The lender was Mr. H.A. Redfield. Mr. Redfield is also credited with another 1855 on the facing page. Additionally accompanied by a 10-page letter from noted Colt historian & author, R.L. Wilson. Mr. Wilson states that this revolver is fitted with an authentic “Charter Oak” grip. In the letter he identifies Mr. Redfield as a somewhat reclusive collector in the Hartford area who was from a wealthy local family and who had “connections” at the Colt plant. Mr. Wilson details how that Samuel Colt was given a substantial portion of the famed Charter Oak upon its demise and that in addition to having various items carved from the wood, which Mrs. Colt later donated to the Wadsworth Atheneum, he also stocked a variety of special presentation revolvers. It is well known that the Colt factory kept on hand previously finished presentation quality arms for “emergency” presentations. Mr. Wilson speculates that this revolver was one of those “stand by” presentation pieces that was never called for and after the model became obsolete was forgotten until Mr. Redfield purchased it or was given it. The Charter Oak of Connecticut is undoubtedly one of the most historic and famous trees in New England, if not in the United States. This venerable old tree stood on the land owned by Mr. I.W. Stuart who apparently was a close friend of Samuel Colt. This tree was recorded to have been huge as early as 1614 and in 1630 a delegation of local Indians is reported to have approached Samuel Wyllys, the early settler who had cleared much of the land around it, encouraging him to preserve the tree and described it as having been planted ceremonially by their tribe when they first settled the area. The name Charter Oak stems from the legend in late 1687 when it became the hiding place for the Connecticut constitution. This constitution had been granted to the Connecticut colony in 1662 by King Charles II, however his successor James II appointed Sir Edmond Andros as Governor-General who stated that his appointment invalidated the charter. In October 1887 he came to Hartford to retrieve the charter which created heated debate in the meeting hall during which the lights were “accidentally” extinguished and when they were re-lit the charter was gone and apparently was spirited away by Capt. Joseph Wadsworth who secreted it in a hollow in this old tree. It is estimated that at that time the tree may have been approaching 500 years of age. After the furor had settled the charter was retrieved but the name Charter Oak remained. The tree lived on almost another 150 years, until Aug. 21, 1856 when it was toppled over by a heavy storm. The owner at that time, Mr. I.W. Stuart, had the tree cut into pieces and gave them to various officials & entities. Several pieces of furniture and other nick-knacks survive today mostly in the museums and major collections in the Hartford area, and on a very few Colt revolvers. This is the only Colt “Charter Oak” Model 7 Root known to exist to the cataloger. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine (was not disassembled to check for matching parts). Overall retains virtually all of its wonderful high polish, glossy, orig blue with some light flaking on the bbl & cylinder. Rammer & hammer retain all of their bright case colors, and grip retains virtually all of its fine orig varnish. Case is equally fine & new with only a few light storage & handling nicks and retains virtually all of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded with minor soil in the bottom. Flask is equally new retaining 98-99% orig finish. Mold is also unused but has flaked to about 90% orig finish. Cap tin is equally new. A truly rare & exceptional find unlikely to be encountered again. 4-39942 (115,000-135,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2217	$126,500.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE, NEAR PRISTINE, CASED “CHARTER OAK” COLT 1855 ROOT MODEL 7 PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 11060. Cal. 31. Blue finish with 3-1/2″ stepped rnd bbl that has rare dovetailed front sight and 2-line New-York U.S.A. address. Cylinder is usual 5-shots, unfluted with screw-in-the side cylinder pin retainer and has stagecoach holdup rolled marking. Most rare of all the Colt percussion revolvers is the Charter Oak fitted models. This revolver is fitted with a smooth oak 1-pc grip that is undoubtedly from the famed Connecticut Charter Oak. Accompanied by its orig Colt mahogany casing with burgundy velvet lining compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a sgl sided “COLTS PATENT” eagle & stars flask, a 2-cavity blued steel “COLTS PATENT” mold with sprue cutter marked on right side “31 PKT”. Also accompanied by a full lacquered tin of Eley’s caps and an empty packet of combustible cartridges. This revolver appeared as Plate 100 on p. 158 of the book Samuel Colt Presents, Wilson. The lender was Mr. H.A. Redfield. Mr. Redfield is also credited with another 1855 on the facing page. Additionally accompanied by a 10-page letter from noted Colt historian & author, R.L. Wilson. Mr. Wilson states that this revolver is fitted with an authentic “Charter Oak” grip. In the letter he identifies Mr. Redfield as a somewhat reclusive collector in the Hartford area who was from a wealthy local family and who had “connections” at the Colt plant. Mr. Wilson details how that Samuel Colt was given a substantial portion of the famed Charter Oak upon its demise and that in addition to having various items carved from the wood, which Mrs. Colt later donated to the Wadsworth Atheneum, he also stocked a variety of special presentation revolvers. It is well known that the Colt factory kept on hand previously finished presentation quality arms for “emergency” presentations. Mr. Wilson speculates that this revolver was one of those “stand by” presentation pieces that was never called for and after the model became obsolete was forgotten until Mr. Redfield purchased it or was given it. The Charter Oak of Connecticut is undoubtedly one of the most historic and famous trees in New England, if not in the United States. This venerable old tree stood on the land owned by Mr. I.W. Stuart who apparently was a close friend of Samuel Colt. This tree was recorded to have been huge as early as 1614 and in 1630 a delegation of local Indians is reported to have approached Samuel Wyllys, the early settler who had cleared much of the land around it, encouraging him to preserve the tree and described it as having been planted ceremonially by their tribe when they first settled the area. The name Charter Oak stems from the legend in late 1687 when it became the hiding place for the Connecticut constitution. This constitution had been granted to the Connecticut colony in 1662 by King Charles II, however his successor James II appointed Sir Edmond Andros as Governor-General who stated that his appointment invalidated the charter. In October 1887 he came to Hartford to retrieve the charter which created heated debate in the meeting hall during which the lights were “accidentally” extinguished and when they were re-lit the charter was gone and apparently was spirited away by Capt. Joseph Wadsworth who secreted it in a hollow in this old tree. It is estimated that at that time the tree may have been approaching 500 years of age. After the furor had settled the charter was retrieved but the name Charter Oak remained. The tree lived on almost another 150 years, until Aug. 21, 1856 when it was toppled over by a heavy storm. The owner at that time, Mr. I.W. Stuart, had the tree cut into pieces and gave them to various officials & entities. Several pieces of furniture and other nick-knacks survive today mostly in the museums and major collections in the Hartford area, and on a very few Colt revolvers. This is the only Colt “Charter Oak” Model 7 Root known to exist to the cataloger. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine (was not disassembled to check for matching parts). Overall retains virtually all of its wonderful high polish, glossy, orig blue with some light flaking on the bbl & cylinder. Rammer & hammer retain all of their bright case colors, and grip retains virtually all of its fine orig varnish. Case is equally fine & new with only a few light storage & handling nicks and retains virtually all of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded with minor soil in the bottom. Flask is equally new retaining 98-99% orig finish. Mold is also unused but has flaked to about 90% orig finish. Cap tin is equally new. A truly rare & exceptional find unlikely to be encountered again. 4-39942 (115,000-135,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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