This spectacular revolver was manufactured in 1862 and features a rare and highly desirable grip made from wood from the famous Charter Oak on Wyllys Hill in Hartford, Connecticut. The famous landmark dates back centuries and earned its nickname and place in history when the Connecticut Charter of 1662 was hidden in its hollow trunk in 1687 to prevent it from being seized by Governor-General Edmund Andros who had been appointed by King Charles II to consolidate the northern colonies as the Dominion of New England. Andros was overthrown by the colonists in 1689, and Connecticut returned to its chartered government. It was felled by a violent storm on August 21, 1856. Given its storied past and significance to the community, wood from the tree was transformed into special presentation pieces, including several pieces of furniture in the Hartford Capitol Building and the governor's desk. Samuel Colt was known to be fond of impressive old trees and the Charter Oak in particular and paid for many of the fine pieces made from its wood, including a cradle for Samuel Jarvis Colt Jr. and the Charter Oak Chair. Colt also used pieces of the tree to craft grips for a select number of his revolvers for use as special presentations. This revolver's case is featured on page 115 of "The Book of Colt Firearms" by Sutherland and Wilson where the authors note: "the Model 1849 was a favorite presentation piece used by Colonel Colt...The rarest form of Model 1849 casing is in leather, usually done to simulate a book. Among the titles was: Colt On The Constitution Higher Law & Irrepressible Conflict." The revolver and case are also featured on page 82 of "The William M. Locke Collection" by Frank Sellers and pages 95-97 of "Samuel Colt Presents" by Wilson. Only a very small number of Charter Oak Model 1849s Pocket revolvers are known along with less than ten Model 1855 Pocket revolvers. The revolver features a small cone front sight, the "ADDRESS COL SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA" barrel address, stagecoach scene on the six-shot cylinder, "COLTS/PATENT" marking on the left side of the frame, high polish blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, and small parts; brilliant casehardened finish on the frame as well as the loading lever and hammer, and silver plated finish on the brass trigger guard and back strap. The loading lever is marked "3". The cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap all have the matching serial number "198066", and a "2" is on the left side of the trigger guard. In addition to the revolver, the case contains an Eley Bros. cap tin, Colt's patent powder flask, a blued L-shaped combination tool, key, and bullet mold with a "2" marking. The case exterior is dark leather with gilt designs, and the spine reads: "COLT/ON THE CONSTITUTION/'HIGHER LAW'/AND/IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT" as well as "PRESENTED TO/P.G.W.P. H.H. DICKINSON,/BY SOUTH MEADOW/DIVISION S. OF T./FEB. 25TH 1862." In addition to the cased set, the lot includes the "TEN BEST ARMS 2001" NRA plaque, cased NRA silver medal #395 with note marked "COLT 1849/CHARTER OAK/BOOK CASING/#198066," a cased copy of "Proceedings at the Dedication of Charter Oak Hall," two silver Charter Oak spoons, The Order of the Sons of Temperance Past Grand Worthy Patriarch badge marked "PRESENTED TO/T.A.SWINDELL P.G.W.P." with case, and a red velvet sash with gilt borders and stars, a cockade of white, purple, and red with gilt center; and a "VCT" patch. Also includes a binder of with a Connecticut quarter, a Jonathan Trumbull 1778 medal with the Charter Oak, copies of information relating to the Sons of Temperance and Charter Oak, and a variety of original documents and letters including a statement signed by William E. Dickinson noting the expulsion of Daniel Duff from the South Meadow Division in 1872, stamps, post cards, checks, and more. The Hartford Courant on February 26, 1862, noted " The South Meadow Division of the Sons of Temperance celebrated its first anniversary at Charter Oak Hall, in the South Meadows, last evening. The room occupied by the Division was elegantly set out, and a well laden table occupied the floor. Before the feast, the chairman of the occasion, H. Lord, Esq. in behalf of the Division, presented a pistol and case, appropriately inscribed, to P. G. W. P. Dickinson..." H. H. Dickinson is also noted as giving the response to the toast "The Hartford, Charter Oak, and South Meadow Divisions" during the celebration. He was the president of the temperance meeting in Hartford on October 29, 1861. Dickinson is listed as a Past Grand Worthy Patriarch in other records for the Sons of Temperance as well such as the organization’s 1868 directory indicating he was one of the representatives elected to the national division. He was listed as Rev. H. H. Dickinson in the 1870 list of members that attended the 26th annual session in Newark, New Jersey. Henry H. Dickinson (1816-1871) was a chemist in Hartford per Census records for 1850 and is then listed as a clergyman in 1870. The caption in the Locke book notes that Dickinson was an aged for Rogers Brothers Manufacturing Company which did business with Colt and was later a book dealer. Many of Colt's workmen were associated with the Sons of Temperance, including the William E. Dickinson noted above who was on Colt's payroll in 1886. Provenance: The William M. Locke Collection; The Richard Ellis Collection; The Fred Sweeney Collection; The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection