"COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 41503. Cal. 36. Fine presentation piece with 4-1/2" rnd bbl, brass pin front sight and New York address. It has the rack & pinion or creeping rammer with fluted 5-shot cylinder. Left side of frame has "COLTS PATENT" and it has a brass grip frame with 1-pc walnut grip. Back strap has the presentation in period script "To Hon. S.F. Carey (sic) / From S.M. Division S. of T. / Hartford March 9th 1869". Accompanied by an orig purple velvet lined Colt casing with mortised brass lock, compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a single sided Colt's Patent eagle flask, L-shaped nipple wrench, an iron 2-cavity Colt's Patent mold with "36P" on right side and a tin of Eley's caps. Also accompanied by a copy of a 2-page article from the July 1981 Gun Report by Ron Hickox, which is about Congressman Cary and this revolver. Samuel Fenton Cary, Sr. was born Feb. 18, 1814 in Cincinnati, OH and became a lawyer after graduating from Cincinnati Law School in 1837 and began practicing law the same year. He later was employed as Paymaster General for the State of Ohio and then in 1845 became a farmer and devoted his energies to the Temperance and Anti-Slavery movements. He gave lectures & wrote books on prohibition and slavery matters and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1864 supporting Abraham Lincoln. In 1865 he became the Collector of Internal Revenue for Ohio's First District. In 1867 he was elected to represent Ohio's Second Congressional District to complete the term of Rutherford B. Hayes who had resigned to become President. The next year he was defeated for re-election. In 1875 he ran for Ohio Lieutenant Governor but was defeated and in 1876 ran as the nominee for Vice-President of the U.S. on the Greenback Party but finished third behind the Republicans & Democrats. He died at his home in Cincinnati on Sept. 29, 1900. There is no information immediately available regarding this presentation but a determined research should disclose, at least, who the S.M. Division S. of T. was or is which should further indicate the reason for the presentation. It is likely that the presentation had something to do with Mr. Cary's stance on Temperance and/or Slavery. It is interesting to note that Mr. Cary's name in the presentation is misspelled which was either not discovered before the presentation or, if discovered, not far enough in advance to have the situation remedied. CONDITION: Revolver is fine with the bbl retaining traces of blue in sheltered areas being mostly a blue/gray patina. Rammer pivot retains bright case colors. Cylinder is mostly a blue/gray patina. Frame retains 60-70% faded case colors, stronger on right side. Hammer also retains faded case colors. Grip frame is a light mustard patina, probably having been cleaned a long time ago. Grip is sound with lightly worn edges and a few nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Hammer is not strong at half cock notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered light pitting. Case has a grain check in the bottom, otherwise is completely sound retaining most of its orig varnish with light handling & use marks. Interior is lightly faded with wear from the revolver and implements. Center of the lid interior has curious wear with some light damage from three initials that appear to be "RFF" and apparently were painted in place. Flask has a dark patina, mold & nipple wrench are fine. 4-31911 JR385 (3,000-4,000)"
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