This is an attractive example of a Colt Model 1862 Police percussion revolver that was manufactured in 1861, the first year of production, and was presented to J. Lyman Wilder by Colonel Samuel Colt. Speaking to the condition of this revolver noted Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson said, "No. 3115 is in such a superb and perfect state of preservation that one wonders if the cylinder was ever turned" (from the included Wilson letter). The revolver has the distinctive fluted five-shot cylinder marked with the patent date, round barrel, and creeping loading lever combined with Model 1849 size frame and grip. The barrel has a brass cone front sight. The recoil shield has the capping channel found on many Model 1862 Police revolvers. The barrel and cylinder have the Colt extra high polish commercial blue finish reserved for special presentation pieces. It is truly an impressively rich finish that speaks volumes to the quality of Colt craftsmanship in the mid to late 19th century. The loading lever, frame and hammer are color casehardened, and the brass trigger guard and back strap are silver plated. The one piece walnut grip has a high gloss varnish finish. The top of the barrel is stamped "ADDRESS COLT SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA." The left side of the frame is stamped "COLTS/PATENT" (faint). The letter "D" is stamped on the left shoulder of the trigger guard. The full serial number "3115" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The barrel wedge is unmarked. With the revolver is a period presentation "book" case titled "Colt on the Constitution, Higher Law & Irrepressible Conflict" and featuring the George Washington cover motif and the date "JAN. 1st 1861." These period Colt cases are rare and first appeared during the Paterson era. The partitioned case is lined in red wine velvet and contains a Colt's patent eagle powder flask, Eley Brothers percussion cap tin with caps, Colt's patent two cavity bullet mold, and four sealed packages of combustible envelope cartridges for the Colt Police revolver. After examining this book case, Wilson concluded that "[he] has yet to see an example in better condition. It was not unusual for those few book casings made, and the even fewer number to have survived, to have suffered greatly: Not only from handling and misuse over the years, but from the gradual deterioration of leather and velvet lining. [I have] never seen a 19th century Colt book casing in the remarkable state of preservation as that accompanying No. 3115" (from Wilson's included letter). Similar examples of book cases are found in R.L Wilson's "Colt Engraving Book" (page 120), "The Colt Heritage" (page 139) and "Colt an American Legend" (page 139) and James Serven's "Colt Firearms from 1836" (page 112). Included with the revolver is a letter of provenance written by Earl W. Southworth and dated January 1989.Southworth states that his great grandfather, J. Lyman Wilder, was the likely recipient of this revolver, serial number 3115. For years the cased revolver was stored in a barrel in the attic of the Southworth home. Southworth also stated, "I do not know why the gun was apparently given by Samuel Colt in the first place, but his calling card, written 'Compliments,' has always been in the book-case containing the gun." Although the original business card is no longer with the revolver, a photocopy of the original card accompanies this set. Even as a photocopy Colt's handwritten word "Compliments" (sic) is clearly visible. Wilson notes, "The misspelling is typically in Colt's inimitable style." The original card is pictured and described along with the revolver and book case in Robert Lee and R.L. Wilson's book "The Art of the Gun: Magnificent Colts, Selections from the Robert M. Lee Collection, Vol. I" (pages 272-275). For reference see the cased Colt Baby Dragoon pictured and described in R.L. Wilson's "Colt and American Legend" and "The Colt Heritage" page 129, which was presented by Samuel Colt to U.S. Commissioner of Patents Edmund Burke. Like the Wilder revolver, Samuel Colt's business card documenting the presentation accompanies the Burke revolver. It would therefore be reasonable to conclude that Col. Samuel Colt used his business card as a form of documenting presentation firearms. R.L. Wilson concluded, "It is [my] firmly held opinion that the book casings were reserved for Colt presentations, and were not available to the public or even to Colt's jobbers. Colonel Colt had a special affection for the book cased Colts, and the idea was entirely his own" (from the second included Wilson letter). Also note that the company manufactured a limited number of presentation arms during the Civil War period and other known Colt presentation revolvers serial numbers 3408, 3409 and 3414, which display the same extra polish blue finish and were given out in 1861, are close to the Wilder revolver, serial number 3115. As stated, this revolver was manufactured in 1861. Colt died on 10 January 1862, making this Model 1862 one of the last Col. Colt presentation firearms. Moreover, the historical record identifies a J. Lyman Wilder residing in Hartford around the time of the 1861 presentation date marked on the case. The 1862-63, 1864-65 and 1865-66 Hartford City Directories lists a J. Lyman Wilder as a manufacturer and wholesale dealer in high end saddlery located at 147 Main Street (photocopies are included). It is known that Colt had a passion for horses and is therefore reasonable to concluded that J. Lyman Wilder outfitted Colt with fine saddlery. Lyman was involved in Hartford politics, ran for councilman in the Fourth Ward in 1861 and was a member of the Putnam Phalanx. He was also the director of the Hartford Horse Association which held the National Horse Show in Hartford in the fall of 1861. Given the manufacture date of this revolver, Colt's presentation may have been linked to Wilder's role in the National Horse Show.

Very fine as factory refinished in the period of usage. The barrel and cylinder retain 98% plus factory quality high polished blue finish showing some light handling marks and traces of cycling marks on the cylinder. The frame, hammer and loading lever retain 97% vivid case colors. The grip straps retain 98% plus of the silver plating. The "COLTS/PATENT" mark on the frame is lightly visible. Light pitting is visible on the cylinder face and barrel lug under the forcing cone. The grip is excellent showing a few minor handling marks and retaining most of the finish. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine showing high edge wear and some high spot wear on the lining. The accessories are fine. As R.L. Wilson noted, "The Colonel Colt to J. Lyman Wilder book cased Model 1862 Police set is a remarkable treasure from the Civil War era, well worthy of the most astute private and most distinguished museum collection." Provenance: Robert M. Lee Collection.