There is a plaque affixed to the shaft of this cane attributing it as a branch from the Charter Oak tree in Hartford, Connecticut. The Charter Oak was a massive oak tree located on Wyllys Hyll in Hartford, Connecticut that is believed to have dated back to the 12th or 13th century. The oak got its name around 1687 when, as legend would have it, the original copy of Connecticut's Royal Charter of 1662 was hidden in a hollow of the trunk, when the new royal governor, Sir Edmund Andros, was attempting to reclaim much of the autonomy bestowed on the colony by the previous monarch. The tree eventually fell in 1856 during a brutal storm, and due to its legendary status, was used to make various presentation items, including furniture, grips for Colt revolvers, and canes, one of which was actually presented to Andrew Johnson. The grip of this cane is antique ivory, carved into a simple smooth sphere. Just below that is a lanyard hole through the shaft with brass escutcheons, and below that the above mentioned plaque. The shaft itself is oak with heavy burling throughout and the tip appears to have previously been fitted with a ferrule which is now absent. It measures 33 inches overall.

Fine, the grip showing some hairline age cracks, mostly on top, and an attractively aged tone. The shaft is also fine with some scattered age cracks, typical of age, and retaining much of the finish. A unique piece of Hartford, Connecticut history!