This Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolver or "Root" revolver was manufactured in 1856. The revolver has an octagon barrel and five-shot cylinder and has a high polish blue finish with casehardened loading lever and hammer. The one-piece walnut grip has a high gloss piano finish. The barrel has the second style marking with pointing hand and "COLT'S PATENT/1855" followed by "ADDRESS COL. COLT/HARTFORD CT.U.S.A." in two lines. The cylinder is roll engraved with the "cabin and Indian fight scene". The serial number is located on the underside of the barrel, on the cylinder, and on the butt. All of the serial numbers match. The revolver is complete with a mahogany English style casing with maroon velvet lining and five compartments. The case contains: an Eley Bros. cap tin with green paper label, a brass two-cavity bullet mold with "COLTS/PATENT" on the iron sprue cutter, a powder flask with green leather cover and brass top, and steel screwdriver with wooden handle. The revolver came from Massachusetts and is complete with a C.D.V. of the original owner Thomas J. Parker. The C.D.V. shows Parker in a dress coat with sergeant's stripes and is inscribed on the back: "Presented by T. J. Parker now at Liberty, Va. April 15th 1864 to his Father Wm Parker now at New Boston, NH." Documentation with the revolver includes Parker's service records. Parker's records indicate that he enlisted in Co. B of the 32nd Massachusetts Infantry on November 18, 1861, for three years. He was a farmer from New Hampshire before the war. He was promoted to sergeant in 1863 and was wounded in action on September 30, 1864, but returned to his unit in January 1865. In February 1865, Parker was promoted to 1st lieutenant in Co. A of the 28th Massachusetts Infantry. Shortly after returning home from leave to visit his family, he was shot on March 25, 1865, in the right side at an engagement listed as "Watkin's House" near Petersburg, Virginia. Lieutenant Thomas J. Parker died from the gunshot wound on April 21, 1865, at Annapolis, Maryland, two weeks after the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House and the same day President Lincoln's funeral train left Washington, D.C., in a circuitous route back to Springfield, Illinois. Soon Parker's family would have also been mourning. Provenance: Lieutenant Thomas J. Parker of the 28th Massachusetts Infantry; Property of a Gentleman

Excellent. The revolver retains 90% of the bright original high polish blue finish. There is some flaking and scattered light pitting on the right side of the frame adjacent to the cylinder and on the right side of the barrel. The cylinder has 80% of the blue finish and 95% of the cylinder scene. There is light to moderate flash pitting on the percussion nipples and rear face of the cylinder. The casehardened loading lever, hammer, cylinder pin and trigger have 90% of the original finish with strong case colors. The grip is excellent and has nearly all of the original varnish. Markings are crisp. The case is fine. The exterior has only minor handling and storage marks. The interior lining is faded and has compression marks on the top and bottom with some minor tears from the front sight. The cap tin and flask are in fine condition. The bullet mold has a number of dents in one side from use as a hammer; the sprue cutter is bright, and the mold shows minimal wear. The screwdriver has a number of light dents in the handle but is in good overall condition. The C.D.V. of Thomas Parker is in fine overall condition with minor wear. This is an exceptional example of a high condition cased Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket revolver that is identified to a specific Civil War soldier with extensive documentation.