Manufactured between 1835-1850, these Miller patent revolving rifles were commonly called Billinghurst rifles because William Billinghurst of Rochester, New York, was the most prolific and well-known maker of the rifles. At least 15 gunsmiths made revolving rifles under the Miller patent, and it is estimated that only a few hundred were made in total. With over a dozen known makers, surviving examples of revolving rifles using the Miller patent show a variety of variations including varying calibers, barrel lengths, barrel styles and number of cylinder chambers. Each is a unique glimpse into mid-19th century craftsmanship and design. This J.&J. Miller marked rifle follows the basic pattern of the Miller patent, operates with pill lock ignition and has the distinctive front latch on the cylinder. Very tiny pills containing the fulminate are retained in small receptacles in the cylinder by use of bees wax. The pill lock, or pellet lock, was originally patented by renowned London gunsmith Joseph Manton in the early 19th century. The seven shot cylinder is rotated manually by releasing the latch located in front of the cylinder on the bottom of the barrel lug. James Miller patented this system on June 11, 1829, under U.S. patent number 203 (the original patent record was lost in the fire of 1836). This is one of the earliest revolving firearm patents and pre-dates the automatic cocking and locking system that Colt patented in 1836. The manually operated cylinder is serrated for an easier grip. The top barrel flat is marked "J. & J. Miller Rochester" in Gothic lettering, the top of the breech ahead of the cylinder is non-factory numbered "1735", and the lock plate is marked "J. & J. MILLER". The lock plate is engraved with a panel scene of a dog running through grassland with trees and a fence ahead of a bordered section with a motif, and the rear frame section, trigger guard and buttplate feature fine floral engraved motifs and borders. The barrel is equipped with fixed sights and solid under rib carrying a hickory ramrod. The cylinder and barrel are brown, and the remaining surfaces appear to have been casehardened. Mounted with a highly figured straight grip stock featuring gold wrist and barrel wedge escutcheons, horn forend tip and steel buttplate.

Very good, showing a mix of thinned original brown finish and smooth brown patina on the barrel and cylinder, a reattached split in the top strap with applied artificially aged brown finish, the remaining casehardened surfaces have a mixture of smooth brown and silvery gray patinas, with some scattered patches of light surface oxidation, some marred edges on a few screws, and the engravings and markings are mostly crisp. Refinished wood is good with some cracks, a few glued and nailed repairs visible above and below the lock, discoloration, and scattered light scratches and handling marks. Mechanically fine. A solid representative example of a rarely encountered highly embellished revolving rifle that will fill a gap in the most advanced antique American rifle collections.