Manufactured in 1862, these Butterfield revolvers were produced by Jesse Butterfield of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are considered by collectors to be secondary U.S. martial handgun since they were manufactured in anticipation of an unrealized government contract that was believed to have been for 2,280 revolvers. With no contract awarded, production was limited to only about 640 revolvers, making them incredibly hard to acquire on the collectors market. It is equipped with a special disc priming device loaded by loosening a thumb-screw in front of the trigger guard. The top strap is marked "BUTTERFIELD'S/PATENT DEC 11. 1855/PHILADA". Various components are marked with the matching serial number "189" including on the bottom surface of both grip panels.

Very good plus, retains 30% of the original blue finish with the balance mostly a grey patina with some light pitting, and the fine brass shows an attractively aged patina overall. The grips are good with hairline cracks in the butts of both panels and some scattered minor dings throughout. Mechanically fine. A scarce revolver that would fill a gap in many of the most extensive Civil War revolver collections!