This is an extremely rare example of a six-shot percussion revolving rifle (serial number 6 of production) that was invented by Rufus Nichols and Edward Childs of Conway, Massachusetts. Nichols and Childs were issued a patent for this rifle on April 24, 1838. Experts estimate that only 100-150 of these rifles were manufactured; the maker of these rifles has not been identified. The rifle has a round, .44 caliber, rifled, barrel with a dove-tail mounted, nickel-sliver, front sight blade and a sporting style rear sight. The barrel has a brown finish. The cylinder is rotated by an external ratchet that is activated when the hammer is cocked. A lever on the left side of the frame locks the cylinder and must be released to cock the hammer. The frame hammer and cylinder have a case hardened finish. The rifle has a highly figured walnut stock with a Gothic style, German silver, patch box, upper tang, trigger guard and buttplate. The left side of the stock has a raised cheek-piece and is inlaid with German silver profiles of an eagle and a buck deer. The rifle has no provision for a forearm and is not equipped with a loading lever. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped: "NICHOLS & CHILDS/PATENT/CONWAY/MASS" in four lines. The serial number, "6", is stamped in two places on the top of the frame. This is a high quality, well-finished an embellished revolving rifle.

Fine. The original brown finish on the barrel has aged to a mottled, brown-gray patina. The barrel surfaces have no pitting or surface discoloration and the rifling in the bore is sharp. The frame, hammer, cylinder and external action retain the original silvered out casehardened pattern with some scattered age discoloration. The percussion nipples, cylinder face and hammer have minimal flash pitting and it appears the rifle was rarely fired. The German silver patch box, furniture and inlays are in very fine to excellent condition. The highly figured walnut stock is in excellent condition with minor handling wear and moderate cracks where the stock meets the frame. The "NICHOLS & CHILDS" markings on the left side of the frame are sharp. The action appears to be fully functional. This is a fine original example of a very rare percussion revolving rifle that was a contemporary of the Colt/Paterson rifles and carbines.