The Spiller and Burr percussion revolver was manufactured in Atlanta, Georgia circa 1862 to 1864 with a total production of about 700 and after purchase of the firm by the Confederate States in January of 1864, production began again at the Macon Armory from 1864 to 1865 with another approximately 700 revolvers made. Production started with a very optimistic government contract of about 15,000 revolvers in 1862. The revolver is patterned after the Whitney has the distinctive solid brass frame and trigger guard, two-piece walnut grips with brass escutcheons, full-octagon barrel, Manhattan style loading lever and six-shot cylinder. "C.S" is stamped on the lower left front of the frame. "345" is stamped on the bottom barrel flat, on the left side of the backstrap under the grip and on the inside of the trigger guard plate. The letter "M" is stamped on the left side of the front strap under the grip. The frame and trigger guard were polished brass and the remaining surfaces were finished blue. Post front and frame grooved rear sight, six round , 36 caliber cylinder with six stop slots and safety slots on the rear between each nipple. "John H. FOWLER", "1888" and "45" are scratched into the inside of the left grip panel and "J H.Fowler" and "45" in the right panel. Writer was able to locate a John H. Fowler of that era on the internet who was born in 1839 in Long Island, New York, later moved to California during the Gold Rush and died August 31, 1909. Fowler engaged in the mercantile business with his brother and later had a very successful dairy business, purchased hundreds of timber acres in Mendocino County and finally the real estate business in a partnership with T.J. Ludwig. It's unknown if this is the same John H. Fowler or not. The Spiller and Burr revolvers were one of the most important Confederate made Civil War revolvers with total production that reached an estimated 1400 revolvers at the Atlanta and Macon factories until November 1864 when production was stopped because of the proximity of Sherman's troops on the March to The Sea.

Fair. The metal surfaces have a brown patina with some moderate pitting on the barrel and cylinder. The brass has an aged patina with numerous small dings in the butt where the revolver appears to have been used as a hammer. The grips have shrunk with age and have been sanded and refinished with a chip on the left toe and along the lower edges, and numerous dents on the bottoms from hammering. The right grip is a replacement. There is some play in the cylinder, otherwise the action functions. The loading lever assembly is a replacement, otherwise the parts appear original to the revolver. A solid example of a rare Confederate revolver.