Thomas Wrenn Cofer (1828-1885) of Virginia designed a revolver in 1861 that was produced by T.W. Cofer & Co. until the fall of Portsmouth in May 1863. Firearms from his shop are also known to have been used by Confederates. He later ran a gun store on Union Street in Norfolk, Virginia, until his death in 1885. This c. 1850s rifle has traditional dovetailed blade and notch sights, "COFER PORTSMOUTH VA" marked at the breech, scroll and floral engraving, a "J. DANA & CO/WARRANTED" marked lock, double set trigger, brass mounts, and curly maple half-stock with checkered wrist and a cheekpiece.

Good with silver-gray patina on the lock and barrel, some minor pitting, attractive aged patina on the mounts, re-oiled with crisp checkering, replacement hammer screw, chipped hammer spur, splice at the trigger guard finial, crack on the left at the breech, and mild overall wear. The patchbox latch is weak. The lock and set triggers are mechanically fine.