Thomas Wrenn Cofer (1828-1885) of Portsmouth, Virginia, designed a revolver in 1861 produced by T.W. Cofer & Co. until the fall of Portsmouth in May 1862. Shotguns 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. Many of the double barrel shotguns from his shop were imports from Birmingham, England, but this single barrel is American made. The smoothbore barrel has a silver tear drop front sight base and is marked "PORTSMOUTH VA" on top at the breech. The back action lock is marked "COFER". It features scroll engraving, and the half-stock has a checkered wrist and a 14 1/8 inch length of pull.

Good with gray and brown patina, moderate oxidation/pitting, a separated front ram rod pipe, aged patina on the German silver, and general mild overall wear, including a crack in the butt. Mechanically fine.