Five shot 41 caliber percussion revolver manufactured by Jesse Butterfield of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1862. The Butterfield revolvers were manufactured in anticipation of a contract for 2280 revolvers to arm the 5th New York Cavalry Regiment. The contract was never awarded and Butterfield manufactured approximately 640 revolvers. The revolver has a brass frame with five-shot cylinder, octagonal barrel, attached loading lever and two-piece flared walnut grips. The revolver is equipped with a unique disk priming mechanism located on the bottom of the frame in front of the trigger guard. The barrel and cylinder are blued and the hammer, trigger and loading lever are casehardened. The brass top strap is roll-stamped: "BUTTERFIELD'S/PATENT/ DEC.11 1855/PHILADa" in three lines. The serial number, "446" is stamped on the left side of the barrel and loading lever, on the bottom of the frame and heel of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match.

Very good plus. The revolver retains traces of the original blue and case-hardened finish. The brass frame and back strap have a mellow, un-touched, patina. The case colors on the lever have faded to a dove-gray patina. Most of the case-hardened finish is present on the hammer. The barrel has a smooth gray patina and the cylinder is silver-gray with some age discoloration and scattered flash pitting. The grips retain thin original varnish finish. The percussion nipples are slightly battered. The frame markings and serial numbers are crisp. This is a good example of a scarce and unique Civil War era percussion revolver.