This is an example of a Confederate Model 1851 Navy style percussion revolver that was manufactured by Samuel Griswold in Griswoldville, Georgia, c. July 1864. Griswold was the largest Confederate manufacturer of handguns and produced approximately 3,700 Model 1851 Navy style percussion revolvers between 1862 and 1864. Also note that 3,700 revolvers is nearly as many as all other manufacturers combined. Considering the wartime material shortages in the South and unskilled labor with many being slaves, 3,700 revolvers manufactured by Griswold and Gunnison is an impressive Civil War production record. During the Battle of Griswold Station, the pistol factory was destroyed by the 10th Ohio Cavalry and 3rd Kentucky Cavalry troops. Although production ceased in late 1864, the Confederacy continued to receive these revolvers as late as April 1865. Completed and uncompleted revolvers were likely moved before the plant was destroyed and were later assembled at another location. Two types of these revolvers were manufactured: a First Model and a Second Model. This is an example of a Second Model Revolver that has the distinctive brass frame and Dragoon-style octagonal barrel lug with round barrel, brass pin front sight, oval brass trigger guard, brass back strap and one-piece walnut grip. The cylinder has the distinctive Griswold twist lines with safety pins between each nipple. The butt profile has a slight upward angle. The serial number "3037" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, the bottom of the frame and on the side of the cylinder. The secondary serial number "8" is stamped on the loading lever, wedge, trigger guard, back strap, hammer and grip. All of the primary and secondary serial numbers match. The revolver is accompanied by a photo-copy of a detailed part-by-part examination prepared by Frederick R. Edmunds of the Confederate States Armory & Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1993. The conclusion of the evaluation states that this revolver is "100% original in every respect" and "would rank well up into the top 3% to 5%" of the over 100 Griswold and Gunnison revolvers Mr. Edmunds examined.

The revolver is fine for a Confederate-made revolver. Confederate-made weapons were relatively crude but functional. Nearly every surviving example shows the effects of hard wartime service. The iron barrel, loading lever, cylinder and hammer have a mottled, gray brown patina with scattered light pitting. There is a considerable gap between the bottom of the barrel lug and the frame. The brass frame, trigger guard and back strap have an original attractive patina with moderate handling wear. Each of the brass components has a distinctly different tone. The one-piece grip has been lightly cleaned. The center trigger guard screw appears to be a modern replacement. The primary and secondary serial numbers are all legible. The action remains functional. This is a good example of the most widely issued Confederate-made revolver.