When the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Massachusetts granted Samuel Colt an injunction against Mass. Arms Co. in 1851 that prevented them from making their Wesson & Leavitt revolvers, they started making the hand turned revolvers though they were never very popular and production was rather limited. This example was manufactured in the early to mid-1850s and has a small button on the bottom of the action just ahead of the trigger that releases the cylinder so that it can be manually rotated. At least 200 of these pistols were shipped to abolitionist John Brown in Kansas in 1857. Other mechanisms were also tried. One method, for example, used a trigger pull to rotate the cylinder and then the hammer was manually cocked. To make these more primitive firearms more palatable to the public, Mass Arms Co. equipped it with Maynard's tape priming system. This example has attractive scrollwork engraving on the hammer, lock, and frame; a shield with "MAYNARD'S PATENT/[patriotic eagle and shield motif]/SEP. 22. 1845" on the primer door; etched floral designs on the cylinder; "MASS. ARMS CO./CHICOPEE FALLS" on the top strap; "257" on the barrel lug; "626" on the recoil shield and back strap; German silver blade front sight; notch rear sight; and smooth grip.

Fine. 75% of the original, bright high polish blue finish remains on the barrel and barrel catch. The grip straps retain most of the original silver plating and have a dark, aged patina. The remaining components have traces of original finish, including some bright patches of case color, and primarily display gray-brown patina. There are some small patches of mild pitting and oxidation. The grip is very fine and has only mild handling marks. It is mechanically fine, and the markings and engraving patterns are crisp.