This revolver is one of the automatically revolving cylinder variant manufactured in the later part of the 1850s production range. Only 2,500 to 3,000 total of these revolvers with Maynards priming system were manufactured in several variations. Earlier examples had manually rotated cylinders. On this example, with the hammer down, pulling the trigger rotates the cylinder to the next chamber. Cocking the hammer then prepares the revolver to be fire without further advancing the cylinder. It has a round barrel fitted with a brass cone front sight, "MASS. ARMS CO/CHICOPEE FALLS" and a notch rear sight on the top strap, etched floral designs on the cylinder, scroll engraving on the frame, "MAYNARD'S PATENT/SEP. 22. 1845." and scrollwork on the primer door, and "PATENT/JAN. 2. 1855" and a flourish of engraving on the back strap. The primer door and frame are numbered "345." The top strap is marked "191." The grip frame has "20," "L," and "334" on the right side, and the grips are numbered "347" in pencil.

Very fine. 90% of the original blue finish remains, and the case colors on the top strap are strong. The balance has brown patina. The finish on the barrel is a light blue. The top strap has a lightly visible stress crack on the left side. There are some scratches and minor marks throughout. The grips are very good and have some minor edge wear. It mechanically needs some work as the trigger occasionally does not advance the cylinder reliably, and the hammer currently does not actuate the primer. The markings and engraving are crisp.