Manufactured by Jesse Butterfield of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the early 1860s in anticipation of a government contract for 2,280 pistols for the Ira Harris Guards that was ultimately canceled leading to a limited production run of only about 640 revolvers. Some of the members of the 5th & 6th New York Volunteer Infantry formed from the Guards are known to have privately purchased these revolvers. The revolver has an interesting disk priming mechanism that has a "primer magazine" located in front of the trigger guard. The brass top strap is marked "BUTTERFIELD'S/PATENT DEC.11 1855/PHILADA" reading from the breech to the muzzle (some are marked the opposite way). The serial number is stamped on the left side of the barrel and loading lever (sometimes seen on the right side), on the butt, and the bottom of the grips.

Fair with dark brown patina and minor oxidation/pitting on the iron, dark aged patina on the brass, general mild edge wear, and scattered marks and scratches. The grips are also fair and have cracks and repairs in the toes and top of the wrist, some mild chips, and minor handling wear. Mechanically fine.