Only an estimated 150 .41 caliber knuckle duster revolvers were manufactured in a two year span starting in the summer of 1870 by James Reid of Catskill, New York. They are among the rarest of all of Reid's revolvers. According to "James Reid and His Catskill Knuckledusters" by Taylor G. Bowen, only 16 of these .41 caliber revolvers are known to exist. It has two groove front sights; one each at the front and back of the top strap which is marked "JAMES REID'S DERRINGER/PATD. DEC. 26, 1865." A sliding safety is at the front of the frame at the bottom. The cylinder pin and rear cylinder face are marked with the matching partial serial number "44." The full serial number is located between the trigger and the mainspring compartment door on the floral engraved frame. The frame has the standard early production factory engraving. Like all of Reid's knuckle dusters, the revolver could be used as a brass knuckle if five shots weren't enough to put down your assailants. He called them "Knucklers" or "My Friend." Even the largest models are small enough to easily be concealed in a pocket. Like many of America's gunmakers in the 19th century, James Reid (1827-1898) was an immigrant. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, and arrived in the U.S. with his family in 1857. After initially living in New York City, he resettled in Catskill where he established his gunshop and a grist mill and eventually employed 17 workers. According to Ann Gibbons, after economic turmoil in the 1870s and 1880s and increased competition from more advanced firearms, he moved to Troy in 1883 and is believed to have worked at the Watervliet Arsenal. Provenance: Gillespie collection.

Very good plus. The frame retains traces of original silver plating in the protected areas with the exposed brass having an attractive aged patina. The cylinder has a mottled gray patina. Mechanically functions, but the hammer does not hold at half cock. A very rare handgun missing from most American antique collections.