This rifle was manufactured by James H. Merrill of Baltimore, Maryland, c. 1856-1858. The overall configuration shown in Merrill's January 1856 patent is very similar. The breech mechanism is more similar to the Merrill, Latrobe & Thomas carbines manufactured by Samuel Remington for the U.S. Ordnance Department in 1855 rather than the more well-known Civil War Merrill carbines. The main lever opens the breech and has a rotating chamber. A separate manually operated rammer is fitted in a channel, or "metallic trough" as it is called in the patent, along the wrist and also serves as the catch for the upper lever. The top of the breech is marked "Jas H Merrill/Baltimore/PATENTED/1856". It has low profile blade and notch sights, "C. KOHL" inverted on the left barrel flat at the breech, double set triggers, a combination of iron and German silver furniture, and half stock with checkered wrist and shadow line cheekpiece.

Fine overall with a smooth blend of faded brown and casehardened finish and light gray and brown patina, mild aging of the German silver, some light oxidation, pitting in the groove on the underside of the breech lever, and some strike marks on the breech marking. The refinished stock has some small chips and flakes at the edges, fairly crisp checkering, and light scratches and marks. Mechanically fine other than the set trigger which needs adjustment. Overall a very solid example of an exceedingly scarce Merrill rifle variation.