A very small number of these revolvers are believed to have been manufactured based on designs by Frank Brettell and Joseph Frisbie of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, c. 1858. The third party involved was William Potts of Columbus, Ohio, who was the son of a hardware dealer and the operator of a brass foundry. The total was estimated to be under 50, but serial numbers as high as 53 are known. Frank Sellers on pages 18-19 of "American Percussion Revolvers" discusses these revolvers and notes that at the time of publication only serial numbers 13, 24, and this revolver were known. Number 53 was obviously discovered at a later time. Sellers and the current writer both speculate that this example may have been the last one made or one of the last ones manufactured given it was never completed or finished. It was left in a roughly finished shape with file marks, rough edges, a smoothbore, no provisions for sights, poorly fitting grips, no cylinder pin screw, and no nipples. "36" is marked on the cylinder pin, inside of the frame, back of the right side plate, and the trigger. The side plate is poorly fitting due to lack of final fitting and polishing, but is clearly original given the numbering. The hammer has "EUREKA" on top, "BRETTEL/FRISBEE" and "PATENTED/FEB. 10. 1857" on the left, and "BRETTELL. & W.B. POTTS/COL O" on the right. There is a small hole in the back strap behind the hammer.

Very good with mottled gray and brown patina, mild pitting and oxidation, and unfinished "prototype" style filing marks throughout. The grips are fair with cracks, moderate overall wear, dings, and scratches. It is mechanically fine other than the trigger needing to be manually reset. This is a very interesting example of an already incredibly hard to find American percussion revolver. Very few of Bettell & Frisbie revolvers are known. This is only the third we have ever brought to auction, appears to be one of only four known, and is the only of its type!