Only a very limited number of these well-designed revolvers were manufactured around the mid-1860s by the National Arms Co. By some estimates only 6 or 7 of these revolvers still exist making them among the rarest revolvers of the 19th century. We have only sold one previously. They fire the also incredibly hard to find .45 caliber teat-fire cartridges designed by Daniel Moore and David Williamson. An National Arms .45 cartridge box and five of these cartridges are included. It is easy to see how these revolvers would have been very popular had they not had to unjustly dance around the Rollin White patent and been able to be chambered in a traditional rim or centerfire cartridge. As it is, it is a very rare example of the ingenuity of mid-19th century arms makers trying to produce innovative cartridge revolvers while avoiding Smith & Wesson's legal team. The teat-fire cartridges contained the priming materials in the small teats at the end of the cartridges and are loaded through the front of the cylinder. The revolver has a German silver blade front sight, "NATIONAL ARMS CO. BROOKLYN. N.Y." on top of the barrel, hammer groove rear sight, an ejector arm on the right side of the frame, smooth grips, lanyard loop, and the matching serial number on the ejector, back of the cylinder, left side of the grip frame, and handwritten on the back of each grip.

Fine with 40% bright original high polish blue finish and otherwise mottled gray and brown patina and minimal light oxidation typical of Civil War era revolvers that had their finish flake off rather than being worn. The grips are very fine with attractive natural tones, smooth surfaces, minor tension cracks, and slight shrinkage with age. Mechanically excellent. This is an exceedingly rare revolver missing from even the majority of the most advanced antique American antique arms collections.