This is a scarce example of a deluxe grade revolving 12 gauge shotgun manufactured by Roper Sporting Arms Company circa 1869-1876 in Hartford, Connecticut, based on designs by Sylvester H. Roper. They are some of the first metallic cartridge repeating shotguns. Roper was also the designer of the first shotgun choke and later went on to invent the first commercially successful pump-action shotguns with Christopher Spencer of Spencer Repeating Rifle fame, steam powered bicycles and buggies, and others. The drum holds four shots, and the casings return to the drum after being fired. Cocking the hammer extracts the fired cartridge and advances the action to the next round. It features a variable threaded choke at the muzzle, Damascus barrel numbered "63" on the bottom, a steel post front sight, a sighting groove along the top of the frame at the breech, "202" on the bottom of the action at the breech, smooth forearm with pewter end caps, hinged loading gate marked "ROPER. REPEATING RIFLE CO./AMHERST MASS/PATENTED APRIL 10 1866," and checkered buttstock with a smooth buttplate.

Very good plus with visible Damascus patterns and mostly gray patina along with some patches of brown along the barrel, a few strong traces of original case colors mostly smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, some oxidation and pitting concentrated on the buttplate, and minor overall wear. The wood is fine and has some nice figure on the forearm, crisp checkering on the wrist, several minor dings and scrapes scattered throughout, and light storage marks. Mechanically excellent.