This scarce Civil War era Perrin double action revolver is marked "PERRIN/& Cie Bte" in tiny letters on the right side of the frame with the reverse marked with a sunburst over "PARIS". Small numbers of Perrin revolvers were imported during the Civil War. Various estimates put the number at or below 1,000 and they are considered a secondary U.S. Martial piece. Perrin revolvers are some of the rarest Civil War era handguns. Additional revolvers may have been imported for the commercial market after the war. This example has no military markings. They employed an unusual cartridge, unique to this revolver, with an inside primed brass or copper case with a very thick rim around the base. No other cartridge would fit the chamber. The cylinder pin is kept in place by the ejector rod which swivels on a collar around the rear of the barrel. The hammer is without a spur, and the grip is one-piece smooth walnut with an iron buttcap and lanyard ring eyelet.