The Griswold & Gunnison revolvers are probably the most popular of all Confederate handguns. Like most Confederate handguns, the basic design is based on the Colt Model 1851 Navy. Griswold & Gunnison, the partnership of Samuel Griswold and Arvin N. Gunnison, became the largest Confederate handgun maker during the Civil War and manufactured approximately 3,700 of their distinctive brass frame revolvers. During the Battle of Griswold Station, the factory was destroyed by the 10th Ohio Cavalry and 3rd Kentucky Cavalry. Although production ceased in late 1864, the Confederacy continued to receive these revolvers as late as April 1865, and completed and uncompleted revolvers were likely moved before the plant was destroyed and were later assembled at another location. This revolver was not one of the revolvers known when "Confederate Handguns" by Albaugh, Bennet, and Simmons was published in 1963. They estimated only around 4.1% of these rare Confederate revolvers survive. The revolver has the distinctive brass frame and grip straps, 6-shot cylinder, safety pins between the percussion nipples, the octagonal barrel lug, a brass post front sight, "VIIII" on the left side of the internal front grip-strap and right rear grip-strap, proper sub-inspection "0" on the right of the front strap at the toe, "00" on the loading lever and trigger guard, serial number "2870" on the right side of the barrel lug, frame, and cylinder.

Very good to near fine for a scarce Confederate handgun, with dark to medium brown patina on the iron, attractive natural aged patina on the brass, chipped right side hammer tip, mild roughness and oxidation, general dings and scratches, replaced wedge screw, and very attractive battle used appearance overall. This gun was not abused, has never been cleaned and was obviously well cared for after its period of use. The grip is in very good condition with only slight scratches and dings, mild edge wear, and "hammering" marks on the butt that match the back strap. Mechanically fine. An untouched example that hasn’t been enhanced in any way save for the replaced wedge-screw, this is the type of condition that Confederate collectors like to see. The Griswold & Gunnison revolvers are of the most significant Confederate handguns as they were actually issued in larger numbers than the other Confederate manufactured handguns, but they were and are very scarce, especially compared to Union revolvers, and are among the most the desirable of all 19th century American revolvers. This revolver is certainly in better condition than most of the surviving examples.