This is a very unusual and possibly unique percussion revolving rifle possibly made as a prototype. Several American gunmakers and companies experimented with revolving rifles in the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s. G.W. Whittier's early revolving rifle patented on May 30, 1837, is perhaps the most similar to this rifle but is also considerably different. There is a cocking lever on the right side of the frame. The percussion nipples are on the back of the cylinder. The barrel has dovetailed blade and notch sights. A patriotic motif is engraved on the top strap, and the action has scroll engraving. The trigger guard, buttplate, and toe plate are brass. The stock is checkered. The maker of this interesting American firearm is not known.

About good. The steel has some original blue finish remaining and fading to a plum brown. The wedge and pin for locking the barrel in place, part of the sight, and some of the screws are absent. The brass has attractive aged patina. The stock is very good and has mild wear on the otherwise crisp checkering and some general minor dings and scratches. This revolving rifle appears to have suffered a failure from blowback into the action as the mechanism does not function and has a section of the metal around the firing pin absent inside. Writer cannot recall seeing a revolving rifle like this example!