A Colt lawsuit forced Mass. Arms to switch to manually rotated cylinders and led to the adoption of the Maynard priming system in an attempt to win over potential customers. On this early example, the cylinder is released via a small button ahead of the trigger, and then cocking the hammer activates the primer and readies the revolver to fire without further advancing the cylinder. It has a brass blade front sight, "MASS. ARMS CO/CHICOPEE FALLS" and a notch rear sight on the top strap, etched floral designs on the cylinder, scroll engraving on the frame and primer door, "MAYNARD'S PATENT/SEP. 22. 1845." on the primer door, and a flourish of floral engraving on the back strap. There is a small "699" stamp on the bottom of the top strap, frame, primer door, and grip frame are marked "658", which is also hand marked inside each grip. The revolver comes in a hardwood case fitted to the gun with a Massachusetts Arms Co. marked powder flask, a Massachusetts Arms Co. container for primer tape, a brass ramrod, screwdriver/nipple wrench, and a brass dual cavity bullet mold for balls. Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection

Excellent, retains 90% plus of the original blue finish, 95% of the vibrant original case colors, and 95% plus of the original silver on the trigger guard with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on high spots. The grips are also excellent with a few scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine with some scattered minor handling/storage marks and the accessories are all very fine with minimal wear.