James Millar (Miller) (1800-1849) received the included patent for the design of this early American revolving rifle on June 11, 1829. This is one of the earliest American patents for revolving arms and pre-dates Samuel Colt's famous 1836 patent by several years. Millar and his brother John Jr. were gunsmiths in Rochester, New York, but James soon moved to Michigan where he worked in the lumber industry rather than as a gunmaker. John remained in New York into the 1850s and then also moved to Michigan. It is unclear whether the Millars produced any of there distinctive revolving rifles themselves or if the exclusively had other gunsmiths in their employ such as Joseph Medbury and William Billinghurst Jr. (1807-1880) manufacture them. Collectors have long associated the design more strongly with Billinghurst, but over a dozen different gunmakers are known to have produced "Miller Patent" revolving rifles. The Millar/Miller marked examples are particularly rare and valuable, and, if any were produced by the Millars themselves, the earliest examples like this one are most likely to have been made by them. The "Miller Patent" revolving rifles have been discussed in various publications, including in "Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values" which notes in the 9th Edition that "the only surviving copy of the Miller Patent has only recently come to light. Patent protection was granted for their system of revolving the cylinder and the cylinder stop-lock below the barrel breech into the periphery of the cylinder. This was one of the earliest revolving arms patented in the United States, but lacked the important feature of automatic cocking and locking of the cylinder which was later claimed by Colt in his first U.S. revolver patent of 1836. Our understanding of their history has evolved over the years." In "Robert P. Eldredge's Billinghurst Cylinder Rifle" by Frank Graves for the American Society of Arms Collectors in 2003 (copy included), Graves indicates that he did not believe that the Millar brothers manufactured the guns themselves and instead had Billinghurst and others manufacture them in their shop. Many of the known makers have been identified as working for Billinghurst and/or the Millars, and some may have manufactured them under license. Billinghurst is often identified as having purchased the rights in 1841 and purchased Joseph Medbury's shop that year. The patent would have expired in 1843 per the terms on the patent document. Billinghurst became the most famous of the makers of these innovative revolving rifles and advertised them for many years. This historic early example and the included patent document are illustrated and discussed in the 1983 American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin 48 article "An Update on the J. & J. Miller (Millar) Revolving Cylinder Guns" by Ernest L. Bates (copy included). Bates indicates "I was directed to Dr. Richard Harvey Millar, a retired dentist residing in Mt. Clemens, who is a grand nephew of James and John Miller (Millar). Not only did Dr. Millar have the family genealogy, but he also has the original patent papers and James' personal gun, both of which he has kindly loaned me and are presently part of my display. The barrel of this gun is one of two known that carry the address of 'J. Millar Rochester.' In the case of the patent papers, we were, at last, able to determine the salient features claimed by Millar. This patent was issued to James Millar on June 11, 1829; however, the patent office copy was destroyed in the fire of 1836...The patent was issued by Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, was co-signed by Martin Van Buren, Secretary of State and witnessed by W. Macpherson Berrien, Attorney General." An included statement from William Millar from 2021 states that the rifle was previously owned by his Uncle Bert Millar who lived next to the Millar family cemetery near Mt. Clemens, Michigan, where James Millar is buried, then his father received it from the estate, and William subsequently inherited the rifle from his father. The patent is particularly valuable as the original patent from the U.S. Patent Office was destroyed in the first fire in 1836 as noted in Bates's article. Nearly 10,000 patent records and approximately 7,000 patent models were destroyed in the fire. The document still retains the faded original seal on the left and has been matted and neatly framed. Included correspondence between Dr. Millar and Director H.J. Swinney of The Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum discusses preserving the document, and letters to Millar from Bates concerning the latter copying the patent document, photographing the rifle, and publishing his research are also included. A copy of the patent document with some of the writing retraced is also included, and one of those copies was used in the American Society of Arms Collector articles. Also included is a February 27, 1836, dated note signed by James Millar stating he had received payment from Richard E. Colt on a debt and would have the note canceled. Richard E. Colt appears to be of no relation to Samuel Colt. A businessman by that name was active in Ohio across Lake Erie from the Millar family and had sold property to James Millar. A copy of The Canadian Journal of Arms Collection Vol. 9 No. 3 with Miller Patent Rifles on the cover and containg the article "J. & J. Millar, Makers of Fine Revolving Firearms, Rochester, N.Y." by James B. Smith is also included. This historic rifle is the first type or "First Model" with the patented cap at the front of the magazine which would contain a washer to limit gas leak and multiple discharges and the topstrap or "cylinder bridge strap" secured to the breech end of the barrel using two screws. Bates estimated "only a handful of 1st model guns were manufactured." Later "Second Model" variations are the most common; they dispensed with the top strap and front cover which could have been dangerous in a chainfire. The rare "Third Models" are basically the same but use percussion caps rather than pill primers. This early has "J Millar Rochester" inscribed in script on top of the barrel at the muzzle. Flayderman notes that the Millar/Miller marked rifles are rarer than those by Billinghurst and thus more desirable, and, as discussed above, this is one of only two known to Millar rifle experts with this marking. A second example is shown in Figure 8 of Smith's article and is stamped in two lines rather than inscribed. It is unclear if these "J. Millar" rifles are perhaps from John Miller Jr.'s shop after James Millar moved to Michigan, or if the marking refers to just James Millar as the patentee. "J. & J. Miller" markings are more common, but all Millar/Miller marked examples are comparably rare. There are also more traditional rifles with their markings. The barrel has seven-groove rifling, a small post front sight, and a notch rear sight. The front cover for the cylinder has a small hole to the left and right of the breech end of the barrel and is otherwise solid. Along the bottom it has the distinctive sliding catch used on the Millar rifles to lock the cylinder in alignment with the barrel. This example is designed to be loaded through the barrel like a traditional muzzleloader. The cylinder has seven chambers fired using pill primers. The top strap is neatly inscribed "Patent." The lock and frame have scroll and floral engraving. The hickory ramrod has a 5 1/4 inch metal front section with an extension that unscrews to extend and then screws in place in the extended position. Bates indicated this rare rod design has been found on at least three of the 1st Models. The forward ramrod pipes are iron and fitted to the barrel rib. The rear ramrod pipe, trigger guard, buttplate, and toe plate are brass. The latter has a long rectangular compartment. The forearm tip is horn, and the wedge and wrist escutcheons along with the inlays on the dual cheekpieces are silver. There is an unclear marking stamped on the buttstock behind the trigger guard tang. Provenance: The Millar Family; Property of a Gentleman

Very good with mostly an even, untouched brown patina overall on the iron, some mild oxidation and pitting, aged patinas on the silver and brass, crisp markings and engraving, broken mainspring and striker pin on the face of the hammer, and generally moderate and and storage related wear overall. The toeplate compartment lid does not stay closed. The wood is also very good with a chip at the upper rear corner of the forearm, small crack at the opposite corner, mild dings and scratches, some finish loss from cleaning on the buttstock which retains some nice figure, cracks and repairs by the lock and upper tang, and general mild overall wear. The patent document has fading to the hand written portions and some staining and crease marks and is very good overall. The signatures, particularly President Andrew Jackson's, remain distinct. The frame has minor age and storage related wear. This is a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add the original "Miller Patent" document and the rifle identified as James Millar's own to your collection. Both were owned by the Millar family for many years.