Ames Sword Co. of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was contracted to produce these palm pistols in the 1890s for Peter Finnegan and the Chicago Fire Arms Co. in anticipation of selling them during the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. After only 1,500 were completed, Finnegan declared his company insolvent, and Ames ultimately secured the patent rights through litigation and continued to manufacture them into the 20th century until around the U.S. entry into World War I. They were designed and first manufactured by Jacques Turbiaux in 1882 in France and were produced for a brief period by the Minneapolis Firearms Company before the rights were sold to Peter Finnegan of the Chicago Fire Arms Company. Offered here is a scarce exhibition quality gold plated and panel etched variation of the Protector palm pistol with the uncommon Ames Sword Co. marking. The barrel features the floral engraved band, and the side plates have floral engraving around the outer edge on one side and checkering on the other. The pistol is marked "AMES SWORD CO./CHICOPEE MASS." on one side plate and "THE PROTECTOR/PAT. MCH. 6, 83, AUG. 29, 93" on the reverse side plate. The side plates are pearl and have a factory floral etched motif enclosed in a hexagon panel. Matching numbers are found on the frame, magazine and removable side plate. This radial cylinder pistol was designed to fit in the palm of the hand and operated by a hinged lever mounted to the rear of the circular frame. The rotary magazine has to be removed for loading. The lever is fitted with the standard checkered hard rubber pad. The pistol comes in a fitted hardwood case with a cartridge block holding ten cartridges.