The Butterfield Revolvers were manufactured by Jesse Butterfield of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1862. They are considered by collectors to be secondary U.S. martial handgun since they were manufactured in anticipation of an unrealized government contract. Because no contract was awarded, production was limited to only about 640 revolvers. It is equipped with a special disc priming device loaded by loosening a thumb-screw in front of the trigger guard. The top strap is marked "BUTTERFIELD'S/PATENT DEC 11. 1855/PHILADA". The matching serial number "396" is visible on various components.

Good with the brass showing an attractive golden aged patina, well defined original top strap maker/patent markings and scattered light to mild pitting and freckling on the iron surfaces with gray patina. The refinished grips are also good, with scattered scratches and dents, a small absent chipped corner at the front of the left panel above the trigger guard, restamped numbers on the butt, and large reglued cracked sections on either side at the bottom (glued against the brass grip strap). Mechanically fine.