These distinctive American revolving rifles were manufactured c. 1835 to 1850 by several gunmakers based on the designs of John and James Miller, and are commonly referred to as Billinghurst rifles as that was the most well known and prolific maker of them. The cylinder functions through manual rotation by hand. Nearly all of the Miller revolving rifles were made as pill-lock, and some were converted in the period to use percussion caps, like this example. The lock is marked "W.H.BOSS" at the tail and has floral scroll pattern engraving. The part octagon barrel is unmarked and has a dovetailed blade front sight and adjustable notch rear sight, with an empty dovetailed slot ahead of the rear sight. A flip-up peep sight is mounted on the upper tang. Ramrod mounted on the bottom of the barrel, figured walnut forend with German silver cap and ramrod guide, and figured walnut buttstock with German silver furniture including the patchbox door which has a release button located on top. Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection

Good, exhibiting a mix of artificial gray and brown patina with a few patches of minor pitting. The German silver fittings exhibit an attractive bright patina, with the tail of the lower tang slightly above the wood line. There is an extra empty removed circular section between two of the percussion nipples on the cylinder. Wood is also very good as revarnished, with a repaired split visible in the wrist area showing some open cracks (structurally sound), and defined edges. Mechanically fine.