Reportedly, 3,000 of the distinctive Protector palm pistols were manufactured for the Minneapolis Fire Arms Co. circa 1891-1892 by James Duckworth of Springfield, Massachusetts, before the rights were purchased by Peter H. Finnegan who formed the Chicago Fire Arms Co. to market the pistols during the 1893 World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. The pistol has "The PROTECTOR/MINN. FIRE ARMS CO." on the side plate, "PATENTED MARCH 6, 1883" on the frame, checkered hard rubber side panels, no grip panel on the plunger, a rotating safety, and the matching serial number on the side plate, cylinder, and frame. It comes with a very scarce green box with a picture label on the exterior calling The Protector an "DEFENSIVE WEAPON" and "VEST POCKET REVOLVER." The inside of the lid has instructions for using the pistol, and a bore brush and rare price list for parts are inside. Includes a copy of George Gamble and R.L. Wilson's "A Life's Tapestry of a Collector, The Gamble Collection" where this pistol is pictured and identified on pages 322-323. Provenance: The George F. Gamble Collection