Butterfield Army Revolver
Jesse Butterfield · Revolver · Discontinued · 1861
Also known as: Butterfield Army Model, J.B. Butterfield Army Revolver, Butterfield Disc Primer Revolver
Overview
The Butterfield Army Revolver is a .41 caliber single-action percussion revolver produced in Philadelphia during the American Civil War. Its defining feature is Jesse Butterfield's patented automatic priming system: a spring-loaded magazine tube mounted ahead of the trigger guard fed wafer pellet primers onto the percussion cone each time the hammer fell, removing the need to manually cap the five-shot cylinder. The gun retained conventional percussion cones so it could also be fired with ordinary caps. Built around a solid brass frame with a 7-inch octagonal barrel and two-piece walnut grips, it was manufactured in anticipation of a large U.S. government contract that was ultimately cancelled, leaving only about 640 examples.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1130 g (39.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 330 mm (12.99") |
| Barrel Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued Barrel And Cylinder Bright Frame |
Calibers
- .41 Caliber Percussion (Cap and Ball) · primary — also known as .41 cal, .41 percussion
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Cap And Ball
- Features: Automatic Pellet Priming, Attached Loading Lever, Octagonal Barrel, Solid Brass Frame, Percussion Cap Compatible
Service history
Operators
- Ira Harris Guards (5th and 6th New York Volunteer Infantry) · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 640 · Production years: 1861-1862
Made in anticipation of a U.S. government contract for roughly 2,280 revolvers that was never awarded; production ended prematurely at about 640 guns.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Jesse Butterfield
Discontinued: 1862
Notes
Patented by Jesse Butterfield on December 11, 1855. Manufactured circa 1861-1862 against an anticipated federal contract for roughly 2,280 revolvers that was never awarded, limiting production to about 640 guns and making surviving examples rare.
Background
Jesse Butterfield's real innovation was the disc-primer feed, an early attempt at automatic priming that used small fulminate wafers rather than individually placed percussion caps. Some revolvers were issued to the Ira Harris Guards, later reorganized as the 5th and 6th New York Volunteer Infantry, before the government contract collapsed.