James Reid Knucker-Duster Revolver (My Friend) No1

The Knucker-Duster Revolver (also called My Friend) was a small personal defense pocket revolver designed by irish immigrant James Reid. He was studying gunsmithing in Glasgow, Scotland and then immigrated to the States in 1857. He was working for W.W. Marston and W. Irving Co. in New York City before he started his own company. In 1865 he was granted a patent for the Knucker-Duster Revolver and the first production of Model 1 in 22 rimfire started in 1868. Later in 1870 he start making Model 2 in 32 rimfire and 41 rimfire. The Model 2 was slightly larger and heavier due to larger calibers. The Knucker-Duster Revolver could be used as knuckles for hand fighting. The cylinder was detached from the revolver, loaded through the front, and then secured back to the gun frame with a wingnut style thumbscrew. A brass end cap kept the other rounds from falling out. There was no hand guard and the small trigger popped out of the grip when the single-action hammer was cocked. A simple safety lever kept the gun from going bang unless the operator wanted it to. The left side of the frame is marked My Friend PATD Dec 26, 1865. About 10,690 revolvers were made in 22 rimfire, 3,100 in 32 rimfire and 150 in 41 rimfire.