POTD: Prototype Josiah Ells Revolver – Pittsburgh’s Double Action Answer

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have an early American take on the double action revolver. This is a prototype Josiah Ells center hammer percussion revolver in 31 caliber, made around 1854 and built to the design in U.S. Patent 11,419, granted to Ells of Pittsburgh on August 1st of that year.

Over in Britain, Robert Adams had held his self-cocking revolver patent for only three years, while American shooters were still living in a single action world run by Colt. There’s no spur on the hammer to thumb back, so like the Adams it only fires double action. Inside it’s a different animal, though. His lockwork relies on a vibrating trigger stud working against a hammer with a beveled face.

The six-shot cylinder, frame, and barrel are all iron, while the grip straps are silver plated brass and the trigger guard is an oversized brass piece. Unlike the production Ells guns that came later, it skips the trigger guard finger rest and wears no engraving. According to the consignor, the patent model itself is gone from the Smithsonian’s holdings, and this is the only known gun built off of it.

Ells got into real production around 1857, and his little pocket revolvers went through a few models over the next couple of years. By 1859 Ells was out, and James Cooper took over the business, trying to go head to head with Colt without much to show for it. I personally think guns like this are the neat forgotten branches of the revolver family tree.

Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!

“Extremely Rare Prototype Josiah Ells Center Hammer Revolver.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4097/3215/extremely-rare-prototype-josiah-ells-center-hammer-revolver. Accessed 29 Sept. 2026.

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