Revolving rifle owned by Admiral A Cuming (born 1817). The walnut stock extends only as far forward as the trigger guard. It has a brass butt cap and brass trigger guard. The solid frame is relieved on the left side at the front of the cylinder to permit the chambers to be loaded with the cylinder in place. The lock works as follows: the squeezing of the trigger rotates the cylinder, cocks the action and fires the weapon. The cylinder has five chambers in each of which is set a percussion nipple within a protecting scoop, one wall of which is cut away. The barrel is of octagonal section and is rifled. Triangular blade foresight mounted on a horizontal bar and two leaf rearsight graduated to 300 yards. The calibre is 0.526in. Inscribed on the barrel is the name 'CAPTN ARTHUR CUMING 284', on the top strap: 'REILLY no 502 New Oxford Street London', on the frame: 'ADAMS' Patent no 10,377R', and on the cylinder: 'No.10,377 R' and a proof mark of the London Gunmaker's Company. Admiral Cumming entered the Royal Navy in 1832 as a Naval Cadet and rose to the rank of Admiral in 1880. He retired in 1882. He took part in the Syrian Campaign of 1840. He was in command of the pinnace of 'HMS Frolic' in 1843 and captured a slaver, the 'Vindecora' - "in boarding the slaver in his boat, Lieut Cumming found himself the only Englishman on board for the bowman of the boat lost his hold of the slaver, thus leaving his officer in the critical position he so ably coped with; Lieut Cumming's promptitude and fearlessness were shown by his at once shooting the helmsman of the slaver, and seizing the wheel, he ran her up in the wind, and with pistol in hand kept the Spanish crew at bay until his own boat came alongside again" (Lean's Navy List).