The primary importer of M-1854 revolvers was George Schuyler who purchased 10,000 Lefaucheux revolvers for the US government. Although US government purchases only record about 13,000 M-1858 Lefaucheux patent pin fire revolvers as being officially purchased (along with over 2.2 million cartridges), surviving examples and regimental records indicate that far more than that were imported. Thousands of these pinfire revolvers were imported for use by US troops, and at least a few hundred saw service with Confederate troops as well. In many ways the large bore martial pinfire revolver, based upon the patents of Casimir and Eugene Lefaucheux, was one of the most modern and advanced military handguns to see use on the battlefield during the American Civil War. This model revolver, as well as the later M1858, were imported in large numbers by both the North and South during the American Civil war. Most military models were produced only with single-action, whereas civilian models were made primarily with double action.

The revolver was sold to the civilian market as well. Etienne (MAS), Liège, Belgium, or local producers under license. Most were produced either at the state arsenal in St. The 1854 model was the first metallic-cartridge revolver adopted by a national government. The serial number 22873 is just outside the range of numbers of the revolvers officially imported to the USA during the Civil War (25,000-37,000) under contract. However, it is very possible that it was a private purchase made early in the war. The Model 1854 Lefaucheux pinfire revolver was a large frame single action variant of this popular French pinfire system.

12mm lefaucheux revolver