The Pepper-box revolver or pepperbox revolver is a multishot handheld firearm, which was popular in North America around the time of the American Civil War. The pepperbox was invented in the 1830s and was meant mainly for civilian use. It spread rapidly in the United Kingdom and some parts of continental Europe. It started disappearing gradually in the 1850s with the manufacture of true revolvers by Colt, Webley and others. It was similar to the revolver since like it, it held bullets in a rotating cylinder, in separate chambers. Unlike the revolver however, each bullet had its own barrel.
It can also be considered a primitive Gatling gun or machine gun of very small size and low rate of fire.
Several models were dangerous because firing one bullet could ignite the others, all at the same time, when proper care was not taken.