The Pepper-box revolver or simply pepperbox (also "pepper-pot") is a multi-shot hanheld firearm, 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 later revolver since it contained bullets in separate chambers in a rotating cylinder. Unlike the revolver however, each chamber had its own barrel.