Allen & Wheelock 31 calibre

Although the firm of Allen & Wheelock was only in business for eight years - from 1857 to 1864 - it produced a surprisingly large variety of firearms. This is one of them! Their products included single shot, double barrel, 4, 5, and 6 shot pepperbox pistols; single barrel, double barrel and revolving cylinder rifles, both muzzle loading and breech loading; and over 20 revolver models with more than a hundred variations. Included in this proliferation were the five percussion revolver models with which we are concerned. This entire arms production was based upon the various patents of Ethan Allen.

Allen held 22 firearms patents, of which five were applicable to percussion revolvers. The first, No. 3,998 of April 16, 1845, was .not granted for a percussion revolver but for a pepperbox. Its double action mechanism, in which the hammer was raised and dropped and the barrels revolved by a single pull of the trigger, was an improvement on his 1837 patent, which applied only to single shot pistols. The revolving mechanism was very simple a screw in the side of the trigger pivoted an arm, which acted on the ratchet on the rear of the cylinder. Many percussion revolver makers used variations of this.

This particular pistol is in 31 calibre and is cased in a modern box containing the pistol, a contemporary percussion cap tin and an aluminium mould to produce balls to suit the pistol.
The action on this is fine but no finish remains which is reflected in the price. A good honest little pistol that represents a transitional stage which culminated in the revolver as we know it today.

Code: 50108