Ethan Allen
An introduction into the world of Allen's pepperboxes
Overview
Ethan Allen’s revolving pistol or now commonly called “pepperbox” stands out as one of the most recognized weapons among his creations. This popularity isn’t surprising given that Ethan Allen attained fame and wealth through the pepperbox. Regarded as the first American 6-shot double action handguns, the Ethan Allen pepperboxes achieved remarkable success, becoming one of the era’s most sought-after and highest-selling handguns. Their extensive production span from the 1830’s to the early 1860’s attests to their widespread appeal and commercial triumph. Even with the advent of the iconic Colt revolver a decade earlier, Ethan Allen’s pepperboxes sustained broader sales and renown. Many were sold to emigrants heading west and significant numbers made their way to California during the gold rush. Additionally, the larger caliber pepperboxes gained popularity as secondary weapons among soldiers in both federal and state militias. They notably saw action in conflicts such as the Seminole Wars, the Mexican War, and the Civil War.
Throughout their production from the 1830s until their discontinuation around 1864, pepperboxes were made in a substantial array of types and variations. Approximately 50 fundamental types are estimated to have been manufactured during this period. Additionally, within these types, numerous sub-types and a wide range of variations were discernible.
The markings on the pepperboxes are often sparse and it is therefore not always easy to identify a pepperbox. Below is a small introduction to main characteristics that can be used for identification.
Barrel and hammer markings
The pepperbox barrel and hammer markings indicate in most cases the company name and location. This gives us a quite precise indication of the production period. Many pepperboxes in the Grafton and Norwich period were however sold through a network of retail agents. These examples are usually marked only with the
| Production Location | Company/Trade Name | Operation Period |
|---|---|---|
|
Grafton, Mass. |
Allen & Thurber |
1837 – 1842 |
|
Norwich, C-T |
Allen & Thurber |
1842 – 1847 |
|
Worcester, Mass. |
Allen & Thurber |
1847 – 1854 |
|
Worcester, Mass. |
Allen , Thurber & Co |
1854 – 1856 |
|
Worcester, Mass. |
Allen & Wheelock |
1856 – 1864 * |
* 1864 is considered the last year of pepperbox production
retailer’s name, rather than the manufacturer’s. The most commonly found retailers are J.G. Bolen and A.W. Spies, though others do exist—they are, however, extremely rare.
The patent type
All pepperboxes produced in Grafton utilize the 1837 system (Patent US461). Early production in Norwich also features the 1837 patent, while later models transition to the 1845 system (Patent US3998). All pepperboxes manufactured in Worcester are of the 1845 type.
The 1837 patent type can be quickly identified by its straight mainspring, which fits into a small clip at the base of the grip. The spring tension screw on this model is positioned relatively close to the bottom of the grip. In contrast, the simplified 1845 patent type has a large U-shaped mainspring, with the spring tension screw located roughly in the middle of the grip.
It’s important to note that patent date markings are not always reliable for identification purposes. Many pepperboxes were stamped with the 1837 patent date, even though they were built using the 1845 system. It wasn’t until around 1858 that Allen began consistently marking pepperboxes with the 1845 patent date.
The grip angle
Five distinctive grip angle variations can be identified across different production periods:
- The Quick Drop – Characterized by a grip that is nearly perpendicular to the frame. This style is typical of Grafton and early Norwich production.
- The Slow Drop – Features a slightly more relaxed angle than the Quick Drop, though still relatively straight. Found in both Grafton and Norwich production.
- The Full Dogleg and
- The Semi Dogleg – Both exhibit a gentler, more curved grip angle compared to earlier styles. These are associated with Norwich production.
- The Late Rounded – A fully curved grip, introduced during the Allen & Wheelock period, typical of Worcester production.
The barrel cluster and the shape of the barrel ribs
- The 6-shot pepperbox: During the Grafton and Norwich production period (1837–1847), only 6-barreled pepperboxes were manufactured. All models have smoothbore barrels. The typical 6-barrel pepperbox came equipped with a conventional trigger, although ring triggers were also commonly used during the Norwich period. With one known exception, all pepperboxes are double-action and feature the distinctive bar hammer design. Barrel lengths range from 3 to 6 inches, and there are four different frame sizes corresponding to the caliber. The most commonly encountered calibers are .32 and .34, though variations in .28, .30, .31, and .36 calibers also exist, depending on the frame size.
To help identify the production period, the shape of the barrel cluster and the presence or style of barrel ribs can offer valuable clues. Based on these characteristics, the following models can be distinguished:
From what we know, the narrow flat ribs barrels were produced under contract by E.A. Prescott while the wide flat ribs barrel clusters were produced by Benchley & Hopkins(4)
.
- The 5-shot pepperbox: Introduced during the Worcester period, all 5-shot pepperboxes feature fluted barrels with integrated nipples, a conventional trigger, and the standard bar hammer. The majority are chambered in .32 caliber. A distinctive characteristic of this model is its integrated nipple shield.
- The 4-shot pepperbox: Introduced during the Allen & Wheelock period. This indicated that the pepperbox was still a valid option until the end of the 1850’s. To reduce the barrel diameter, a new method for fixing the barrel to the frame was introduced as described in patent US16367. The 4-shot pepperbox doesn’t have a nipple shield.
The pitman and ratchet system
The pitman and ratchet system was developed by Allen around 1839 during the early Grafton production period. It proved to be an effective mechanism for aligning the barrel and hammer precisely at the moment of firing. Once perfected, this system was adopted across all subsequent pepperbox models. Only the early Grafton Dandy and a few experimental early Dragoons used alternative mechanisms.
The key components that regulate barrel rotation:
- Detent pin (1) – Located directly beneath the hammer, the spring-loaded pin engages with the outer notches of the barrel cluster. It prevents the barrel from rotating once the trigger has been released.
- Pitman (2) – Positioned directly beneath the central stem, the pitman locks the barrel in place when the trigger is fully pulled, engaging with the ratchet (or inner row of teeth) on the barrel cluster.
- Operating Hand (3) – Found to the left of the stem, the hand rotates the barrel as the trigger is pulled. It engages with the middle row of teeth on the barrel cluster.
The percussion nipples and the nipple shield
Only the very early types from the Grafton period have removable percussion nipples. On all later models the nipples are milled out and form integral part of the barrel cluster. The nipple shield that should prevent the flame from spreading to adjacent chambers when fired, was introduced in the very last days of Grafton production.
Almost all pepperboxes have hand engraving on the frame and roll engraving on the nipple shields. Type and style of frame engraving varies from model to model and none are exactly identical. Although these engravings were done quickly, they are often quite elegant and are showing craft skills of the factory workers. However, over time, these engravings became less elaborated due to cost cutting measures and were even completely omitted in the last production runs.
The Ring of Pepperboxes
Harley Van Cleave and his son Philip were the pioneers in the 1940’s and 50’s in making an inventory of the many pepperbox types and variations. In their first publication, they introduced the “ring of the pepperboxes” showing 22 distinctive types of 6-shot pepperboxes. In a later publication in the November edition of The Gun Collector”, a revised classification was published with 28 types and 13 sub-types.
Pepperbox identification: All models
Since this initial groundwork, collectors and scholars have refined the terminology and identified additional variations. Unfortunately, very little has been published on this area of research. For identification purposes, a dedicated page is available listing all known Allen pepperbox models, along with the key characteristics of each.
The Grafton Period
The Grafton period marks the beginning of Ethan Allen’s pepperbox venture, starting with the introduction of the small “Dainty” model. During this time, standard and dragoon-sized pepperboxes were also added to the offering. Grafton-produced pepperboxes are rare and highly desirable by collectors.
The Norwich Period
The Norwich period is without any doubt the most challenging period for the collector. Although only the standard and dragoon size pepperboxes are produced during this time, the period is characterized by an impressive number of models and variations. Early Norwich examples have the 1837 actions, whereas later pieces feature the updated 1845 mechanism. Another distinctive feature of the Norwich period is the introduction of the dogleg shaped grips.
The Norwich period saw also the introduction of a newly designed concealed hammer pepperbox.
The Worcester Period
Pepperboxes from the Worcester period are characterized by the evenly arched “late rounded” grips design. It is by far the longest period of pepperbox production and the Worcester models are therefore the most encountered pieces today.
Besides the design changes on existing models, the Worcester period gives also birth to some new models like the 4-shot and 5-shot pepperboxes as well as the single action pepperbox.
Sources:
(1) Ethan Allen, Gunmaker – H. Mouillesseaux (2) Flayderman’s guide (3) The Gun Collector – Nov.1950 (4) Early Allen Firearms – H. Moulllesseaux