Ethan Allen
Percussion Pistols Overview
Content:
The Pocket Rifle
First model:
Ethan Allen made his first firearm of own design in 1837. He called it the “Under Cock Pocket Rifle”, a single-shot under-hammer percussion pistol. The name “rifle” probably comes from the fact that the pistol had a rifled barrel. which was quite unusual for a handgun in those days.
The hammer is placed at the bottom of the barrel which made it possible to mount good aiming devices on the barrel for precision shooting. The pistol has a “saw handle” grip which creates an extra long sighting radius. The pistols were made in calibers ranging from .28” to .44” with barrel lengths ranging from 5″ to 10”. The marking is on the thin metal plate that covers the action. E.ALLEN / GRAFTON / MASS – POCKET RIFLE / CAST STEEL / WARRANTED is the most common marking. These pistols were sold in pairs. Each pair had an identical batch number. The pistols often wear the name of the sales agency. The pistol remained in production/sales until 1847 and although during this period the partnership with Thurber was well established, and production had already moved to Norwich, all pistols are marked exclusively with ‘E.Allen/Grafton’. These pistols were still produced with traditional workmanship methods, resulting in slightly different dimensions for each pistol. There are pistols with and without engraving on the side plates and also the oval silver inlay on the grip is not always present.
Second model:
This model is completely different but was also referred to as a “Pocket Rifle”. This pistol is much more compact and intended as a self-defense gun. These pistols are the first to feature the Allen & Thurber mark and are made in .36 caliber. Production remained very limited as probably the focus soon moved to the double action bar hammer models, which have the same basic shape of the “bag type” rounded grip and the half octagonal-half round barrel. The pistols were marked CAST STEEL / WARRANTED / POCKET RIFLE ALLEN & THURBER / GRAFTON, MASS.
For unknown reasons, small-scale production resumed in the Worcester period. These models are almost identical to those from the Grafton period, however, have a narrow frame band around the grip and do not have the typical oval silver inlay on the grip that is typical of the Grafton/Norwich period. In addition, these models are marked ALLEN & THURBER / WORCESTER / CAST STEEL. Most of the pistols that can still be found today come from the Worcester period.
The Tube Hammer Pistol
With this gun, Ethan Allen started the innovation and it was the first step to success. In 1837, Patent US461 was granted to Allen for a double-action mechanism. In those days the hammer of a pistol had to be cocked before the shot could be fired. With Allen’s invention, the shot could be fired instantly by simply pulling the trigger. Later, the same trigger mechanism will be used on all bar hammer pistols and all early pepperboxes.
The hammer is in the form of a curved tube – hence the name – and therefore does not have a thumb grip for cocking. The smooth bore barrel is half octagonal-half round. The pistol is not equipped with aiming devices which clearly means that this is a close range self-defense weapon. The barrel could be unscrewed for easier loading and cleaning. The grip is of the ‘quick drop’ type and has the typical oval silver inlay in the walnut plates. The back strap is relatively wide (1/2″) and engraved.
Production was limited to a few hundred pieces and ran from 1837 to about 1842.
The Bar Hammer Pistol
The Bar Hammer Pistol is also referred to as the “Number 9 Self Cocking Pistol”. With this pistol, a hammer was introduced in the form of a bar, positioned at the top of the pistol. This pistol was typically a self-defense weapon and was intended to be carried in a pocket. Due to the very flat shape of the bar hammer, it did not get stuck behind clothing when the pistol was pulled from the pocket. So it could be pulled and fired at lightning speed with the Double Action mechanism; a real revolution at the time. The pistol has a half octagonal, half round barrel that can be unscrewed for easy loading and cleaning. Barrel lengths range from 2” to 10” with calibers from .28” to .36”.
The gun was a huge commercial success and one of the corner stones of Allen’s business. The production that had started in Grafton has continued well into the Worcester period under various variations. The following main variations can be distinguished:
- The Grafton, the Norwich and the very early Worcester version with the sharp angle “quick drop” grip
- The early Worcester version with the slightly more friendly “semi-dogleg” grip
- The later Worcester version with a rounded “bag-type” grip
- The little “Muff” gun
The Grafton production
The pistols from the Grafton period have the typical angled “quick drop” grip with walnut wood and an oval silver inlay. They have the Double Action system from the 1837 patent, which can be observed from the very low positioned tension screw at the bottom of the grip.
Although the production of the Bar Hammer pistol was very limited in the Grafton period, it was long enough to distinguish 2 variations.
- First version: The grip has a wide back strap of 1/2″, just like the Tube Hammer. The wooden grips are not held in position by a pin.
- Second version: The back strap is narrow (1/4″) and has pins to hold the wooden grips in position. This narrow back strap design remained in production on all other models without changes.
The Norwich production
The pistols from the early Norwich period are identical to the Grafton design. A version with a ring trigger was added to the catalog.
At around the middle of the Norwich period, the internal mechanism of the 1837 patent was replaced by an improved version patented in 1845. On the outside of the gun this can be seen by the position of the tension screw of the main spring, now placed at the level of the trigger. However, the 1837 patent marking on the barrel remained well into the Worcester period. The oval silver grip inlay disappears on the later models and also the engraving on the side plates is slightly different, although still very typical of the Norwich period.
The Norwich period pistols are marked ALLEN PATENT on the side of the hammer and either PATENTED / 1837 / CAST STEEL on the octagonal part of the barrel or ALLEN & THURBER / NORWICH C-T / CAST STEEL”
The Worcester production
The Bar Hammer pistols remained in production until the end of the Allen & Wheelock period.
The pistols from the early Worcester period are identical to the Norwich design but in the middle of the Worcester period a new design was introduced with a longer frame and the rounded “bag type” grip. This design remained unchanged until the end of production. By the end of production, the market for these pistols had almost completely disappeared and the engraving on the side plates was often omitted to reduce production costs. Patent marking can be found on the hammer and the barrel is usually marked CAST STEEL and the brand name ALLEN & THURBER or ALLEN & WHEELOCK
The small “muff” vest pocket model was introduced during the very last years of Norwich but the vast majority has been produced in the Worcester period. The marking on these guns is minimal, sometimes even completely missing, and there are no pistols known with the maker’s name and location. Common marking (on hammer only): ALLEN’S PATENT or PATENTED / APRIL 16.1845.
The Shotgun Hammer Pistol
A rather ordinary looking pistol of a simple but robust design. This pistol is known by various names:
- Shotgun hammer boot pistol
- Center hammer percussion pistol
- Number 6 Rifled pistol
This is a pistol with a simple-action mechanism, a classic hammer, and barrel lengths ranging from 4” to 12”. The barrel could be unscrewed so no ramrod was needed. The hammer is placed slightly to the right to allow the use the sights. The mechanism is extremely simple and there is no “half-cock” position. A real no-nonsense weapon with reasonable firepower.
Several thousand of this type of pistol were manufactured in many variations over a long period between the late 1840s and the Civil War. Calibers ranging in .34”, .36” and .44”. The pistols have a batch number on the bottom of the barrel. Common barrel markings: ALLEN AND THURBER, ALLEN THURBER & CO., and ALLEN & WHEELOCK.
The Double Barrel Single Trigger Pistol
This double-barreled pistol has two simple-action mechanisms but with a single trigger. Both hammers could be cocked at the same time. The first shot could be fired with a relative gentle pull on the trigger. For the second shot, the trigger had to be pulled with much more vigor. Of course, you could also cock-and-fire the hammers one-by-one to avoid accidental firing of both shots at the same time.
The pistol has two parallel deep rifled barrels in .34″ caliber and came in lengths of 3″, 4″, 5″ or 6″. Marking on the top, between the two barrels, with the company name ALLEN & THURBER or ALLEN, THURBER & CO or ALLEN & WHEELOCK.
These pistols were only made in the Worcester period.
There are two variations. The first model with very limited production has two U-shaped main springs and tension screws at the level of the trigger guard. The later models have a straighter spring and there are no more tension screws.
Identical pistols marked BRUCE & DAVIS and SPALDING & FISHER are believed to be of Allen & Thurber manufacture.
The Side Hammer Target Pistol
This single-shot pistol is specially made for precision target shooting and is an improved and heavy version of the standard single-shot pistols. The pistol was available in various calibers including .34″, .41″ and .45″, with barrel lengths ranging from 6″ to 10″.
As this is a target pistol, it has an adjustable front and rear sights, a fairly light trigger pressure and an extra finger grip under the trigger guard. The finger grip is absent on the first models. A ramrod is mounted under the barrel.
Marking on barrel with ALLEN & THURBER WORCESTER CASTSTEEL. Some also found with the ALLEN THURBER & CO marking.
There is also a large frame version which has a grip with two screws.
The Single Shot Inline Pistol
This pistol of very simple design is also known as the “Straight Line Single Shot”. The name refers to the fact that the nipple and barrel are positioned in one straight line. The design was such that almost any kind of barrel could be screwed onto it. And this is exactly what happened. The first models have a perfectly fitting barrel where the border between the barrel and the frame is barely visible. However, later models have barrels of different styles (full round, half octagonal- half round, fully octagonal), different lengths but foremost of different origin, including:
- Barrels from the stock of revolvers when Allen had to cease the revolver production in 1863 due to patent infringement.
- Barrels purchased from stock of other manufacturers.
Furthermore, two types of grips can be distinguished. The “quick drop” and on the later models the Smith and Wesson style “slow drop”.
All pistols are marked with ALLEN & WHEELOCK on the barrel, except models with full round barrels.
The Deluxe Target Pistols
The Target pistols are without doubt one of the best quality weapons manufactured in the Worcester period. It may be clear that these were expensive weapons for the time and the production has therefore remained very limited. Production started in the Allen & Thurber period and continued into the Allen & Wheelock period. The pistols are also referred to as “buggy rifles” and came with a detachable stock. These luxury pistols were probably only made to order and came in a box with all the necessary accessories.
Sources:
(1) Ethan Allen and Allen & Wheelock, Their guns and their legacy – Paul Henry (2) Flayderman’s guide (3) Wikipedia