Allen & Wheelock 4-Shot Pepperbox
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Production period: ---From 1856 until civil war period
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Production quantity: ----Unknown but believed to be limitted to a few thousand
General info:
These 4-shot pepperboxes are the smallest in the long series of pepperboxes. It is also the last design in an attempt to create a very compact, light and easy to conceal pepperbox, in a era where the revolver had already taken over the market from the pepperboxes.
It is therefore the only pepperbox design that was completely designed, patented and produced in the Allen & Wheelock era. All other pepper boxes that were still in production during the Allen & Wheelock period were carried over from the Allen & Thurber period.
The mechanism of the 4-shot pepperbox is basically the same as all other pepperboxes, however the way in which the barrel cluster is attached to the frame is new. On the 4-shot, the barrel cluster is attached to the rear of the frame via a freely rotating screw instead of a central pin that runs through the entire barrel cluster.
This had the great advantage that the barrel cluster could be made much smaller and compact. The patent 16368 of January 13, 1857 describes 3 improvements, including this barrel fixing. This model pepperbox is the only one baring the patent date of 1857 on the hammer.
These pepperboxes are without nipple shield. The frame is usually engraved, although towards the end of the production period engraving was omitted.
The barrel cluster has a standard hammer rest in between 2 nipples so the gun could be carried without danger.
More information about the manufacturer in the section Ethan Allen and about pepperboxes in general in the section Pepperboxes
Standard model
This is a standard model with a beautiful engraving, probably produced around 1860.
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Caliber: .34"
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Serial number: #125
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Length: Barrel:7,3 cm (2,9"), Total:15,1cm
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Weight: 300 gr
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Hammer marking: ALLEN’S PATENT 1857
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Barrel marking: ALLEN & WHEELOCK / PATENTED 1845