Consequently, the revolver amounts to little more than a pepperbox fitted with a single barrel.
Production included three distinct frame and cylinder sizes: large, medium, and small.
In terms of finish, the revolvers typically featured blued frames, barrels, and trigger guards. By contrast, the cylinders, hammer, and trigger received a case-hardened finish. As for the grips, varnished walnut was the standard finish, although buyers could opt for ivory grips at additional cost.
In the earliest production models, the design introduced an unusual and problematic feature: removing the cylinder pin required unscrewing the barrel from the frame. Unsurprisingly, this arrangement proved highly impractical. As a result, Allen quickly introduced a second variation that incorporated a more conventional, easily removable cylinder pin.
In terms of markings, all first-variation revolvers and the early production of the second variation bear the ALLEN & WHEELOCK name, stamped either on the top flat of the barrel or on the top frame strap, with the patent date located on the left side of the hammer. In later production runs, however, the maker’s name and patent information moved to the left side of the barrel.
Cylinder sizes
The small frame revolver is in .30 caliber and has a cylinder length of 1,25″. The medium and large frame revolvers are both in .32 caliber with cylinder lengths of 1,5″ and 1,625″ respectively.  Some cylinders have hammer rests (as can be seen on picture of the large frame cylinder) while others have not. It is not known when production exactly started and ended but it is generally believed that the production period ran from 1856/57 to 1861/62 with an estimated production of around 1000 units of each frame size.
All frame sizes have 5 shot cylinders that are beautifully scroll engraved with a scene of animals in a forest.
Rollin White
The revolver shown here is a true curiosity. This Allen & Wheelock bar hammer revolver was modified to a cartridge revolver by Rollin White and served as the model for his U.S. Patent 19,961, issued on April 13, 1858. The design aimed to achieve two main objectives: (1) to reduce the gap between the cylinder and the barrel in order to minimize gas leakage, and (2) to prevent jamming caused by expended fired cartridge cases. As with many of Rollin White’s inventions, the concept proved highly impractical, and to the best of my knowledge it was never adopted for production in any revolver.
Barhammer Revolver – Medium frame – 2nd variation – early production
This is the second variation of an early-production medium-frame revolver, identifiable by the maker’s marking on the top strap.
Allen & Wheelock Barhammer Pocket Revolver
This specimen is the most commonly encountered variation of the pocket model and represents a late-production example, distinguished by the maker’s name and patent information stamped on the left side of the barrel, with no markings on the hammer. Note that the limited space on the barrel resulted in the truncation of the final letters of the marking.
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Continue exploring Ethan Allen’s legacy
As the predecessor of the center-hammer percussion revolver, the side-hammer model saw considerable service during the American Civil War. Although never officially adopted by the U.S. military, it was widely purchased as a private sidearm by soldiers, officers, and state militia units. Period photographs attest to its popularity, making it one of the Allen firearms most frequently encountered in Civil War images.