Allen's Center Hammer Percussion Revolvers
Commercial era:
Allen & Wheelock
E. Allen & Co
General information
It can be assumed that Ethan Allen had designed these revolvers with military use in mind, and to obtain government contracts. The introduction of these revolvers coincides with the start of the Civil War, making them the right gun at the right time.
Although there is no direct evidence of government contracts, a number of Army revolvers were in military stock and many examples are known to have army inspection markings.
Two models can be distinguished: the .44 Army and the .36 Navy. Both are six-shot revolvers and other than size the only visual difference between the two revolvers is the barrel, which on the Army is half octagonal, half round while on the Navy the barrel is fully octagonal. The barrels are marked on the left side with ALLEN & WHEELOCK WORCESTER. MASS. U.S. / PT’S. JAN.13. DEC.15. 1857. SEPT.7.1858.
The revolvers retain the very typical combination of trigger guard and bullet rammer that was introduced on the Side Hammer models.
The Army model was only available with a 7.5″ barrel while the Navy could be supplied in barrel lengths of 5″, 6″ and 7.5″. It is believed that the Army was produced first because the early models have certain features not seen on the Navy.
While the Navy model only exist in a single variant or type, the Army model however has been produced in 3 main variants or types:
- First type: The percussion nipples enter from the inside of the cylinder chambers. The nipple carveouts have a slight curved form.
- Second type: The percussion nipples are of the traditional type entering from the back of the cylinder. The nipple carveouts are straight.
- Third type: Same as the second type however with the side-plate screw now entering from the left side. These revolvers don’t have any barrel markings and have been produced in the E. Allen & Co era, probably with left-over stock from the Allen & Wheelock era. Furthermore, the 3rd types have a 4 digit serial number starting with 2001.
A further distinction can be made by the type of action. Early models have the so-called hinge pawl type action while later models have a classic simplified action. This is valid for both the Army and the Navy models.
Centerhammer Army Revolver - First type
This revolver is a first type having the cylinder nipples entering from the inside of the chambers. It also has the early type action, the so called hinge pawl type. The revolver is in a perfect state of conservation and I think that it has never been fired.
Centerhammer Navy Revolver - Early type
This revolver has the serial number 1! Although I strongly believe that Allen has used serial numbers on the center hammer revolvers, it can’t be said with certainty if this is the very first revolver produced since Allen probably has produced several batches, each with their own serial numbers starting at 1. However, the revolver has the hinge pawl type action, which indicates an early type. The majority of Navy revolvers were produced with the simplified action of the later type, in which the operating hand to rotate the cylinder is attached directly to the hammer.
