Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Percussion Revolvers
Content:
Overview
It can be assumed with certainty that Ethan Allen was inspired by the Colt Root Revolver when designing these Side Hammer revolvers, given the close similarity (a side-hammer and a cylinder pin entering the frame from the rear). This revolver is therefore also referred to as the Allen’s Colt.
This revolver was a huge improvement over the transitional Bar Hammer revolvers. It is a much more advanced weapon with some unique features described in the following patents
- US16367 : Covers the most striking feature of the revolver design where the trigger guard serves as a bullet loading lever
- US18836 : Describes the rotation and blocking of the cylinder
- US21400 : Covers an improved cylinder pin
The revolvers have been produced in 3 distinctive frame sizes: a 6-shot Navy in .36, a 5-shot Belt in .32 and a 5-shot Pocket in .28.
Production started around 1857; probably immediately after the Colt patent expired. The Belt version was the first one produced, followed shortly after by the Navy version. The pocket model is from a slightly later date. It is believed that the total production period was only 3 years.
All models are marked on the left side of the barrel with ALLEN & WHEELOCK. WORCHESTER, MASS. U.S. ALLEN’S PT’S. JAN. 13. DEC. 15. 1857 SEPT. 7. 1858, except for the early production not having the 1858 patent date.
The revolvers have a blued barrel and frame, and a casehardened hammer, cylinder, trigger and trigger guard. The cylinders are beautifully “scroll” engraved with a scene of animals in a forest. Each caliber has a different scene.
Despite the short production period, there are many variants of the revolvers which indicates that Allen continually improved the design to simplify production and reduce costs. The variations are found in the side plate, the cylinder, the cylinder pin and the trigger guard latch.The model with the highest variety is the Belt revolver. This can be explained by the fact that this is the first model that has been produced, followed by the Navy and shortly after by the pocket.
Beside many minor variations, the main visual differentiator is the shape of the side-plate and the number of screw holes. I have classified the side-plates below in the most logical sequence of evolution. The vast majority of production is made with the type 6 “one screw” side plate.
There are basically 3 types of cylinders with a small variation in the first type. The differences can only be observed by removing the cylinder since it concerns the shape of the back of the cylinder. The vast majority of production is made with the type 3 cylinder.
Furthermore, different type of cylinder pins can be found on the various models.
A last differentiating characteristic is the locking system of the trigger guard. Early production has a friction latch system. This very weak system was replaced rather quickly by a snap latch system that remained the same throughout production.
With all these characteristics we can make a simplified classification according below tables. Note that I considered the type of cylinder rather a variant; not a type differentiator.
The Belt Model
| Type | Side Plate | Cylinder | Trigger Guard |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1st – Var 1 |
Type 1B |
Type 1B |
Friction latch |
|
1st – Var 2 |
Type 1B |
Type 2B |
Friction latch |
|
2nd |
Type 2B |
Type 1B |
Friction latch |
|
3rd |
Type 4B |
Type 2B |
Friction latch |
|
4th – Var 1 |
Type 5BP |
Type 2B |
Friction latch |
|
4th – Var 2 |
Type 5BP |
Type 3 |
Friction latch |
|
5th |
Type 6 |
Type 3 |
Snap latch |
The Navy Model
| Type | Side Plate | Cylinder | Trigger Guard |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1st |
Type 3NP |
Type 1N |
Friction latch |
|
2nd – Var 1 |
Type 3NP |
Type 1N |
Snap latch |
|
2nd – Var 2 |
Type 3NP |
Type 3 |
Snap latch |
|
3rd |
Type 6 |
Type 3 |
Snap latch |
The Pocket Model
| Type | Side Plate | Cylinder | Trigger Guard |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1st |
Type 3NP |
Type 3 |
Friction latch |
|
2nd |
Type 5BP |
Type 3 |
Friction latch |
|
3rd |
Type 6 |
Type 3 |
Snap latch |
Sidehammer Navy Revolver - 3rd Type
The Navy Side-hammer is a massive 6-shot revolver in .36 caliber. The cylinder has a nice scroll engraving of animals in a forest. The fully octagonal barrel can vary in length from 5.3 to 8 inches. As mentioned, there are many variations of the Navy revolver. The specimen shown here is the most common 4th type with the two patent dates on the barrel, a type 3 cylinder and a type 6 side plate.
Sidehammer Belt Revolver - 5th type - 4" barrel
The Belt revolver is a scaled down version of the Navy revolver. Beside the frame size, the major difference is that the Navy has a 6-shot cylinder, and the Belt has a 5-shot. The cylinder also features a scroll engraving of animals in a forest. The Belt revolvers have been produced in .31, .32 and .34″ caliber. The vast majority are in .32″. All have octagonal barrels with lengths of either four, five, six or seven and a half inches. The Belt has many variants. The revolver shown here is a 5th type having a type 6 side plate, a type 3 cylinder and the two patent dates on the barrel.
Sidehammer Belt Revolver - 5th type - 6" barrel
As the Belt revolver above, this specimen is a 5th type with the same main characteristics. There are however some minor differences like a slightly smaller trigger guard latch, a different knurling on the hammer (a teardrop shape vs a saddle shape), a different shape of rear sight machined into the frame. Also, the pin on the right side of the frame, close to the trigger has now disappeared.
Taking in consideration that the serial# on this specimen is relatively close to the specimen above, it can be concluded that this revolver if from a different production batch.
A zoom on some differences between the 2 collection models
