There has been considerable speculation about this compact, stylish pocket revolver, as it bears little resemblance to most of Allen’s other firearms. Since all examples initially discovered lacked any markings, questions arose regarding whether it was truly a product of the Allen factory. This debate was settled when several specimens surfaced bearing the Allen & Wheelock markings.

Further speculation concerns the revolver’s origin and date of issue. At the time this model entered the market, S&W was suing Allen for patent infringement. The revolver’s striking similarity to the S&W No. 1 suggests this was no coincidence. It is believed the design served as a deliberate “in-your-face” response from Allen to S&W, which also explains why nearly all examples are unmarked.

The revolver features a seven-shot cylinder chambered for the .25 lipfire cartridge. However, its internal mechanism is somewhat fragile, raising questions about its overall reliability.