Grafton Era Pepperboxes - 1837 to 1842
Commercial era:
Allen & Thurber
Content:
Overview
Allen’s earliest pepperbox stands out for its notably compact size, distinguishing it from later designs. Its small, delicate construction has earned it the affectionate nickname “The Dainty Grafton” among collectors. This small firearm highlights Allen’s skill in creating a weapon that was both practical and easily concealable.
The Dainty is always shieldless, is chambered exclusively in .28 caliber, and features a fluted barrel cluster measuring less than 3 inches in length. While its core characteristics remain consistent, numerous variations exist, reflecting the ongoing development that began with this very first model. The subtle differences we can observe on the various models offer a fascinating glimpse into Allen’s evolving design process.
The specimen displayed here is especially noteworthy, featuring elegant ivory grips. It is presented in a fitted case accompanied by original accessories, including a powder flask, bullet mold, and ramrod. The hammer is marked with the retail agent BOLEN NY.
Some of these Dainty’s can be found with the enigmatic E.A.P.M. 1841 marking on the barrel. Some suggest that this could stand for “Ethan Allen Patent Model”. The “1841” denotes in this case the year of manufacturing or model reference, rather than being a formal patent year.
The first Dainty’s and all early Grafton production pepperboxes have removable percussion nipples, a distinctive and somewhat intricate design element. These nipples were not drilled straight through; instead, they had right-angle vents and were numbered 1 to 6, each corresponding to a specific chamber. This numbering ensured that each vent would face correctly into the powder charge when inserted. The nipples were inserted into the barrel in clockwise order, starting from a marking stamped on the exterior of the barrel between the nipples.
While this nipple design was functional, it added complexity to both production and maintenance. To streamline manufacturing—and arguably to improve the user experience—Ethan Allen transitioned to integral milled nipples. These integral nipples became standard in all subsequent pepperbox models and remained unchanged through the end of production during the Worcester period.
All early Allen pepperboxes are easily identified by their distinctive “Grafton, Mass.” address markings on the hammer and the pronounced angle at which the grip meets the frame.
Additionally, these early models typically feature very small die-stamped markings, further setting them apart from later production examples.
Already during the early Grafton period, Ethan Allen began establishing a network of retail agents, recognizing the importance of broad distribution for commercial success. It is assumed that New York agents J.G. Bolen and A.W. Spies were among the very first in this network.
Supporting this, some Grafton-period pepperboxes have already been found marked with the names of these agents, indicating that Allen’s collaboration with Bolen and Spies dates back to the earliest phase of his manufacturing history.
In addition to The Dainty, two other sizes of Grafton-made pepperboxes are commonly recognized: the “standard” and the “dragoon” models. The standard size pepperbox represents a mid-sized configuration, balancing concealability with firepower, and became one of the most widely produced variants in subsequent years. The dragoon is the largest of the three, designed for greater stopping power and featuring heavier frames and longer barrels.
The cased dragoon-size pepperbox displayed here is an early vintage example, distinguished by its removable percussion nipples and wide back strap, both features of the early Grafton production.
The frame is however already engraved, which marks a slight evolution from the very first dragoons, which typically had plain, unengraved frames.
Considering the relatively short manufacturing period in Grafton and Allen’s apparent difficulty in securing a large number of skilled workmen, it’s not surprising that pepperboxes produced during this time are quite scarce. Among these, the dragoon models are the rarest of all. As a side note, Allen’s difficulty in finding skilled workmen is considered one of the primary reasons for his decision to move production from Grafton to Norwich. The limited availability of experienced labor in Grafton restricted his ability to expand and meet growing demand.
Throughout all three pepperbox sizes, the Grafton period is marked by continuous experimentation and improvement. Among the most notable advancements during this era are:
- The introduction of the pitman and ratchet system, which significantly improved the reliability of the barrel’s turning and locking mechanism, making the pepperboxes more reliable in operation.
- The already mentioned transition from removable percussion nipples to integrated milled nipples, streamlining production and reducing the complexity of maintenance.
- The change from a wide back strap (measuring approximately .562″) to a much narrower back strap (.312″), which allowed for better fixation of the wooden grip plates using grip pins, resulting in a more secure and durable grip assembly.
- The introduction of nipple shields, an innovation appearing only in the final days of Grafton production, and observed exclusively on standard-size pepperboxes. The very first nipple shields were recessed to the rear.
These progressive refinements laid the groundwork for the more standardized and commercially successful pepperboxes that would be produced during the Norwich period.
Slotted hammers were also introduced somewhere midway through the Grafton period, adding yet another variation to Allen’s early designs. However, whether this feature can truly be considered an “improvement” is debatable, as its practical use is questionable. The intended purpose was to allow the shooter to aim through the slot while cocking the hammer, but in reality, this provided little functional advantage and may have complicated the hammer’s structure without offering meaningful benefits.
Primitive Grafton Standard Size Pepperbox
This is a very early and scarce cased 6-shot pepperbox chambered in .31 caliber. The pepperbox has all the features of the early days of production: Removable nipples, Wide back strap, Patent marking on the side-plate, and the absence of the pitman and ratchet system. Note that the wooden grip plates are not yet fitted with the silver oval inlays. Note that both the case and the inside of the grips have been marked by Paul Wellborn with the stamp “Wellborn / Thurston Oregon.”
Furthermore, note the still-sealed box of percussion caps and the silver-plated powder flask, which includes a compartment for storing percussion caps.
Late Grafton Standard Shieldless Pepperbox
This is a standard 6-shot shieldless pepperbox chambered in .30 caliber. It features fluted barrel ribs and a slow drop grip. The internal mechanism is based on the 1837 patent action, identifiable by the position of the mainspring tension screw on the grip. The walnut grips include an oval silver inlay.
From the P.O. Collection
Late Grafton / Early Norwich Standard Shielded Pepperbox
This is a standard shielded 6-shot pepperbox chambered in .30 caliber. It features fluted barrel ribs and a slow drop grip—both typical of Grafton and early Norwich production. The internal mechanism is based on the 1837 patent action, identifiable by the position of the mainspring tension screw on the grip. The walnut grips include an oval silver inlay. This particular example is marked with J.G. BOLEN on the hammer, indicating its sale through that retail agent
Further evidence suggesting that this specimen originates from the late Grafton or very early Norwich period are the small letter hammer marking. The nipple shields have been introduced in the final days of Grafton. This blend of characteristics indicates a transitional piece, likely produced around 1842.
