These pistols belong to the family of firearms known by various names like Shotgun Hammer pistols, Center Hammer pistols or Boot pistols. The official identification of Allen was the No.6 Rifled Pistol. The reason behind these names is fairly easy to guess, however, you could argue that Boot pistol would only apply to the versions with a barrel length of at least 6 inches. Production started during the Allen & Thurber period and lasted until the end of the Allen & Wheelock period.
For individuals seeking a straightforward, durable, and reasonably priced firearm with considerable firepower, this pistol stood as an excellent option. The pistols were produced in multiple calibers—.32, .34, .36, and .44—with barrel lengths ranging from 3 to 12 inches. They featured a screw-off barrel design to simplify loading. The hammer was offset slightly to the right, enabling the use of sights. These pistols operate in single action only and do not include a half-cock notch. Standard versions are finished in blue and fitted with walnut grips, and they generally have minimal markings.
The barrel flats are usually stamped with the manufacturer’s name and the serial number. Additional markings indicating the place of manufacture (WORCESTER) and the word “CASTSTEEL”, as seen in this example, are not consistently present.
The pistols were never engraved, a notable distinction from the Bar Hammer pistols and contemporary pepperboxes of the same era.
During the early Worcester period, a compact version entered the lineup, known as the muff pistol. Contrary to the larger versions, these muff
pistols have smooth bores and are generally devoid of any markings, except for a few rare examples.
An 1849 dated pricelist show that shotgun-hammer pistols sold for more than twice the price of the single-shot bar-hammer pistols and were only slightly less expensive than the standard six-shot pepperboxes.
Shotgun-hammer pistols proved highly popular in their day, and it is therefore unsurprising that many competitors sought to challenge Allen’s position in the market by introducing identical or closely similar models.
Some detailed pictures of a 3″ barrel pistol in nearly mint condition. It is extremely rare to find a boot pistol in this condition. This particular specimen has been produced in the Allen & Wheelock period.
Allen & Thurber Boot Pistol with 5″ barrel
Allen & Wheelock Boot Pistol with 8″ barrel
This specimen is from later vintage having the Allen & Wheelock marking from the Worcester period.
From the P.O. Collection