Single Shot In-Line Percussion Pistols
Commercial era:
Allen & Wheelock
This pistol of very simple design is also known as the “Straight Line Single Shot” or “Straight Away”. The name refers to the fact that the percussion nipple and barrel are positioned in one straight line.
Barrel lengths vary from 3″ to 6″ and in caliber ranging from .31 to .36.
Two types of grips can be distinguished. The “quick drop” and on the later models the Smith & Wesson style “slow drop”.
All pistols are marked with ALLEN & WHEELOCK on the barrel, except models with full round barrels.
The design was such that almost any kind of barrel could be screwed onto it. And this is exactly what happened. The first models have a very nice look with a perfect fitting barrel where the border between the barrel and the frame is barely visible. However, later production can be seen with all kind of barrels of different styles (full round, half octagonal- half round, fully octagonal) and different lengths.
It is believed that Allen has used this pistol design to get rid of rejected and/or surplus stocks of barrels. Most of the pistols have barrels from Allen & Wheelock origin, but we can also see barrels purchased from stock of other manufacturers.
The above early model looks quite nice. The later production with the surplus/reject type of barrels look a lot less appealing. It can be assumed that these pistols were intended for a public only looking for a cheap weapon regardless the esthetics of the gun.
Below some examples.
Straight Line Pistol - late type - Revolver barrel
This pistol is of late vintage having a barrel from a side-hammer belt revolver.
From the P.O. Collection
