Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a great example of the rare .44cal "Army" version of the "Center-Hammer" Percussion Revolvers made by Ethan Allen and his brother-in-law Thomas Wheelock in Worcester, Mass. Allen was involved in a series of different partnerships, which makes the firearms relatively easy to place in time. The right side of the octagonal barrel is just a bit marred, and the original patent markings are still mostly legible:

Other examples we have seen also have the ends of the markings removed or covered, as it looks like the markings were stamped prior to milling the front of the barrel round and fitting the barrel into the frame. As the "ALLEN & WHEELOCK" trade name was used from 1856 to 1865, this revolver definitely falls right into the civil war period. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only an estimated 700 of these rifles were produced in period 1861-1862, making every example very rare! This also puts it firmly into the early Civil War period, and it most likely was put into service during the conflict.

The revolver is marked with serial number 329 on the frame under the grips, on the trigger guard/ ramming lever, on the rear of the cylinder, and on the cylinder arbor pin. It is also marked on the inside of BOTH wooden grip scales, making this a great "ALL MATCHING" example, with no parts swapped out over the years! Not only that, it's one of the best example of an Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer that we have ever seen!

The firm also introduced a smaller .36cal "Navy" version of this revolver, however it is estimated that only around 500 of the smaller model was made. The revolvers unfortunately could not complete with the well established Colt Army and Navy Revolvers. Of course, Colt's own 1861 Navy couldn't complete with the previous 1851 Navy Model.

The "Center-Hammer" revolvers were an improvement of the earlier "Side-Hammer" guns, which had deficiencies with ease of loading, as well as frame strength. Moving the hammer to the center allowed for a stronger frame, which is what the U.S. Army Ordnance Dept was looking for. There were cartridge revolvers at the time, but the U.S. Army was conservative, and only wanted the trusted technology of percussion revolvers. The Center-Hammer did retain one key feature from the side hammer version: the unique combination trigger guard/loading lever.

This example has a lovely patina, still showing a lot of areas with the original case hardening and blued finish it was produced with. There is no major oxidation or pitting evident, just a bit of marring on the barrel where an unprotected clamp was used to tighten the barrel joint. The grip scales are in lovely shape, still retaining much of the original factory "piano varnish" that was used during this period.

The revolver functions beautifully, with a strong smooth action and a strong mainspring. It indexes correctly with a solid cylinder lockup, and a crisp dry fire. We have not noticed any of the usual "finicky" behavior of the action on this revolver. The loading rammer is functional, and the cylinder arbor pin pulls out easily. releasing the cylinder for cleaning and reloading. The bore is in excellent condition, showing a bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. This revolver does not look to have seen much use at all, and was definitely cleaned after it was fired, leaving it as a fantastic example. The cap nipple cones are all clear and in very good condition, showing some powder burn on the exterior, but no major damage or mushrooming from hammer strikes. There is some grease in the chambers that can plug up the ignition channel, but that is easily cleaned away.

This is the only example of a Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Army Revolver in the original percussion configuration that we have ever had. The only prior example we had was a cartridge conversion, and this example is definitely totally unaltered with no signs of restoration. One of only 700 ever made, very unusual and ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1861-1862
Caliber: .44cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 7 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 13 1/4 inches
Action: Single Only
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

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