Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a very nice private purchase .32cal Rimfire Revolver made by Ethan Allen and his brother-in-law Thomas Wheelock in Worcester, Mass. These were very popular as "backup" revolvers for officers, used once their larger caliber percussion revolver was spent. About 1,000 of these attractive "pocket" revolvers were produced from 1859 to 1862, when litigation from Smith & Wesson brought production to a halt. They had purchased exclusive rights to the Rollin White patent, which governed bored through cylinders, and defended it actively.

Ethan Allen was involved in a series of different partnerships, which makes the firearms relatively easy to place in time. The side of the octagonal barrel still has the original patent markings, but they are quite worn and require a magnifier to read:

As the "ALLEN & WHEELOCK" trade name was used from 1856 to 1865, this revolver definitely falls right into the civil war period. The JULY 3, 1860 marking on the left side of the barrel trunion is completely worn away. The revolver is marked with serial number 694 under the barrel, on the back of the cylinder, on the grip frame, and on the inside both wood grip scales. That makes this a lovely "ALL MATCHING" example, with no parts swapped out over the years!

Overall the revolver has a nice worn patina, typical of a gun that saw long service. There is some powder burn around the front of the frame, as well as on the front of the cylinder. The revolver is fitted with an interesting side hammer and a 4 ⅞" barrel, with an overall length of 9 ⅜ inches. The walnut grips are in good shape, still retaining some of the original "piano varnish" finish used during this period. The left grip scale is however missing a large chunk on the rear, as pictured.

The revolver cycles well, with accurate indexing, a strong dry fire, and good cylinder lockup. There is a bit of slop in the mechanics due to wear, and it can be a bit finicky at times, as with most revolvers of this age. The barrel still shows rifling with a mostly bright finish, however the lands are definitely worn, so this looks to be a revolver that saw a good amount of use during its service life. There is a bit of fouling and oxidation in areas, typical of a revolver from the age of black powder. The barrel arbor pin can still be pulled out and the cylinder removed for reloading and cleaning, and the retaining spring is still strong, holding it place.

A nice little civil war pistol, ready to research and display!

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: 1859-1862
Caliber: .32cal
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 3 1/4 inches
Overall Length: 7 1/4 inches
Action: Single Only
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

More on Gunmaker Ethan Allen:
 Allen originally developed his Gun business by taking his brother-in-law Charles Thurber as his partner, originally setting up shop in Norwich, CT, which as a major gun making center at the time. They were one of the earliest makers of pistols in the city, and sources usually cite 1842 as when they began production, though some use 1835 as the start date. Ethan Allen, no relation to the Revolutionary Ethan Allen, had applied for various patents, most notably early on for a "TUBE HAMMER" ignition system in 1837, which was renewed in 1845.

In 1847, the company moved the production plant to Worcester, Mass., and as before manufactured many quality pepperbox pistols. Ethan Allen later took into his business another brother-in-law, Thomas Wheelock, in 1854, when the company would be come Allen, Thurber & Co. and then Allen & Wheelock once Thurber retired in 1856. In 1865, after Wheelock's passing, Allen's two Sons-in-law, Sullivan Forehand and Henry Wadsworth joined the company, which returned to the name E. Allen & Company. These two would then continue the business after Ethan Allen's death in 1871. Most interesting that all these names have become an integral part of the U.S. arms industry.