William Uhlinger
History
The
Uhlinger revolver on your site is interesting, having both the DD Cone and J.P.
Lower markings. I'd like to add some information that heretofore has not
been available.
I'm
researching Lower's life and have been given access to a bio he dictated to his
son, Clarence, just before his death in 1917. It is unfortunate that many
writers, including Flayderman, Wilkerson and others have used an obituary
written by Gene Fowler as the "gospel" on Mr. Lower. Fowler, in fact, got
his information from Lower's business acquaintances, who did not know exactly
where he was born or on what date, nor what he did in Philadelphia working for
G.C. Grubb. And concerning the Uhlinger revolvers, he had a major role in
their assembly and distribution.
Lower was
more than a "mere clerk" as Flaydermans depicts him, for by 1859, when Hankins
sold his machinery to Lower's friend, Uhlinger, Lower had been assembling and
selling fowling pieces, single shot pistols and deringers, and Kentucky styled
rifles since 1855. This was the year Lower began traveling throughout the
states selling Grubbs stock and his own creations and combinations, made in his
small home shop, especially south of the Mason Dixon line. Which brings us
to the Uhlingers.
After
getting the Hankins machinery set up and running in 1859, the well known patent
suit by Smith occurred, with a cease and desist order in place by early 1860.
Uhlinger had several thousand parts and hundreds of unfinished guns and parts of
both calibers (22 and 32). As his friend Lower had been building guns in
his own shop for years, an agreement was reached whereby Lower would buy out
Uhlinger for cash, including all parts and finished guns. Not many guns
are found with the pure Uhlinger markings due to the short number of weeks the
guns were produced before the injunction. Lower would market the guns under
his name and those of his assistants, DD Cone and W Grant. Those guns
stamped with Cone had the Washington D.C. stamp added in an attempt to secure
northern buyers after the war started. He stated that those so marked were
rejected by the southerners at first because of the Washington stamp, so not
many are found marked with only the Cone stamp. Lower said that his name
was recognized and so was added to the guns, as on Salters example on your page.
This was an endorsement of sorts and promoted sales.
These
statements are verifiable in that his stamp on these gun found today with
original finish, is always flush with the metal surface, indicating that it was
stamped BEFORE the polish and blue were finished. That it is the same
stamp found on fowling pieces and pistols supports his claim of a small shop
with assembly and possibly bluing capabilities. It is possible that
Uhlinger did the actual bluing for him, but the bio is incomplete in this
detail. The guns were sold to many, north and south, and were, according
to Lower, favored by calvary as a secondary revolver. He comments that the
loading gate was a problem, as it opened easily and could be snapped off during
combat. We find today that about 75% of these surviving guns are
missing the gate.
Well, I
know that was a lot to digest, but I'm trying to get the word out to the
collecting world. Working on a book and hope to have it ready soon.
Dave Lanara