ALLEN & WHEELOCK Side Hammer
Here are
two examples of the 22r annular “side hammer”.
The .22
rimfire 7-shot side-hammer revolver was the very first cartridge revolver
developed and produced by Allen & Wheelock. This development coincided
with Smith & Wesson’s introduction of their Model 1 revolver, which featured a
patented fully bored-through cylinder. Allen’s cartridge revolver clearly
infringed upon this patent, sparking direct competition with S&W’s revolvers.
The
characteristic feature of Allen’s revolvers is the placement of the hammer,
affixed to the side of the frame, a design documented in patent US22005 issued
in November 1858. These revolvers have a 7-shot capacity in .22 short,
necessitating the removal of the cylinder for loading and unloading, using the
cylinder pin to expel spent shells.
Initial
production likely commenced around 1858 and persisted until November 1863.
Allen was forced to halt all of the cartridge revolver production following
S&W’s legal victory in the patent infringement lawsuit. Production resumed in
1869 after the expiration of S&W’s patent.
The
revolvers have a blued steel frame, cylinder and octagonal barrel. The grips are
made of walnut wood. The cylinders are beautifully scroll-engraved depicting
scenes of crossed guns, a horse and rider, military paraphernalia, an Indian
holding a bow, and a sailing ship.
During
the initial production period, Allen continually tinkered with the design.
In only 5 years time, he managed to create six variants of the revolver.
In the
second production period of E.Allen & Co, 2 variants are identified.
Barrel
marking: ALLEN & WHEELOCK. WORCHESTER. MS. US / ALLEN'S PAT'S. SEPT.7.
NOV.9.1858
Hereby
examples of the 1st type and the 5th type. You can notice the differences in
hammer shape, grip shape, cilinder and cilinder fixing.
bpgcollector
First type
5th type
