ETHAN Allen & C°
The gun is an "Sidehammer Lipfire Revolver" from Ethan Allen & Co
The Sidehammer Lipfire revolver in a rather unique design with an overhead rack
and pinion ejector system. The revolver is only made in the 32 Lipfire caliber
and with a barrel length of either 4, 5 or 6″. Most of these revolvers were
manufactured in the Allen & Wheelock period. These examples have the 1858 and
July.9.1860 patent dates.
Much scarcer are the Ethan Allen & Co era revolvers like this example with a
barrel markings baring the sep.24.1861 patent date.
There are two variations of the unique case ejector system. One with a square
ejector housing and an ejector tube covering fully the ejector. The second
variant has a beveled ejector housing and a shorter ejector tube allowing part
of the ejector to protrude. This latter variant is only known to the Allen &
Wheelock production period.
When lipfire cartridges became scarcer, these types of revolvers were converted
to fire the more common rimfire cartridges. This was done by milling off a small
slice from the cylinder top, as is the case with this example.
Caliber: .32" Lipfire
Length: Barrel:12,6 cm (5"), Total:23,5 cm
Weight: 525 gr
Barrel marking: ETHAN ALLEN & CO WORCESTER MASS / ALLEN'S PAT'S SEP.7. NOV.9.
1858. SEP.24.1861
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