Hopkin & Allen Underhammers

[Urban Coyote]

As a boy I scrolled through Gun Digest and Shooter's Bibles as if Christmas catalogs. Muzzleloader attracted my interest and back then H&A advertised the Minuteman, a sidelock long rifle, and an assortment of underhammer models. There was also sidelock half stock rifle I can't recall the model of. If I remember correctly the underhammer models were reasonably priced.

Watching auction sites the H&A underhammer models seem to bring fairly high prices for what they seem to be. I've no experience with them, does anyone know what makes them attractive on the used market?

 

[FishnRod]

After years of looking, I finally have a 45cal on they way, should be here next week. I've always liked the looks of them, but decent ones can be hard to find.

 

[Dwight Rutherford]

Perhaps the attraction is their reputation for being accurate, lite weight, and can be used by both right and left handed shooters. They also look different, but in a good way.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Perhaps the attraction is their reputation for being accurate, lite weight, and can be used by both right and left handed shooters. They also look different, but in a good way.

Add reliable and low priced.

 

[Secesh]

As well as only about 3 moving parts. Very simple design, if taken good care of could probably last 400 or more years.

 

[Togo]

I bought a 45 pistol in the mid 90's for $30 at a garage sale. I finally sold it a few years ago making a hefty profit. Fun to shoot though. Definitely not going to win a beauty contest.

 

[hanshi]

I bought my .45 Heritage Model H&A around 55 years ago and shot the H%#& out of it. That fine rifle took squirrel, bobcat and deer. It's also WOW! accurate. Simple design, beautiful architecture and wonderfully pleasant to handle are all plusses in my book. Mine now lives on the wall but the memories of our adventures together remain fresh.

 

[FishDFly]

One like yours is on my list of wants, not many come avaliable.

 

[OldRust]

Folks seem to either love or hate the looks. I'm in the first group, have a .45 cal and believe they make a nice bench gun.

Thanks
O.R.

 

[springfield art]

As a boy I scrolled through Gun Digest and Shooter's Bibles as if Christmas catalogs. Muzzleloader attracted my interest and back then H&A advertised the Minuteman, a sidelock long rifle, and an assortment of underhammer models. There was also sidelock half stock rifle I can't recall the model of. If I remember correctly the underhammer models were reasonably priced.

Watching auction sites the H&A underhammer models seem to bring fairly high prices for what they seem to be. I've no experience with them, does anyone know what makes them attractive on the used market?

Part of the reason they're desired is because of nostalgia amongst the older guys like me who recall them from the early 60's. I had a pistol, and saw one at an auction about 3 years ago, but didn't bid as I bought a pricey other rifle. I remember the flyer H&A had, with a buck-skin-clad guy demonstrating it in B&W photos. The later generations of pistols had a comfortable and nice looking wood grip, mine was an early model with plastic grip. Yeah, older guys want one to rekindle memories.

 

[FishDFly]

I have 4 under hammer rifles and 5 pistols, guess that puts me in the like group.

 

[Metalshaper]

My Bud and I have made H&A clones.. Mine do not have pins through the frame, as I make an 'insert' for the works!

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

 

[Grantmac]

I really want one. I think the fast lock time would make one heck of a good woods walk rifle.
Tempted to buy the parts kit and machine my own receiver. Maybe do it using a Renegade barrel since they seem to sell cheap on eBay.

 

[BS]

So darn simple!

 

[hawkeye2]

I really want one. I think the fast lock time would make one heck of a good woods walk rifle.
Tempted to buy the parts kit and machine my own receiver. Maybe do it using a Renegade barrel since they seem to sell cheap on eBay.

The only parts kit I'm aware of includes the receiver and were it me I would buy the wood at the same time or just buy the entire kit for about $500.

http://www.longrifles-pr.com/underhammer.shtml

 

[Semisane]

One of my favorites.

 

[Secesh]

R J Renner describes the under-hammer as, “The thinking mans’ rifle.”
He is spot on.

The design provides,

• A more direct ignition into the powder charge than a bolstered breech plug can provide. Increasing accuracy
• Shortens lock time. Increasing accuracy
• Does away with the eye distraction, of the shooter, a side-hammer and primer flash can cause. Increasing accuracy

 

[longcruise]

Maybe a little off track, but how does the forearm attach to the barrel?

 

[hawkeye2]

Pins through the wood and the lower part of the barrel. If you look closely at the photo above (post #16) you can see the 2 pins in the forearm. This is true for H&A underhammers but not necessarily for H&A copies or other underhammers.

 

[FishDFly]

R J Renner describes the under-hammer as, “The thinking mans’ rifle.”
He is spot on.

The design provides,

• A more direct ignition into the powder charge than a bolstered breech plug can provide. Increasing accuracy
• Shortens lock time. Increasing accuracy
• Does away with the eye distraction, of the shooter, a side-hammer and primer flash can cause. Increasing accuracy

One of his rifles is for sale near me, nice rifle, but being .72 it's kinda big.