Hopkins & Allen Kentucky 45 Kit?

[jefnvk]

Hello all, new guy here with some questions on a pistol I picked up at a pawn shop cheap today. It is a Hopkins and Allen Spanish 45 Caliber Kentucky style, I plan on using it at pistol shoots at the local rendezvous.

I am assuming the gun was a kit, judging by the barrel in white coated in caked on grease, and due to the grease all over the inside of the barrel and nipple I'm not sure it has ever been fired. I am trying to track down any sort of literature on assembly, or even a parts diagram to understand the internals. I'm not sure the previous owner really did any relief work on the stock, the lock and trigger assembly seems forced in when I've got it as disassembled as I can figure out without really prying on stuff, and the hammer is leaving a dent in the stock in the fired position. In addition, I am looking for a new trigger guard, although if that is not possible to replace I can braze up the old one. Lastly, while I have never seen a #10 nipple I am assuming this is one (right one in pic), as its a bit shorter and more tapered than my #11. Any issue with replacing it with a #11?

If anyone has recommendations on a starting load, ball and patch size, I am all ears as well. Thanks!

 

[Phil Coffins]

20-30 grains of 3fg under a .440” ball. Patch will be between .010” to .020” thickness.

 

[desi23]

I've owned a few of these. They were one of the earlier replica offerings, that lock style is a dead giveaway. It looked like they used some shotgun locks and ended up with that filet of wood between the lock plate and bolster. The ones I had ran a bit tight in the bore, a .430/.433 round ball worked best with @ 20 grains 3f powder. The nipples were a metric thread and I replaced them on a couple of the ones I had. Still have a pair that are a bit shorter barreled and smoothbore, fun to shoot!

 

[rafterob]

Some of the early imports were actually .44 but labeled .45 for the American Market. Some Italian makers were actually marked .44. which equates to their 11mm caliber.

 

[jefnvk]

Some of the early imports were actually .44 but labeled .45 for the American Market. Some Italian makers were actually marked .44. which equates to their 11mm caliber.

Ah that makes sense given Desis comment about tight bore.

 

[jefnvk]

I've owned a few of these. They were one of the earlier replica offerings, that lock style is a dead giveaway. It looked like they used some shotgun locks and ended up with that filet of wood between the lock plate and bolster. The ones I had ran a bit tight in the bore, a .430/.433 round ball worked best with @ 20 grains 3f powder. The nipples were a metric thread and I replaced them on a couple of the ones I had. Still have a pair that are a bit shorter barreled and smoothbore, fun to shoot!

Is there any trick to disassemble the lock and trigger beyond than removal of the barrel and those two through side screws? The actual trigger release feels light and crisp, but the trigger rattles around loosely til you take up the slack, that I'd like to look into.

 

[rafterob]

They have a simple trigger with plenty of free play. You will get used to that quickly. To remove the lock, loosen the two lock bolts enough to expose the heads, then tap the heads to loosen the lock from the mortise. Then remove the screws completely and pull the lock out. Don't mess around taking the lock apart. Just clean it well and re-oil it.