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[WildGunz]

I just picked up a 1858 copy a couple weeks ago.
I was telling a friend about it,he goes over to his work bench and pulls out this piece that is very worn.It's A revolver with a barrel that starts out as octagon then turns into round.
The top identifying line is on the left side of the octagon barrel,and can't be read, the second line,right under the first line,reads
ALLEN PT'S JAN 13 DEC 13 1857 SEP
I have no way to put up a pic at this time.I'll try to borrow a cammera as soon as I can..Any body got a clue???

 

[Zonie]

Does it look like this?

This is a reproduction of the original Allen and Thurber Sidehammer Target Pistol.

The original was made in the late 1840's - 1850's.
It was made in .34, .41 and .45 caliber with barrels ranging from 6 to 10 inches long.

The late patent date probably indicates that the gun wasn't exactly like this one and by 1857 the company had changed its name to Allen and Wheelock. The company made many different styles of single and double barrel pistols as well as revolvers.

 

[WildGunz]

No the gun he has is a revolver. By the way It looks, I can tell that pistol you have is a relative. The one he has looks like a colt but it has a top strap. This does not look like a copy.To my untrained eye it looks like the real deal.VERY OLD..... Thanks...

 

[WildGunz]

@ Zonie,Thanks for the info. I googled Allen and Wheelock and found a lot of info, it seems at first glance to be a real rare gun..Thanks again, for your help.....

 

[WildGunz]

I found it.It is a Allen and wheelock 44 cal army about 700 total made...He may be holding some money there. Now some more research...

 

[Zonie]

"FLAYDERMAN'S GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AMERICAN ARMS" shows a number of revolvers made by Allen and Wheelock both in "side hammer" and "center hammer" versions.

The marking you mentioned in your first post seems to match the Center Hammer Army.
It's markings are:
ALLEN & WHEELOCK, WORCHESTER, MASS.
U.S./ALLEN'S PT'S. JAN. 13,1857. DEC 15, 1857,
SEPT. 7, 1858

Flayderman also mentioned the 700 figure but went on to say, "...However, from the frequency with which this piece appears, it would seem that considerably more were made, hence there is a strong likelihood numbers were merely assembly numbers." He is speaking of what was assumed to be serial numbers which seem to end around 700.

He also mentions that, "... 536 Allen revolvers were bought by the U.S. government in 1861: they do not, however, indicate which model. It has been generally assumed that these were all the 44 caliber Army type...It is known that a very small group of them...were issued to the 2nd and 3rd regiments of Michigan cavalry during the Civil War:"
If your friends gun was bought by the Army, it would have military inspection stamps on it although not being deeply into actual antiques and Martial guns I do not know who's initials or what marks would have been made.

 

[WildGunz]

Zonie, Thanks for the info I'll pass it along.He's not interested in selling. He's going to hold on to it then pass it on to his son.

 

[Mulebrain]

Is this it? It has the date like the one your referred to!

More good info here!
http://www.armscollectors.com/mgs/two_pair_four_kind.htm

 

[WildGunz]

That's it...Thanks for posting a picture.I haven't learned how to do that yet...