Numrich Hopkins and Allen Underhammer

[gmww]

I finally found an Underhammer pistol to fondle. I found it at a local Pawn shop. It is a Numrich Hopkins and Allen Underhammer in .45 cal. Its going to take me a while to get used to its looks.

Of particular interest to me is how the nipple was counter sunk into the barrel. I've toyed with the idea for an underhammer rifle I have where the barrel is too thick for the hammer to strike correctly.

I've been told by FW that this may be an original because there is a tab on the front of the mainspring which touches the trigger.

 

[dd832]

That is an oldie indeed. The tab for the trigger spring would break off after awhile. I have a slightly newer, 'messed with' version that uses a hairpin type spring for the trigger. The grip on mine pushes the heel of my hand so far back that I could hardly hold the pistol still. The 12" barrel wobbles around like a drunken sailor (don't ask me how I know). I am making a new grip with an angle closer to the 1911 Colt/Browning, but with a Billinghurst flare at the bottom of the grip. The flash cup was severely deformed, so I turned a new one out of brass stock & sodered it back on. Finally, I tapered the barrel from the muzzle back to the flash cup. Doesn't wobble as much now. Yours looks more 'pristine' than mine, probably wouldn't mess with it much. A replacement grip is easy to make though & you can always put the original back on. Mike

 

[OTHERN]

I have one of those. Got it in 1970. Shoots great, looks ugly. I have to use 30 gr in mine or the ball will cover the nipple. Check yours to see where the nipple is in relation to the breech. I use 433 balls in mine with 15 thous pillow ticking and it is tight. I've never had any problems with mine. Every one around here has borrowed it a time or two, just so they can beat me with my own pistol. :redface:

Othern