Here is an unusual and fairly scarce percussion revolver - the Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Navy. As described in Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms, this revolver was made circa 1861-62 (although Tim Prince, College Hill Arsenal, states that he believes they were produced from 1862 to early 1864).

The Center Hammer percussion revolvers were manufactured during the early days of the American Civil War, after Allen was forced to stop producing their Center Hammer Lipfire revolvers, due to their infringement on the Smith & Wesson / Rollin White "bored through cylinder" patent. Approximately 500 of these Navy model revolvers were produced during this period. The guns were conventional, single action percussion revolvers with 6 shot cylinders. The standard barrel length was 7 ", although the guns were also produced with 5", 6" and 8" barrels.

Again, per Flayderman, "these revolvers had walnut grips, blued finish, and casehardened hammer and trigger guard... While no government contracts were given for this model, it is considered a martial piece by collectors."

This particular pistol times, locks up and functions exactly as it should. The gun has a unique triggerguard/cam action loading lever - you unlatch the trigger guard and swing it forward to serve as the loading lever. This pistol is a 6" model. The barrel is lightly marker ALLEN & WHEELOCK. WORCHESTER / ALLEN's PT's. JAN. 13. DEC. 15. 1857.

As stated, it is believed that approximately 500 of these Centerhammer Navy models were produced, and this pistol is number 499. The number is located on the frame under the left grip panel, on the cylinder, on the cylinder arbor pin, on the arbor pin "tab", on the inside of the loading lever, and on the insides of the both grips.

This is a pistol most have never heard of or seen and I wanted to share my recent find.

This is SUPER cool. Thanks for sharing!

A very unusual revolver which I have never heard of. Appears in solid condition too. What is its caliber?

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
What is its caliber?

This is a .36 caliber pistol.

Some might assume the terms "Navy" and "Army" as they pertain to Civil War pistols refer to the branch of service the pistols were used by (I did when I first got interested). In actuality, Navy refers to a .36 caliber and Army is .44 caliber. There were lots of "Navy" pistols used by the Army in the war and vice versa.

That is very cool! The trigger guard loading lever is an ingenious way to keep the sleek lines of that gun and still provide the necessary functionality of the lever. The smooth lines of that design are awesome, too...I love the way the frame seems to flow smoothly right into the grip panels. Looks like a nice clean example, too...great find!

Exceptionally cool.

Your informative „show and tell“ was really enjoyable.

quote:

Originally posted by Udo:
Your informative „show and tell“ was really enjoyable.

Thanks. I know most are probably interested in modern pistols but I think the Civil War percussions are very interesting. Maybe a few others do also.

That's enough to give stylophiles a chubby

I really like that scheme for the loading lever, I expect it takes a lot less effort than a Colt because a gear action like that can produce more leverage that what Colt used on their revolvers.

The loading level operates very similarly to rack & pinion design of later years. It's much smoother to operate than the more conventional under barrel loading levers of the time.