Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Herb Houze
one of the most sought after types. Although no government contracts were given for this model, it is considered by collectors as a martial type.
Early production type; lateral friction style catch on left side of sideplate/trigger guard, to secure trigger guard/loading lever into position for firing. Barrel marking: ALLEN & WHEELOCKand ALLEN’S PATENT JAN. 13, 1857. About 100 made:
5A-058 Early Production
| 5A-058 | Values—Good $1,250 | Fine $4,000 |
Standard model; catch for trigger guard of spring loaded type and mounted on rear of guard. Barrel marking: ALLEN & WHEELOCK WORCESTER, MASS./ALLEN’S PATENTS JAN. 13, 1857, SEPT. 7, 1858. About 750 made:
5A-059 Standard Production
| 5A-059 | Values—Good $1,150 | Fine $3,500 |
Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Army
Army Model Center Hammer Percussion Revolver by Allen & Wheelock. Made c. 1861-1862; total quantity usually estimated about 700. However, from the frequency with which this piece appears, it would seem that considerably more were made, hence there is strong likelihood numbers were merely assembly numbers.
44 caliber. 6-shot round cylinder rebated at nipple end. 7-1/2" half round, half octagon barrel.
Walnut grips. Blued finish, with casehardened hammer and trigger guard.
Serial (batch) numbered. Barrel markings: ALLEN & WHEELOCK. WORCESTER, MASS. U.S./ALLEN’S PT’S. JAN. 13, 1857. DEC 15, 1857, SEPT. 7, 1858.
An improvement over the Sidehammer revolvers, the main features of the Army Model are the centrally located hammer and the cylinder pin entering from the front. Variations are known in the method of attaching nipples to cylinder with slight changes in shape of nipple wells. Records show 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. Martially marked specimens are very rare and will command premium values if fully validated. It is known that a very small group of them (believed to be in this large 44-caliber “Army” size were issued to the 2nd and 3rd regiments of Michigan cavalry during the Civil War:
5A-060
| 5A-060 | Values—Good $1,000 | Fine $4,000 |
Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Navy
Navy Model Center Hammer Percussion Revolver by Allen & Wheelock. Made c. 1861-1862; total quantity estimated 500 as with the Army Model, it is assumed the “serial” numbers more likely represent assembly numbers, hence quantity manufactured is very possibly larger than 500.
36 caliber. 6-shot round cylinder rebated at nipple end. 7-1/2" octagon barrel; also made in 5", 6", and 8" lengths. The 7-1/2" and 8" lengths are worth a 10 to 20 percent premium.
Walnut grips. Blued finish, with casehardened hammer and trigger guard.
Serial (batch) numbered. Barrel marking: ALLEN & WHEELOCK WORCESTER, MASS. U.S./ALLEN’S PT’S. JAN. 13, DEC. 15, 1857, SEPT. 7, 1858.
The center hammer model evolved from the Sidehammer series, and is believed to have been made after the Allen & Wheelock lipfire Army and Navy production. No government contracts were given for this model, but it is considered a martial piece by collectors:
5A-061
| 5A-061 | Values—Good $750 | Fine $3,000 |
Allen & Wheelock “Providence Police”
Providence Police (so-called) Model Center Hammer Percussion Revolver by Allen & Wheelock. Made c. late 1850s—early 1860s; total quantity about 700.
36 caliber. 5-shot round cylinder with rebated section at nipple end. Octagonal barrel standard at 3" or 4" length (5" barrels scarce and worth premium).
Walnut grips. Blued finish.
Serial (batch) numbered. Although these arms are all unmarked, they are decidedly the product of Allen & Wheelock and are so considered. Such features as the cylinder pin and gas deflector encircling the pin and the typical A& W styling can be observed in the frame, hammer, and cylinder configuration.
Collectors know this large caliber spur trigger revolver by the “Providence Police” name, as presumably specimens were made for use by the Providence, Rhode Island, police department, although no conclusive evidence exists to verify this fact. Variations have been noted in the single or two screw fastening of the sideplate:
5A-062
| 5A-062 | Values—Good $375 | Fine $1,250 |
Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Lipfire Army
Army Model Center Hammer Lipfire Revolver, a.k.a.“2nd Model Lipfire,” by Allen & Wheelock. Made c. early 1860s; total quantity about 250.
44 lipfire. 6-shot round cylinder with notches for cartridge lips at rear wall. 7-1/2" half round, half octagon barrel.
Walnut grips. Two shapes to the grips/butts are known which constitute distinct variations. The most commonly encountered (as illustrated) known as the “narrow” grip is evenly tapered in contour; a rarely found shape known as the “flared” or “bell” type has the contour of grip widening noticeably at butt. Blued finish, with casehardened hammer and trigger guard.
Serial (batch) numbered. Barrel marking: ALLEN & WHEELOCK, WORCESTER, MASS. U.S./ALLEN’S PAT’S SEP. 7, NOV. 9, 1858.
Quite similar to the Army Model Center Hammer percussion revolver, the lipfire was contemporary, and likely would have continued except for a successful patent infringement against Allen & Wheelock by Smith & Wesson. Collectors sometimes erroneously confuse the lipfire Army as a conversion from percussion. It was actually manufactured prior to the percussion model. Although no government contracts were given for this model it is considered