RARE CIVIL WAR Antique ALLEN & WHEELOCK Center Hammer Lipfire ARMY Revolver 1 of 250 .44 Caliber LIPFIRE Revolvers Made c. 1861

Description:
RARE CIVIL WAR Antique ALLEN & WHEELOCK Center Hammer Lipfire ARMY Revolver

1 of 250 .44 Caliber LIPFIRE Revolvers Made c. 1861

Here we present a very rare antique Allen & Wheelock Second Model Center Hammer Lipfire Army Revolver, made circa 1861 in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the start of the American Civil War. These were produced in both .44 Army caliber and .36 Navy caliber. According to Flayderman, these revolvers only had a production of about 250 pieces till both Allen & Wheelock a ran into the Rollins White patent infringement. They were for the most part converted to percussion to resolve the problem. Of those 250 Lipfires manufactured, many were converted, so finding an original revolver still in Lipfire are few and far between.

Allen & Wheelock manufactured a total of approximately 700 of these Center Hammer revolvers with the first 250 being First and Second Model Lipfires. Of these 700, the Ordnance Department purchased 536 of these revolvers in 1861. Nearly all those guns were subsequently issued to the 2nd & 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry regiments. As these revolvers were purchased on the open market, they were not marked with any U.S. military sub-inspection or final inspection marks (including cartouches), as are found on the guns acquired via official Ordnance Department contracts. Surviving examples are rare.

This Allen & Wheelock Army Revolver is a .44 caliber, six-shot, Lipfire single action revolver that had a 7-1/2” half-round and half-octagon barrel that utilized a unique ratcheting loading lever that formed the trigger guard of the revolver. The frames, cylinders and barrels of the revolvers were blued with the hammers and the combination loading lever and trigger guards color casehardened. The grips were smooth two-piece walnut that were usually varnished but appear to have been oil finished on some examples. Despite the relatively small number produced, the revolvers were manufactured in three distinct variants.

The overall condition is fine. Bright, original gray patina. The action is strong, except one chamber has a slight timing issue (late). The bore is bright with a nice shimmer and sharp rifling. Solid, fine grips with light handling evidence. Markings are clear and legible. Fully functioning loading lever. Here is a very RARE and attractive revolver from one of the 19th Century’s most prolific makers!

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 7-1/2 inches.

Caliber: .44 Lipfire

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$4400

#250066
 

Antique: Yes

Price: $4,400.00
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