Allen & Wheelock Army Revolver
Allen & Wheelock · Pistol · Discontinued · 1861
Also known as: Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Army Revolver, Allen & Wheelock .44 Army
Overview
The Allen & Wheelock Army Revolver is a six-shot, single-action .44 caliber cap-and-ball percussion revolver produced in Worcester, Massachusetts during the early American Civil War. Designed by Ethan Allen, it is a center-hammer design with a half-octagon, half-round barrel and a distinctive ratcheting loading lever that doubles as the trigger guard. Roughly 536 examples were purchased by the Federal Ordnance Department in 1861 and issued to Michigan cavalry regiments, making it one of the many secondary martial revolvers fielded by Union forces.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1130 g (39.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 337 mm (13.27") |
| Barrel Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 270 m/s (886 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 340 J (251 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as .44 cal, .454 round ball, .44 ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Percussion Cap And Ball
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Notches
- Features: Center Hammer, Half Octagon Half Round Barrel, Ratcheting Loading Lever Trigger Guard, Six Shot Cylinder, Single Action
Service history
Operators
- United States Army (Ordnance Department) · adopted 1861
- 2nd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry · adopted 1861
- 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 700 · Production years: 1861-1862
Published estimates suggest roughly 700 produced, though serial-number evidence has led some collectors to propose figures as high as 2,500-3,000. The Federal Ordnance Department purchased 536 in 1861.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Ethan Allen
Discontinued: 1865
Notes
Often called the Center Hammer Army revolver to distinguish it from Allen & Wheelock's earlier side-hammer percussion models. Surviving examples are frequently found converted to .44 rimfire after the war.
Background
Ethan Allen, partnered with his brother-in-law Thomas Wheelock, was one of the most prolific mid-19th-century American gunmakers; his .44 Army revolver competed against Colt and Remington for Union cavalry contracts during the Civil War.