Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Revolver
Allen & Wheelock · Pistol · Discontinued · 1858
Also known as: Allen & Wheelock Side Hammer Navy, Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer .36 Navy, Allen & Wheelock Side-Hammer Percussion Revolver
Overview
The Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Revolver is a six-shot, single-action .36 caliber percussion revolver produced in Worcester, Massachusetts by Ethan Allen and Thomas Wheelock. Its defining feature is the hammer mounted on the right side of the frame, paired with a trigger guard that pivots to double as the bullet-loading lever. Introduced soon after the Colt revolver patent expired, the side-hammer Navy model marked a major improvement over the firm's earlier bar-hammer designs and saw service with several Massachusetts units during the early American Civil War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1042 g (36.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 274 mm (10.79") |
| Barrel Length | 135 mm (5.31") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 229 m/s (751 fps) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .36 Caliber Percussion (Cap and Ball) · primary — also known as .36 cal, .36 percussion, 9.1mm
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Percussion Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Notches
- Features: Octagonal Barrel, Side Hammer, Single Action, Six Shot Cylinder, Trigger Guard Loading Lever, Scroll Engraved Cylinder
Service history
Operators
- Union Army · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 750 · Production years: 1858-1861
Roughly 750 .36 Navy-caliber side-hammer percussion revolvers produced before patent litigation pushed the firm toward later center-hammer and lipfire designs.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Ethan Allen
Discontinued: 1861
Notes
Octagonal barrels were offered roughly 5.3 to 8 inches; the 5.3-inch Navy is common. Cylinders are scroll-engraved with forest animal scenes that differ by caliber. Approximately 750 Navy-caliber examples were produced.
Background
Ethan Allen, among the most prolific American gunmakers of the 19th century, partnered with his brother-in-law Thomas Wheelock in Worcester to build these distinctive side-hammer revolvers. The hammer's offset placement kept the shooter's sight line clear, while the cleverly hinged trigger guard rammed each ball home, an elegant solution to ramming a cap-and-ball cylinder without a separate Colt-style loading lever.