Hopkins & Allen Tiger No. 2
Hopkins & Allen · Revolver · Discontinued · 1875
Also known as: Tiger No. 2, H&A Tiger
Overview
The Hopkins & Allen Tiger No. 2 is an American single-action spur-trigger pocket revolver of the late 19th century, one of the many low-cost 'Suicide Special' trade-name revolvers produced in Norwich, Connecticut. A solid-frame, five-shot design chambered for the .32 rimfire cartridge, the 'No. 2' frame size denoted the .32 caliber within the maker's numbered range, while the 'Tiger' name was simply one of dozens of catchy trade brands under which these inexpensive concealable revolvers were marketed to working-class buyers.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 280 g (9.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 171 mm (6.73") |
| Barrel Length | 73 mm (2.87") |
| Action Type | Single Action Revolver |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 210 m/s (689 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 119 J (88 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 15 m (16 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 75 m (82 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Nickel Plated |
Calibers
- .32 Short Rimfire · primary — also known as .32 Short, .32 RF Short, .32 RF
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Features: Spur Trigger, Fixed Sights, Fluted Cylinder, Bird Head Grip
Service history
Operators
- American civilian market
Production
Production years: 1875-1900
Hundreds of thousands of 'Suicide Special' spur-trigger revolvers were produced across all American makers and trade names; exact Tiger No. 2 figures are unrecorded.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1900
Notes
'Tiger' was a trade name rather than a distinct mechanism; Hopkins & Allen sold near-identical spur-trigger suicide specials under more than three dozen brands including Ranger, Dictator, Blue Jacket and Czar. No. 1 frames were .22 rimfire and No. 2 frames .32 rimfire.
Background
So-called 'Suicide Specials' earned their grim nickname from collector Duncan McConnell in the 1940s, a label for the cheap, fancifully named single-action pocket revolvers that flooded the American market between the 1870s and 1900s; the Hopkins & Allen Tiger No. 2 was a typical example, affordable, concealable and sold under an evocative brand.