Description:

ALLEN AND THURBER CASED PEPPERBOX PISTOL
Allen & Thurber .32 caliber percussion pepperbox pistol, 7.75 in. long, ca. 1850s, with a six-shot fluted barrel. This gun is an 1845 Ethan Allen patent pepperbox, which offered a significant improvement over his 1837 patent mechanism by enhancing the functionality and ease of production of the pepperboxes' internal mechanism. Features a ring trigger, walnut two-piece bag shaped grips, and scroll engraving to the frame and removable flash guard. Wear to the backstrap which has somewhat obscured the engraving thereon. The barrel marking ‘ALLEN THURBER & Co.' and ‘WORCESTER' allows us to date the production of the gun to somewhere between 1854 and about 1856 when the company underwent one of several name changes. A notable dent to the screw on the left side of the frame, otherwise, in near excellent condition. Presented in a 8.75 x 5.74 x 2 in. deep walnut wood case, velvet lined with five compartments, lacking the key for the lock. Contained within is a tin of percussion caps, powder flask, cleaning rod, and bullet mold. Gun maker Ethan Allen produced guns on a lesser scale than Colt or Remington for example, but nonetheless had quite an influence on the American firearms industry. His company, Allen & Wheelock, was founded in 1831. It was not until 1836 that Allen moved from the construction of knives and other tools to guns, first introducing his pocket rifle. The initial success of this firearm resulted in the pursuit of designing a double action pocket pistol, and eventually the pepperboxes that would be his mainstay product line for the next 20 years. In 1837 Allen brought one of his brothers-in-law on board, changing the company name to Allen & Thurber, the two eventually moving the business to Worcester, MA in 1847. Another of his brothers-in-law joined in 1854, resulting in the name changing to Allen & Thurber & Co. Allen's innovations in revolver actions and self-contained cartridge designs earned him numerous patents, while his use of large-scale production techniques and interchangeable parts also saw him as a leader within the industry.

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January 18, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000