Antique and Collectible Firearms and Militaria
The Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Navy revolver is part of a line of sidehammer revolvers manufactured between 1858 and 1861 by Allen and Wheelock, a company formed in partnership between Ethan Allen and his brother-in-law Thomas P. Wheelock. In addition to the Navy model, this line, thought to be based on the Colt Model 1855 “Root” Pocket revolver design, also included the Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Belt and Pocket models. Manufacture of Allen & Wheelock sidehammer revolvers ceased in 1861 when the company introduced its center hammer revolvers, a much hardier action design.
The Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Navy revolver is chambered in .36 caliber with six-shot cylinder roll engraved with a forest/animal scene. Barrel length varies between 5-½ and 8 inches and are full octagon from frame to muzzle. Barrels are marked on the left side with the company barrel address and one (early) or two (later) patent dates. The frame and barrel are finished in blue while the cylinder, triggerguard, and hammer are cased hardened. Batch (serial) numbers are found on the triggerguard/loading lever, rear face of the cylinder, indexing plate, arbor pin, inside the side plate, left side of the frame under the walnut grips, and underside of both grips. Aside from the sidehammer action, the Navy model is unique in its approach to the loading lever and cylinder indexing systems. Unlike the more familiar loading levers located under the barrel seen on Colt revolvers, the Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Navy model’s triggerguard doubles as the loading lever. Hinged at the front, on the frame, by a screw, the guard unlatches behind the trigger and swings down and forward. This movement pushes the attached loading plunger into the cylinder. Indexing and rotation of the cylinder is controlled by a round plate installed behind the cylinder. The plate has a raised key machined on its forward surface that nests in a corresponding notch on the rear cylinder face and, as the plate rotates when the hammer is pulled back, advances the cylinder.
Estimates place total production of the Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Navy model at 850 revolvers during the four-year production period, making these models relatively difficult to find. In addition, numerous variations exist within this model (though they are not as varied as the Belt model) which adds to the attraction and challenge of collecting this model. These changes are limited to small parts and markings with the overall action design remaining the same and are thought to represent improvements and cost-saving developments during the relatively short production run of this model. For example: Early Navy models (approximately 100 produced) utilize a friction catch that secures the triggerguard/loading lever, have a cylinder which has a circular recess machined around the arbor pin hole on the rear cylinder face, and a three-screw side plate. Later production (approximately 750 produced) improved the triggerguard/loading lever catch by replacing the less dependable friction design with a spring-loaded catch at the back of the triggerguard. The cylinder recess was eliminated, creating a flat face with only the slot for the indexing mechanism remaining. These later versions also received a more simple, single screw side plate. There is no set time for these production changes and examples are seen with a combination, i.e., spring-loaded catch with recessed cylinder face and three-screw side plate or spring-loaded catch with flat cylinder face and three-screw side plate. No production numbers for revolvers with each combination of variations are known to exist outside of the “early” and “late” production estimates already noted for the triggerguard/loading lever modifcation. There are no known military contracts for this model, however they are still considered desirable military revolvers by collectors.
Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Navy revolver seen here is a later variation example, as noted by the spring-loaded triggerguard/loading lever catch, single screw side plate, flat rear cylinder face, and two patent date barrel address. Technically this revolver is a Navy Model 3rd Type. The octagonal barrel is 7 ½ inches long. On the left side of the barrel, the address marking is light but legible and reads ‘ALLEN & WHEELOCK. WORCHESTER, MASS. U.S./ALLEN’S PT’S. JAN. 13. DEC. 15. 1857. SEPT. 7. 1858’. The batch/SN is clearly marked on the small parts mentioned above.
Given the low manufacture numbers for this model, Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Navy revolvers are difficult to find and due to the inherent weaknesses of the sidehammer design, when they are found, they seldom work. The accompaning holster is an even more rare item, as one might expect. The holster is in excellent shape, although some wear exists on the belt loop and surrounding area on the back of the holster, as expected with the holster being worn. No manufacturing markings are visible and we are unsure if they were ever present. This is a great combination of revolver and holster that would fit in any revolver or Allen collection.
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