Allen & Wheelock · Pistol

Allen & Wheelock Army Revolver

Name: Allen & Wheelock Army Revolver
Brand: Allen & Wheelock

Revolving · .44 Caliber Percussion · introduced 1861

Also known as Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Army Revolver, Allen & Wheelock .44 Army

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About the Allen & Wheelock Army Revolver

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.

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.

Allen & Wheelock Army Revolver specifications

General

Type: Pistol
Action: Revolving
Firing mechanism: Percussion
Trigger: Single action
Calibres: .44 Caliber Percussion
Magazine capacity: 6 rounds
Magazine: Revolving cylinder

Dimensions

Barrel length: 178 mm (7.0 in)
Overall length: 337 mm (13.3 in)
Weight (empty): 1.13 kg (2.49 lb)

Barrel

Rifling: Right hand

Materials

Barrel: Steel
Receiver / frame: Steel
Stock: Walnut
Finish: blued

Performance

Muzzle velocity (typical): 270 m/s (886 fps)
Muzzle energy (typical): 340 J (251 ft·lb)
Effective range: 45 m

History

Introduced: 1861
Discontinued: 1865
Production status: Discontinued
Country of origin: US
Designer: Ethan Allen

Features

Center hammer
Half octagon half round barrel
Ratcheting loading lever trigger guard
Six shot cylinder
Single action

Safety

Hammer safety notches

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.