Project Description
This is a 1/2 scale Allen & Thurber bar hammer,, double action, dragoon percussion pepperbox revolver by a maker unknown to me. The left grip frame under the grip is marked “C.A.S. 1977 1”. 4 3/8″ long overall with a 2 1/2″ six shot barrel group with .160 smoothbores. The bores are not drilled through to the nipples, which leads me to think this piece may be of British origin. Machined steel finished in the white except for the trigger & nipples which are blued. The barrel marked on two of the adjacent ribs “ALLEN & THURBER WORCHESTER” & “PATENTED 1837 CAST STEEL”. The top of the hammer marked “ALLEN’S PATENT”. The frame, nipple shield, & backstrap are nicely engraved in the fashion of an period Allen pepperbox. Two piece ivory grips with a single screw entering from the left side. Cased in what looks to be the original hinged top walnut case with key lock, key included. The interior English fit & lined in a dark red felt. The interior lid with a dealer label. Accessories include a nice leather covered brass single spout powder flask with functional spout and a compartment in the bottom to hold caps, an ivory handled cleaning rod with jagged tip, the case key, and a number of cast lead projectiles. The double action works fine, but the barrels do not rotate as they should. From the looks of it, it should work as the rear of the barrels have the proper ratchet machined, & I can see the rotating hand work when the trigger is pulled with the barrels removed. Could be that the hand is just a little too short to properly engage the ratchet. Otherwise the piece is near mint with just a touch of surface rust in a couple of the bores which should easily clean up with a proper brass brush & some oil. This is the first 1/2 scale Allen pepperbox I have ever seen, although David Kucer did make some in 1/3 scale. Price: $2,950.00.
