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Engraved Manhattan Firearms Co .31 Cal Pepperbox

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Engraved Manhattan Firearms Co .31 Cal Pepperbox
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For your bidding pleasure is a Engraved Manhattan Firearms Company .31 Caliber Pepperbox. The pepperbox features a 3" revolver five shot barrels, walnut grips, bar hammer, factory engraving, and blue'd finish. This is the extremely rare diminutive size pistol with the shortest barrels offered being 3” in length. The Manhattan pepperbox was only made from 1856 through the late 1850s in very limited quantities. This unusual percussion ignition pistol fires by simply pulling the trigger which lifts the “bar hammer,” revolves the barrel cluster and ultimately drops the hammer to fire a loaded barrel. The second pull of the trigger similarly fires the next barrel until all five shots have been exhausted. More rare than the common Allen pepperboxes, the Manhattan was a quality firearm that competed well with both Allen and Colt Firearms Co. The bar hammer contains the Manhattan markings while the iron frame is factory scroll engraved. The fluted barrels are correctly unmarked and still retain good blue in the protected areas of the flutes etc. These easily concealable pocket pistols of the Pre-Civil War period were particularly popular with the Gold Seekers in California who often carried a large caliber belt pistol or revolver in a holster with a small pepperbox such as this concealed for back-up use. Later, many found their way into the pockets of Civil War soldiers as personal weapons. The mechanics are in good condition, with good function. This is a antique firearm. NO FFL transfer or NICS background check required. The serial number is 30