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Very Early Allen & Thurber Pocket 32 Cal Pepperbox

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:1,400.00 - 2,700.00 USD
Very Early Allen & Thurber Pocket 32 Cal Pepperbox
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You are bidding on the Earliest Style of a Factory Engraved Allen & Thurber Pocket Size .32 Caliber Pepperbox. The pepperbox features a 3 1/4" ribbed revolving barrel, dog leg walnut grip, bar hammer, factory engraving, silver spangle, and blue'd finish. This is an excellent example with the early “dog-leg” grip style that was straighter than the curved grip style of all later models and is only found on the early examples. It also has the handsome and desirable early style “ribbed barrels” where the later manufactured pepperbox pistols have the smooth fluted barrels. Additionally, the walnut grips display the desirable decorative oval silver “spangle” in each panel above the screw. Only the earliest Allen and Thurber models have this feature, that is so sought after by collectors today. This is the very seldom seen small size Allen Pepperbox that found favor as a pocket or “hideout” weapon, yet was still large enough to be worn in a discrete holster on the belt. These early competitors to the Colt and Remington revolvers were popular with the “49ers” of California Gold Rush fame as well as gamblers and with urban dwellers in need of a small repeating firearm for self defense. Many were carried as private weapons on both sides of the Civil War. Examples in fine condition are rare as these handguns were often used for “daily carry” by their owners. This is an exceptional example as it still retains most of the original blue on the barrels! The usual condition for one of these is gray metal at best and more often than not badly rusted, pitted and showing abuse. The frame is factory hand engraved as is the back strap. This is a double action pistol in which a single pull of the trigger revolves the barrel cluster, raises the bar-style hammer and fires the gun. The barrels are marked “ALLEN & THURBER” and “WORCESTER” plus “PATENTED 1837 CAST STEEL.” The bar hammer also marked “ALLEN’S PATENT 1837.” Walnut grips are excellent and show no signs of chipping, cracking or abuse. Sharp markings and engraving overall. Excellent mechanical condition and a truly outstanding example of a uniquely American firearm of the pre-Civil War period. This pepperbox was manufactured circa 1840. Antique firearm. NO FFL transfer or NICS background check required.