Hopkins and Allen pistol - The Firearms Forum

dale walters · 04-19-2010, 06:34 PM

Hi Gang,newbie Dale Walters here.(I hope I'm in the right place) My wife had left to her by her grandmother a hopkins and allen pocket pistol, Patten on the top strap says Mar.28,71- Jan.8,88 XL 3 double action 32 cal. centre fire. There is a no.601 under the cylinder pin(exposed) and the no.683 on the(folding)hammer spur.It is nickle plated,has a 2 3/4 inch barrel(octogon) 5 shot, and has no loading gate,and what "appears" to be pearl grips. This pistol has a little bit of wear on it (nothing major). We have shot this pistol (black powder cartridge).It worked real good. Any info on this nice old gun would be appreciated. Thanks a millon for your help with this. Dale L. Walters

Jim K · 04-19-2010, 07:14 PM

In general H&A products were better made than many of the pocket revolvers of that era. The XL Double Action was made from 1875-1907; the folding hammer spur was a fairly popular option. The serial number was usually also placed on the rear of the cylinder. The second patent date is Jan. 5, 1886, and the serial number indicates your gun was probably made in that year. You were wise to use black powder cartridges, though I have fired mine (No. 1521) with factory ammo.

Those guns have a mild collector interest if in new or near-new condition; even then, the value seldom exceeds $200.

Jim

dale walters · 04-20-2010, 06:15 PM

Jim K, Thanks for the info on my wifes old H&A pistol. I went and looked at the back of the cylinder, "low and behold" the no. 601. Thanks again for your help.

04-19-2010, 06:34 PM	#1
dale walters Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3	Hopkins and Allen pistol Hi Gang,newbie Dale Walters here.(I hope I'm in the right place) My wife had left to her by her grandmother a hopkins and allen pocket pistol, Patten on the top strap says Mar.28,71- Jan.8,88 XL 3 double action 32 cal. centre fire. There is a no.601 under the cylinder pin(exposed) and the no.683 on the(folding)hammer spur.It is nickle plated,has a 2 3/4 inch barrel(octogon) 5 shot, and has no loading gate,and what "appears" to be pearl grips. This pistol has a little bit of wear on it (nothing major). We have shot this pistol (black powder cartridge).It worked real good. Any info on this nice old gun would be appreciated. Thanks a millon for your help with this. Dale L. Walters -->

04-19-2010, 07:14 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Hopkins and Allen pistol In general H&A products were better made than many of the pocket revolvers of that era. The XL Double Action was made from 1875-1907; the folding hammer spur was a fairly popular option. The serial number was usually also placed on the rear of the cylinder. The second patent date is Jan. 5, 1886, and the serial number indicates your gun was probably made in that year. You were wise to use black powder cartridges, though I have fired mine (No. 1521) with factory ammo. Those guns have a mild collector interest if in new or near-new condition; even then, the value seldom exceeds $200. Jim

04-20-2010, 06:15 PM	#3
dale walters Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3	Re: Hopkins and Allen pistol Jim K, Thanks for the info on my wifes old H&A pistol. I went and looked at the back of the cylinder, "low and behold" the no. 601. Thanks again for your help.