H&A NEW MODEL TARGET PISTOL
.22 rimfire cal., single shot top break with the same new locking mechanism as the Safety Police Revolver, 6, 8, or 10 in. barrel, wood target grips with golden monograms, blue finish.
HOPKINS & ALLEN
At its peak, Hopkins & Allen was the third largest American arms manufacturer, behind Colt and Winchester. The company held the record at the time for producing the largest assortment of different firearms and firearms models - over 60 different handguns and a number of rifles and shotguns. In November 1869, Henry Hopkins, the eldest brother of Samuel and Charles, became a partner. During 1871, Merwin Hulbert & Company of New York became the sole agent for Hopkins & Allen products. In 1874, Col. Converse left Hopkins & Allen, selling his shares to Merwin Hulbert & Co. During 1878, Henry Hopkins retired from Hopkins & Allen, and sold his shares to John E. Warner. Also during this time, Joseph Merwin died, and the company moved to 48 Franklin Street in Norwich, CT. Merwin, Hulbert & Co. claimed ownership of the factory in 1887. In 1896, a chaotic financial situation brought about the demise of Merwin, Hulbert & Co. and Hulbert Bros. Co. Hopkins & Allen was reorganized to save itself from financial ruin. Charles Cogswell, Arthur Brewer, and Charles B. Lee now owned the majority of stock in the company. A number of products were eliminated, including pistols, revolvers, and Majestic bicycles. With the name change, the company also began to allow customers to order firearms directly from the factory. It also expanded its reach into Europe and South America. Charles Hopkins retired in 1900, and his brother Samuel retired in 1902.
Hopkins & Allen used numerous trade names on its revolvers and pistols. At the time, it was commonplace for distributors to purchase firearms from makers and mark the guns with their own trade names. Trade names included: Acme, Blue Jacket, Buckeye, Bull Dog, Capt. Jack, Czar, Dictator, Double Action No., Essex, Excelsior, Expert, Forehand Model, Hinsdale, Life Guard, Morley, Mountain Eagle, Old Hickory, Pointer, Range Model, Ranger, Safety Police, Scott, Swamp Angel, Terror, The Challenger, Towers Police, Tramps, Wolverine, and XL.
Hopkins & Allen also had numerous distributors, who may have also marked the firearms with their names. Distributors included: Merwin, Hulbert & Co., New York, NY, Hibbard, Spencer, & Bartlett Co., Chicago, IL, James Brown & Son, Pittsburgh, PA, Lamberson, Furman & Co., Chicago, IL, Black & Owen, Detroit, MI, Clabrough, Golcher & Co., San Francisco, CA, Western Gun Works, Chicago, IL, J.H. Johnson, Pittsburgh, PA, Schoverling, Daly, & Gales, New York, NY, Toledo Firearms Co., Toledo, OH, J.A. Richard & Co., Schenectady, NY, J.A. Ross & Co., Boston, MA, The Pickering Hardware Co., Cincinnati, OH, Montgomery-Ward Co., Chicago, IL, H&D Folsom Arms Co., New York, NY, Sears, Roebuck & Co., Chicago, IL, C.D. Meacham Arms Co., St. Louis, MO, and Powell & Clement, Cincinnati, OH.
Hopkins & Allen used numerous trade names on its revolvers and pistols. At the time, it was commonplace for distributors to purchase firearms from makers and mark the guns with their own trade names. Trade names included: Acme, Blue Jacket, Buckeye, Bull Dog, Capt. Jack, Czar, Dictator, Double Action No., Essex, Excelsior, Expert, Forehand Model, Hinsdale, Life Guard, Morley, Mountain Eagle, Old Hickory, Pointer, Range Model, Ranger, Safety Police, Scott, Swamp Angel, Terror, The Challenger, Towers Police, Tramps, Wolverine, and XL.
Hopkins & Allen also had numerous distributors, who may have also marked the firearms with their names. Distributors included: Merwin, Hulbert & Co., New York, NY, Hibbard, Spencer, & Bartlett Co., Chicago, IL, James Brown & Son, Pittsburgh, PA, Lamberson, Furman & Co., Chicago, IL, Black & Owen, Detroit, MI, Clabrough, Golcher & Co., San Francisco, CA, Western Gun Works, Chicago, IL, J.H. Johnson, Pittsburgh, PA, Schoverling, Daly, & Gales, New York, NY, Toledo Firearms Co., Toledo, OH, J.A. Richard & Co., Schenectady, NY, J.A. Ross & Co., Boston, MA, The Pickering Hardware Co., Cincinnati, OH, Montgomery-Ward Co., Chicago, IL, H&D Folsom Arms Co., New York, NY, Sears, Roebuck & Co., Chicago, IL, C.D. Meacham Arms Co., St. Louis, MO, and Powell & Clement, Cincinnati, OH.
Hopkins & Allen was founded in June 1867 by Horace Briggs, Charles Hopkins, Col. Charles Converse, Samuel Hopkins, and Charles Allen. Each partner invested $1,000 to form the new company which was located in Norwich, CT, 1867-1917. Together they manufactured a general line of guns, including Merwin & Hulbert revolvers, Mauser rifles, and Berthier machine guns. During 1867, Col. Converse secured a contract for 500 revolvers and gave up taking any wages for the next year. On May 1, 1868, Hopkins & Allen Manufacturing registered as a corporation, making firearms, mechanics tools, machinery, and hardware. During 1896, Hopkins & Allen changed its name to Hopkins & Allen Arms Company.
HOPKINS & ALLEN Antiques Models
H&A NEW VEST POCKET DERRINGER
.22 Short rimfire cal., single shot, tip-up, single action, 3 1/2 in. overall length, folding trigger, blue or nickel finish, wood or pearl grips with golden monograms. This model was first listed circa 1910 and known as the "Parrot Be...
FOREHAND MODEL TOP BREAK
.32 cal., top break, double action, five shot.
FALLING BLOCK
lever operated, outside hammer.
MILITARY RIFLE
.22 rimfire cal., single shot, bolt action repeater rifle, military style stock and sling.
H&A NEW MODEL SKELETON STOCK TARGET PISTOL
.22 rimfire cal., single shot top break with the same new locking mechanism as the Safety Police Revolver, 18 in. barrel, rounded hard rubber grips with logo, detachable "skeleton metal stock", blue finish. RF=4.
FOREHAND MODEL TOP BREAK HAMMERLESS
.32 cal., top break, double action, large or small frame, 5 shot, nickel plated with blue finish, hammerless.
BOXLOCK
with outside hammer, damascus, twist, and steel barrels or hammerless with top safety.
SCOUT MILITARY RIFLE
.22 rimfire cal., rolling block, thumb operated rifle, military style stock, "Bonneted Indian" stamped on the left side of frame (these are somewhat rare).
GOOSE GUNS
8, 10, or 12 ga., barrels offered up to 40 inches long, outside hammer.
FOREHAND MODEL LARGE FRAME W/FULL HAMMER
.32 or .38 centerfire cal., top break, double action, large frame, 5 shot, full hammer or "bobbed" hammer, nickel plated with blue finish.
NOISELESS
.22 rimfire cal., falling block, lever operated, round barrel, noise suppressor attached to the muzzle (by means of mating threads inside of suppressor and outside of barrel). The machining/threading is so precise that it is difficult to re...
"SAFETY SINGLE GUN"
engraved with outside hammer and top safety. Was offered in 1911 and recommended for trap shooting for $15.00.
NUMBER 922
.22 rimfire cal., round barrel, falling block, lever operated.
FOREHAND MODEL SOLID FRAME
.32 cal., top break, double action, small solid frame, 5 shot, hard rubber grips.
NUMBER 925
.25 rimfire cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, round barrel.
FOREHAND MODEL FOLDING HAMMER
.22 rimfire, .32 centerfire, or .38 centerfire cal., top break, double action, 5 (.32 and .38 centerfire) or 7 (.22 rimfire) shot, folding hammer. By 1909, the Forehand logo was dropped from these revolvers.
NUMBER 932
.32 rimfire cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, round barrel.
H&A NEW MODEL AUTOMATIC HAMMER REVOLVER
.22 rimfire, .32 centerfire, or .38 centerfire cal., top break, double action, small and large frame, with hammer, nickel plated with blue finish.
NUMBER 938
.38 S&W centerfire cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, round barrel.
H&A SOLID FRAME
.32 or .38 centerfire cal., 5 shot, double action, hammer or "bobbed" hammer, nickel plated with blue finish.
NUMBER 1922
.22 rimfire cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, octagon barrel.
H&A XL MODEL
.22 rimfire, .32 centerfire, or .38 centerfire cal., double action, 5 shot, hammer or "bobbed" hammer, nickel plated with blue finish.
H&A RANGE MODEL
.22 rimfire, .32 centerfire, or .38 centerfire cal., solid frame, loading gate on right side, wood target style grips, single or double action (two models, large and small frames).
NUMBER 1932
.32 rimfire cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, octagon barrel.
NUMBER 2922
.22 rimfire cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, octogonal barrel, with checkering.
H&A TRIPLE ACTION SAFETY POLICE REVOLVER
.22 rimfire, .32 centerfire, or .38 centerfire cal., top break with newly designed locking mechanism, nickel plated with blue finish, hard rubber or pearl grips (considered to be one of the best designed top breaks in its time), other optio...
NUMBER 2932
.32 rimfire cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, octogonal barrel.
NUMBER 3922
.22 rimfire cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, octagon barrel, nickeled Swiss buttplate, "SCHUETZEN RIFLE".
NUMBER 3925
.25-20 WCF cal., falling block, lever operated rifle, octogonal barrel, nickeled Swiss buttplate.
NUMBER 44XL
.44XL shotshell, falling block, lever operated, round smoothbore barrel, referred to as "TAXIDERMIST'S" or "LADIES GUN".
NUMBER 722
.22 rimfire cal., rolling block, thumb operated rifle.
NUMBER 822
.22 rimfire cal., rolling block, lever operated rifle.
NUMBER 832
.32 rimfire cal., rolling block, lever operated, this model was first offered with "pig tail" type levers and later with "loop" type levers (the "loop" levers are somewhat rare).
NUMBER 4922
.22 rimfire cal., bolt action, repeater.
NUMBER 5022
.22 rimfire cal., bolt action, repeater rifle, features deluxe checkering.