Hopkins and Allen Revolver

Plenty of collectors own a Hopkins and Allen revolver without realising it. The company sold many of its revolvers under trade names such as XL, Blue Jacket or Ranger, and once those markings are worn, a piece is easily misidentified or undervalued. Wild West Treasures identifies every revolver it buys at arms fairs in the United States and Europe and describes the model, calibre and markings, so you know exactly which Hopkins & Allen you are looking at.

The Hopkins and Allen revolver and its history

The Hopkins & Allen Manufacturing Company was founded in 1868 in Norwich, Connecticut, three years after the Civil War ended. Its revolvers therefore belong to a different chapter from the Civil War collectibles for sale elsewhere in the catalogue, namely the decades of westward expansion. The company built its name on affordable pocket revolvers, but also made high-quality revolvers for Merwin, Hulbert & Co. A Hopkins and Allen revolver cost a fraction of the price of a Colt in its day, a difference still visible when you compare it with the Colt revolvers for sale now. The current pieces are grouped in the Hopkins & Allen revolvers section of the catalogue.

What calibres did Hopkins & Allen use?

Hopkins & Allen revolvers were made mainly in .22, .32 and .38 calibre, in both rimfire and centrefire versions. The early XL series used rimfire cartridges, while later double-action models were often chambered for .38 S&W centrefire. If you collect small-calibre pocket pistols, the rimfire revolvers category is a natural place to compare a Hopkins and Allen revolver with similar pieces by other makers, such as the pocket models among the Remington revolvers.

When did Hopkins & Allen stop making guns?

Hopkins & Allen stopped making guns in 1917, when the company was taken over by Marlin-Rockwell. During the First World War it had accepted a large contract to produce Mauser rifles for the Belgian army, which led to financial problems. That chapter gives the brand an unexpected link with European collectors, alongside the wider range of antique Western firearms and memorabilia.

Send us your question about a model

Many collectors start with a single model, while others want to build a small group of affordable pocket revolvers. Every Hopkins and Allen revolver in the catalogue can be enquired about without obligation, and a personal reply covers its model, condition and availability. Contact us to find out whether the piece you have in mind belongs in your collection.