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RARE Allen & Thurber .32 Engraved No. 3 Pepperbox

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
RARE Allen & Thurber .32 Engraved No. 3 Pepperbox
This will be a Live Auction with Online Live and Local Bidding. Shipping Available for all items at the buyers expense. Call 800-686-4216 or visit https://northamericanauctioncompany.com/phone-bidders/ to setup phone bidding.
The lot features an exceedingly Rare Allen & Thurber No. 3 .32 Caliber Factory Engraved Pocket Pepperbox Revolver. This is a very seldom seen small size Allen Pepperbox that found favor as a pocket or “hideout” weapon. Many of these early Allen & Thurber Pepperbox Pistols were carried as private weapons on both the Union and Confederate sides of the Civil War. 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. Unlike most examples of the Allen Pepperbox this pistol shows a fine original condition with some of the original blue finish on the barrel still present and a fine grey/brown color frame with very fine factory engraving. The revolver is a double action pistol in which a single pull of the trigger revolves the barrel cluster, raises the bar-type hammer, and fires the gun. The three-inch five shot barrels with smooth bores is marked, “ALLEN & THURBER” and “WORCESTER” plus “PATENTED 1845.” The piece shows the original Walnut grips in fine condition. The pistol shows an excellent mechanical functioning condition and truly is an outstanding example of a uniquely American firearm of the Pre-Civil War period. These Allen & Thurber Pepperbox’s are nearly never found in this rare smaller size. The revolver was manufactured in 1845. The bore shows a dark color with some slight scattered pitting, but overall good. The pistol has a serial number of 486. Antique Firearm Pre-1898 requires NO FFL or NO NICS background check.