Here are 2 revolvers in 32 Rimfire. I think it's a good example of 2 different sale price points. I thought it was something different to post here for fun.

The top is the S&W Model 1 1/2
The bottom is the Hopkins & Allen Ranger No. 2. I think the pearl grips are worth more than the pistol!

Also, 4 rounds of vintage 32 Short rimfire ammo too!

Hopkins & Allen did produce the Merwin Hulbert 's
I think they were Chevy's of their time

That is true. I've seen a few Merwin and Hulbert pistols and I'm amazed that H&A made those and the lower priced revolvers too. The M&H pistols are wonderfully made.

Even among Saturday night specials (or suicide specials), Hopkins & Allens
had a reputation of better quality than the rest.

I think manufacturing quality of the Hopkins & Allen products was generally very good. They may not have had the best design or engineering team. I have a Blue Jacket .32 rimfire that is fairly nice for what it is and perfectly usable for it's job.

Attached Images

Hopkins Allen Blue Jacket.jpg (96.5 KB, 33 views)

The Trade name Ranger was pretty common. Several manufacturers used that name including : Hopkins & Allen, Bacon Arms Co, E.L. Dickinson, Norwich Pistol Co., etc. often the trade name was followed by a number that signified caliber.

This one posted by Patbar was the last variation of the Ranger series for H&A that included the 1879 Patent improvement hammer and Solid frame that lacks the side plate access.

They were well made and value on them has gone up quite a bit! Not too difficult to find them Fully engraved (see photo). High condition examples engraved with special grips can bring a respectable price!

Merwin & Hulbert were partnered Distributors with H&A and eventually became major and finally “Majority” stock holders of the Hopkins & Allen firm. They often are documented as claiming to “ own” the company and from what I’ve read, they were right. That wasn’t until about 1878 when they moved from The Falls location to Franklin Street and put poor Hood out of business.

Early broad sheets from as early as 1874 when the Hopkins &Allen firm was small and located at “The Falls” in Norwich, Ct? You can see direct connection/ affiliation with Merwin & Hulbert Distributors via their broadsheets. I believe they were buddies from the word Go and gradually were basically taken over by Merwin & Hulbert.

Murphy

Attached Images

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	D2111ED4-7391-41EF-B103-2B136934692E.jpg (27.8 KB, 32 views)

My very first gun was a Ranger #2. (I have no idea which maker it was by. ) My Dad bought it for me when I was about 6 years old. He filed off the firing pin and I could shoot caps in it. I remember the blood blisters I used to get when the hammer would fall while I was trying to get a cap loaded........

__________________
Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446