Grandfathers Hopkins and Allen top break- info?

[luvsmiths]

Hi everyone-

If I posted this in wrong place, sorry!

A friend came across her grandfathers old Hopkins and Allen top break, and is looking for information. Evidently, it's been in family since day 1.
I have not handled the firearm personally, and the pictures posted are what she shot with cellphone, for me to post.
If anyone can give me any info for her, and values, it would be appreciated.

I can't make out the patent dates on the top, and don't know if it is a rust bucket under the grips, or if this is original finish.( likely not by looks)
By the pic, it doesn't look like a 22 to me.... ( a 32?)
I have exactly zero knowledge of these!

Thanks guys-

 

[John in AK]

Your little H&A is probably a .32 Safety Double Action, built circa World War I. It's been polished and replated. I suspect it would not sell for much more than $100, if that. Unless this is a rimfire model, which I doubt, it was built after the era of black-powder ammunition, and is probably, although not certainly, safe with a commercial .32 S&W cartridge if the mechanism is sound--which it won't be for long if you shoot it often.

 

[lihpster]

LGS has a similar one that has sat for a month or more at $200, so, that's probably high. John is probably closer on the value.

 

[tops]

A friend came across her grandfathers old Hopkins and Allen top break, and is looking for information. Evidently, it's been in family since day 1.


Thanks guys-

PRICELESS!!! Larry

 

[merl67]

If it were my grandpas it would be priceless....

 

[luvsmiths]

John, and others- Thanks very much!

 

[2152hq]

Nice to have a family heirloom firearm.

With the marking 'H&A Arms Co',,it was made betw 1899 and about 1915
1899 they changed name from 'H&A Mfr'g Co' to 'H&A Arms Co'.

I can't say when in that time period it was made nor if that the particular Model was mfg'rd during that entire time, or just a few yrs in there somewhere. They made lots of revolvers under many models!

1914/15 H&A Arms Co stopped all sporting arms mfg to take on a military contract to make the Mauser Model 1891 rifle for Belgium.
The contract cost was badly underestimated, most of Belgium was occupied by Germany by 1914 and H&A as a company was failing.
H&A did try to return to making sporting arms and revolvers again. But production never really got off the ground and the company closed for good after a very short attempt.

H&A did manage to produce some of the Mod 1891 Mauser rifles though in their contract. They are a very rare Mauser rifle variant.

Easy to ID as the top of the recv'r ring is plainly marked 'Hopkins & Allen/Norwich, Conn/USA'.

The US Govt thru New England Westinghouse took over the company and it's machinery, buildings, etc.
Marlin was given anything it wanted from H&A inclu inventory. Marlin used the H&A machinery and tools to make BAR parts among other things for the duration of WW1.
The orig H&A factory was used for a time during the war by Marlin. I know it was sold and used as several different non firearms related factory business (textile?) after WW1 that but eventually torn down.

After WW1 an actual sale of the licensed pat's and designs, remaining inventory, etc that H&A had when they went into the tank...Surprise,,Marlin was able to buy all of it..

 

[luvsmiths]

2152HQ-

Thanks. The Marlin connection is very interesting.