Hopkins and Allen Smith 1891 copy

[Docneeley]

I just came by a very cool little pistol, a H&A single shot 22 pistol. Unfortunately, the barrel was cut to 5" but it looks so much like the S&W 1891 I have to believe it's a close copy. I may even shoot it. I'll post pics later on.
If anyone is familiar with these little guns and has some historical light they can shed on it regarding dates made, etc. I'd appreciate it.

 

[deadin]

Here's one I picked up several years ago...

and what little research I turned up at the time... (I have since found some decent pictures of the sight parts I was missing...and have since seen several other examples, but they are not common)

Here's an interesting little .22 Single Shot I just picked up. It's a Hopkins and Allen "New Model Target" made sometime between 1902 and 1917.
I have never seen one before and all I can find on it is an entry in the Blue Book saying they were made with 6, 8 and 10 inch barrels. There was also a detachable stock version with an 18" barrel. The latch and frame were based on the H&A Safety Police Revolver and was considered one of the best latching mechanisms of the period. It's obvious that they were influenced by the single shot target guns of S&W that were being sold at the same time.
The Hopkins and Allen company was founded in 1868 by S. S. Hopkins, C. W. Hopkins and C. H. Allen. The company experienced financial difficulties and in 1898 was reorganized as the Hopkins & Allen Arms Co. A fire in 1900 hurt them and in 1901, they were forced to merge with the Forehand Arms Company. The manufacture of Hopkins and Allen firearms ceased in 1917 when the plant was taken over by Marlin-Rockwell Corporation for the war time production of Browning automatic rifle components.
I don't know just how scarce or rare this gun is, but as I said, I've never seen one before and I have been collecting and messing around with guns for over 50 years. The serial number is 10xx and is on the frame, barrel, barrel extension, extractor and grips. I have no idea if the numbering was started at #1, #1000 or was interlaced with the Safety Police.
The gun appears to be well made and fitted. The finish leaves a lot to be desired, but actually looks better in person than it does in the pictures.
One interesting feature is the walnut grips have a slight "palm swell" ala S&W "Cokes" of a much later manufacture and are quite comfortable in the hand.
If anybody has any more information or, better yet, pictures of this gun, I would appreciate hearing from them. I have included some pictures of the rear sight as I'm sure there are some parts missing. (The sight has elevation adjustment, but no windage.) I would like to know what I'm looking for.

 

[opoefc]

There are two books in print concerning Hopkins & Allens. "Hopkins & Allen Revolvers and Pistols" by Charles E. Carder, and "Fifty Years of Gunmaking, the Story of the Hopkins & Allen Arms Company 1867 to 1917." by Joseph T. Vorisek. Vorisek's book is by far the best of the two. The single shot pistol first appeared in the H&A catalog in 1910. The pistol was offered with a 10 in. barrel. In 1914 a 6 in and a 8 in were cataloged. In 1912 a metal skeleton type shoulder stocked version with an 18 in.barrel was offered. Most of these were .22RF caliber, however a few in .38 caliber are known. Ed.

 

[tom79]

I see this is a few months old but just came a crossed it, I have one of these with a 10" barrel and adjustable rear sight for elevation and windage. The windage adjustment is just a headless screw with a "V" groove in the center, the "V" groove is the rear sight notch. Hope this helps, but if you need more, just contact me [email protected] , Tom

 

[deadin]

Tom, Thanks for the offer... I have already found the details on the rear sight and have fabricated the windage screw that was missing. (I would like to find an original, but don't hold out much hope.....)