? about a Hopkins & Allen Acme Hammerless...

2ndAmendmentForever · July 14, 2009, 12:11 PM

I recently acquired a Hopkins & Allen Acme Hammerless No. 1.....

I was looking for an unusual antique firearm....

The top of the frame is stamped:

HOPKINS & ALLEN MFG. Co.
ACME HAMMERLESS No. 1
PAT. MAR. 28. 71 JAN. 6. 88
32 CAL. CENTRE FIRE

The bottom of the barrel is "machine stamped":

PATENT APPLIED

Then right after that, is what looks to be "hand stamped":

3555

I picked up Joseph Vorisek's book,

FIFTY YEARS OF GUNMAKING
The Story of the
THE HOPKINS & ALLEN ARMS COMPANY
1867 TO 1917

and in Chapter 6, The Merwin, Hulbert Series, on page 45, he writes:

"I have included one other revolver here, the ACME HAMMERLESS, that I have some difficulty with when I try to determine how long it was made and why it was discontinued.

It bears a strong resemblance to the M-H XL series of solid frame revolvers which indicate to me that these guns were an outgrowth of the M-H line. However a good case could be made that these little revolvers were designed to be sold by Hopkins & Allen on their own.

The only specimen I have unearthed to date was in .32 caliber and one has been reported in .38 caliber, but I suppose that they must have been made in .22 caliber as well.

What I don't understand is why they seem to have been made for only a short period of time, apparently between 1893 and 1898.

The gun itself is an inexpensive solid frame revolver with an internal hammer and a sliding safety on the top rear of the grip strap.

The gun would seem to have been a marketing dream: a small cheap hammerless .32 caliber pocket revolver.

It should have been very popular and should have sold well, yet their is little evidence that either H&A or the Hulbert Bros. ever put any effort into its sale. I have not come across any catalogs that describe it, nor any ads touting it. Instead it just seems to have appeared, stayed a while and then dropped from sight."

Can anyone provide any insight on that number 3555, or add anything more to the "Acme Hammerless No. 1?

Thanks!

James K · July 15, 2009, 10:15 PM

That book is (AFAIK) the only one in existence on the H&A company, a major arms company for many years. But with no existing factory records, it is short on solid information. That quote is an example, few facts and a lot of speculation. Still, I doubt you will get anything better.

Jim

2ndAmendmentForever · July 15, 2009, 10:23 PM

Appreciate it Jim....

July 14, 2009, 12:11 PM	#1
2ndAmendmentForever Junior member Join Date: June 6, 2009 Posts: 8	? about a Hopkins & Allen Acme Hammerless... I recently acquired a Hopkins & Allen Acme Hammerless No. 1..... I was looking for an unusual antique firearm.... The top of the frame is stamped: HOPKINS & ALLEN MFG. Co. ACME HAMMERLESS No. 1 PAT. MAR. 28. 71 JAN. 6. 88 32 CAL. CENTRE FIRE The bottom of the barrel is "machine stamped": PATENT APPLIED Then right after that, is what looks to be "hand stamped": 3555 I picked up Joseph Vorisek's book, FIFTY YEARS OF GUNMAKING The Story of the THE HOPKINS & ALLEN ARMS COMPANY 1867 TO 1917 and in Chapter 6, The Merwin, Hulbert Series, on page 45, he writes: "I have included one other revolver here, the ACME HAMMERLESS, that I have some difficulty with when I try to determine how long it was made and why it was discontinued. It bears a strong resemblance to the M-H XL series of solid frame revolvers which indicate to me that these guns were an outgrowth of the M-H line. However a good case could be made that these little revolvers were designed to be sold by Hopkins & Allen on their own. The only specimen I have unearthed to date was in .32 caliber and one has been reported in .38 caliber, but I suppose that they must have been made in .22 caliber as well. What I don't understand is why they seem to have been made for only a short period of time, apparently between 1893 and 1898. The gun itself is an inexpensive solid frame revolver with an internal hammer and a sliding safety on the top rear of the grip strap. The gun would seem to have been a marketing dream: a small cheap hammerless .32 caliber pocket revolver. It should have been very popular and should have sold well, yet their is little evidence that either H&A or the Hulbert Bros. ever put any effort into its sale. I have not come across any catalogs that describe it, nor any ads touting it. Instead it just seems to have appeared, stayed a while and then dropped from sight." Can anyone provide any insight on that number 3555, or add anything more to the "Acme Hammerless No. 1? Thanks!

July 15, 2009, 10:15 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	That book is (AFAIK) the only one in existence on the H&A company, a major arms company for many years. But with no existing factory records, it is short on solid information. That quote is an example, few facts and a lot of speculation. Still, I doubt you will get anything better. Jim

July 15, 2009, 10:23 PM	#3
2ndAmendmentForever Junior member Join Date: June 6, 2009 Posts: 8	Appreciate it Jim....