Ethan Thurber Pepperbox

[Holley9]

I was hoping someone could help me with more information about an Ethan Thurber Pepperbox my grandaddy left me. He had it displayed in his gun case for as long as I can remember

I'm lookin to learn the year of production, any possible use in battle or if it might be a replica

I do know my grandaddy had to disengage a spring or two to make it inoperable when he moved into a living community to display it in his room

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'll provide pictures and I'm happy to take pictures of anything you guys might need pictures of

Thank you in advance

 

[Story]

Welcome to CWT and thanks for sharing.
Hopefully he kept the springs?
Here's some previous threads that'll answer some of your questions

What is this? - Pepperbox | Small Arms & Ammunition

Hello Ladies & Gentleman, I was directed to this site by a coworker who is a fan of World history & guns. I have what I believe is an Allen & Thurber Pepperbox. It has not been touched as far as clean up since I found it. It’s pretty rough but i was wanting some information on it. Date of...

civilwartalk.com

Allen & Thurber Pepperbox | Small Arms & Ammunition

Although not a military sidearm, the Allen & Thurber Pepperbox was used as a personal pistol by troops on both sides. While not necessarily rare, finding one that is in good condition for a decent price is a little more difficult. I was fortunate to find this little guy recently, and for the...

civilwartalk.com

 

[scooter748driver]

Welcome from the Fort Sumter and the Fredericksburg forums.


Heres another discussion on that pistol with an informative video link in the thread.

What is this? - Pepperbox | Small Arms & Ammunition

Hello Ladies & Gentleman, I was directed to this site by a coworker who is a fan of World history & guns. I have what I believe is an Allen & Thurber Pepperbox. It has not been touched as far as clean up since I found it. It’s pretty rough but i was wanting some information on it. Date of...

civilwartalk.com

 

[S.Isaacson]

Its real and would have been manufactured c. 1847-1856 when Allen & Thurber were active in Worcester, Mass. The various Ethan Allen firms changed names several times, so that helps date them. It would have originally had an all blue finish. No way to know if it was used in any historical events without any provenance, but they were fairly common in the West in the antebellum era.

 

[scooter748driver]

I know I've posted this before (and maybe ad nauseam) but I just love this writing on the Allen Pepperbox by Mark Twain!

In his book Roughing It, Mark Twain wrote about the gun in his unique way. Here's a portion of what he wrote:

He wore in his belt an old original "Allen" revolver, such as irreverent people called a "pepper-box." Simply drawing the trigger back, cocked and fired the pistol. As the trigger came back, the hammer would begin to rise and the barrel to turn over, and presently down would drop the hammer, and away would speed the ball. To aim along the turning barrel and hit the thing aimed at was a feat which was probably never done with an "Allen" in the world. But George's was a reliable weapon, nevertheless, because, as one of the stage-drivers afterward said, "If she didn't get what she went after, she would fetch something else." And so she did. She went after a deuce of spades nailed against a tree, once, and fetched a mule standing about thirty yards to the left of it. Bemis did not want the mule; but the owner came out with a double-barreled shotgun and persuaded him to buy it, anyhow. It was a cheerful weapon--the "Allen." Sometimes all its six barrels would go off at once, and then there was no safe place in all the region round about, but behind it

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[Holley9]

Its real and would have been manufactured c. 1847-1856 when Allen & Thurber were active in Worcester, Mass. The various Ethan Allen firms changed names several times, so that helps date them. It would have originally had an all blue finish. No way to know if it was used in any historical events without any provenance, but they were fairly common in the West in the antebellum era.

Thank you for the information I appreciate it. Can't wait to tell the family

 

[7thWisconsin]

What a lovely example! It´s in such good shape. I had to chuckle about the need to ¨disable¨ it for display.