Hopkins & Allen - XL Double Action questions

Dr.Rob said:

Buy it price for a 95% nickel H&A XL .32 @ GunsAmerica is $150. Found a second one for $115.

Not sure if it's an M&H design or not. Not exactly a collector's item, but pricier than the average paper weight.

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Is this thread still active?

It is now

Ron James said:

It is now

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The only makings are "XL DOUBLE ACTION" and "Hopkins & Allen Norwich Ct USA". No visible ser. #, no cal. (but a .22 LR fits), 7 shot, 6" bbl., and the handle (not grips) may be homemade , which cover up the underside of the grip (where the ser. # is on the little snubbies). The handle is irregular (possibly carved wood), with a flat plate of thin metal (can lid ?) on the bottom, and a long flat headed wood screw in the middle bottom of the handle. I'm afraid to unscrew it . The handle is secure now (attached), and "If it ain't broke, don't fix it !" The main thing I want to do is ID the year made, and see if it is BP or smokeless. In the meantime, I plan to be careful, and maybe try to shoot CB's in it.

H&a id

Hey, Ron. Are you out there? Anybody?

M&H were marketers; Hopkins and Allen made the XL double action line for them. I don't know who designed the guns, but they were not especially innovative, unlike the Daniel Moore-designed "automatic ejecting" guns marked with the M&H name. The XL line was made from 1876 to 1907, and it can be assumed that they were not made for smokeless powder.

The grip you describe is almost certainly not factory; it sounds like something improvised in someone's basement.

If you are asking if the XL is what is called a "Merwin & Hulbert", it is not, nor does it have any significant value over many other guns of its type from the same era.

Jim

H&a xl

Thanks, Jim . You did answer my main question, and the gun was made for BP. I thought the least powerful smokeless ammo that "might" be tested remotely would be subsonic .22 shorts. I thought otherwise, the CB caps powered only by the primer would be safe "in person". Any opinions you or others might share about shooting & ammo will be appreciated.

I see no reason standard velocity (subsonic) .22 Shorts would not be OK, but I can never find them, only the high velocity ones. Certainly CB caps should be no problem.

Jim

thread necromancy

460Kodiak said:

thread necromancy

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Perhaps to some......., perhaps not to others. Each has his/her own interests. We all can follow or not follow threads, as we choose. That's one of the main reasons I scan THR threads. It is a choice !

Oh, yeah. Not saying it is a bad thing. I just was surprised by the number of years that had passed.

460Kodiak said:

Oh, yeah. Not saying it is a bad thing. I just was surprised by the number of years that had passed.

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"It's alive ! It's alive !" Not that we have created a monster ! I didn't have a computer in 2009, much less knowing anything about Hopkins & Allen revolvers back then. Since then, I have gotten both, and am thankful I found The High Road.

H&A - BP or not

Recently, I took my H&A XL .22 to one of my gunsmiths. After using solvent, brass brush, and gun oil, it seemed to be working perfectly. I asked him to fire it remotly, for saftey. I heard, "Pow ! Pow !", and he advised using Longs, but not LR. The gun was manufactured between 1909 and 1914, and evidently was made for smokeless powder. I plan to shoot it myself soon. (If I can find some .22 Longs)

.45Guy said:

Afew quick questions are in order.

1. Are these a Merwin and Hulbert design?

2. What would a fair value on one in ~95% condition be as pretty much a historical paperweight?

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To .45guy, re: #1, the quick answer is no. Merwin & Hulbert & Co. designed and promoted an advanced form of revolver, which was manufactured by Hopkins & Allen 1874-1891. These are rare and expensive. The Hopkins & Allen XL Double Action is not of this design and was made 1909-1914.