Hopkins & Allen Revolvers

Founded in 1868 by Charles Allen, Charles Converse, Horace Briggs, Samuel S. Hopkins, and Charles Hopkins with an investment of a $1,000 each, Hopkins and Allen became a producer of firearms and ammunition. Their first revolver was a simple .31-caliber percussion model that was stout and relatively inexpensive. As the patent on cartridge ammunition expired, H&A began converting their revolvers to .22 and .32 rimfire.

An association with Merwin Hulbert became a partnership and Hopkins and Allen became the sole producer and distributor of Merwin Hulbert revolvers. Merwin Hulbert revolvers were considered the strongest revolvers of their time.

H&A grew dramatically as the Merwin Hulbert revolvers became popular. Merwin Hulbert revolvers come in a variety of sizes and calibers, but share the same overall design. These revolvers never gained the same provenance of Colt or Smith & Wesson, but they are by all accounts fine weapons.

Quick Facts

• Jesse James used a .44-caliber Merwin Hulbert
• The H&A 2nd model Pocket Army pioneered the idea of easily changeable barrels with options for a 3.5 or 7 inch barrel
• The 4th model Pocket Army came equipped with its infamous skull-crusher grip. These grips have a strong metal protrusion that hung off the bottom