History of the underhammer.

[Oak]

Picked up a .50 cal Hopkins & Allen Heritage underhammer rifle this past weekend. Does anybody have any historical information about the underhammers - era, manufacturers, uses?

Thanks,
Oak

 

[Slamfire]

Well Hopkins & Allen started making them in 1835. Given the amount of money one has to spend to protect a patent, I'd imagine there were plenty of shops making copies, either close or divergent within a few years. It is a practial design, in percussion. :front:

 

[arcticap]

Could you give us any more details about your rifle? Thanks.

 

[lanedh]

Check on-line or through your local library for "Underhammer Guns" by Hershel Logan (long out of print but still can be found). More underhammer guns and oddities than you can shake a ramrod at.

 

[Slamfire]

Check on-line or through your local library for "Underhammer Guns" by Hershel Logan (long out of print but still can be found). More underhammer guns and oddities than you can shake a ramrod at.

A search on out of print books at Barnes & Noble turned up 8 copies ranging from $53.00 to $90.00. ::

 

[fho]

I think that an under-hanner flint lock gun was made in Europe about 1795. I don't know if it was a rifle or a smooth bore.
Olie