Winter 2021-22 home gunsmith project: (Hopkins & Allen?) "Sterling" .38RF Spur Trigger Revolver

"Sterling" .38 Caliber Rimfire Spur Trigger, Single Action Revolver (circa.1880)

This "Sterling" .38RF looks to possibly be made in Norwich, Connecticut. It is definitely a "suicide special", and the Norwich Pistol Co./Norwich Falls Pistol Co. and Hood Firearms Mfg Co. used the same type of cylinder axis pin retention.

According to the book by Donald Webster "Suicide Specials", there was a "Sterling" revolver sold in .22 RF and .32 RF, but no mention of a .38 RF model.

The Canadian RCMP's Firearms database states that the .22RF & .32RF "Sterling" revolvers were manufactured by Hopkins & Allen and E.L.&J. Dickenson.

Who can know for certain, as there are very few production  records left from the 19th century American Firearm manufacturing companies.

I came across this .38 caliber Rimfire revolver the other day  that needs a little work and a good cleaning which was priced accordingly, and so I bit the bullet, and spent money that I can't afford to spend, but I know it will be worth it and I now have a interesting winter project.

According to the fellow who sold this revolver to me, it may need a trigger return spring as well as an adjustment of the  cylinder bolt-stop.

I already have a bag of .38 Special brass, which can be trimmed and easily modified to work with .38 caliber Rimfire guns.

Hornady .375" lead round ball should work as a substitute projectile for the original, outside lubed, heeled bullets.

UPDATE Dec.5: Now that I have had the chance to inspect this single action .38RF revolver, it looks like this will be a bigger job, than the seller had led me to believe.

I will need to with find a replacement cylinder axis pin, or fabricate a new one.

The same goes for the cylinder hand and possibly the cyl.hand spring, and the cylinder bolt locking spring.

That cyl.axis pin is a terrible diy modification of an axis pin from a different revolver.

As I solve these issues, I will update my progress here.

My Antique Arms & Ammunition Photographed

 

The business end  of a .32 caliber rimfire Norwich Pistol Co. "Protector" revolver

.32 caliber rim-fire cartridge reloads with .315" Roundball, Pyrodex RS & 6mm crimp blank primer

SUICIDE SPECIALS: single action, spur trigger, rimfire revolvers circa.1870's-90's

 There is very little information available about "Suicide Specials" and the post US Civil War boom in the mass production of non-martial  firearms, specifically inexpensive, easily concealable pistols & revolvers.

Norwich Pistol Co. "Protector" .32 caliber rim-fire Revolver

I made a replacement cylinder hand spring, which works well, but the cylinder hand may need repair, and in the meantime I have it half functioning as the hand helps lock up the cylinder , but  it needs to be indexed by hand.

I have yet to shoot this revolver, however it is in excellent condition, and the barrels bore is rust free, so I plan to shoot it sometime soon.

I bought this nickel plated antique revolver last year, and it has been enjoyable learning the history of this, and other other antique revolvers made during the late 19th century.

With only the two lines engraved on the top and left side of the barrel, I found the US Patent dated April 23, 1878.

The Patent was filed by W.H. Bliss, and is for the circular, one piece side plate/hammer axis pin

The trade name "Protector" was mentioned in the 1958 book called "Suicide Specials", however, not all the information seems to be 100% accurate, but most is useful.

The Canadian RCMP has a Firearms Reference Database, or FRT, which states that this revolver was made by the Norwich Pistol Co./Norwich Falls Pistol Co. in Norwich, Connecticut, USA

In 1880 my Colt New-Line .32RF sold for around $10, and the Norwich Pistol Co. Revolver was available for under $3...and when you compare the two, side by side, there is no comparison, the Colt is like a Corvette and the Norwich gun is a Chrysler K-car.

Norwich, Connecticut was a gun making city, and more than two dozen manufacturers were located in late 19th century Norwich.

.32 Caliber Rimfire Metallic Cartridge Ammunition

The original black powder .32 caliber rimfire short and long cartridges were very popular in the 19th century, and  many rifles and revolvers were  produced for that chambering from approximately 1860 to the early 20th century.

Above is the .32 caliber Rimfire cartridge next to the .22 caliber rimfire cartridge.
 

A rimfire revolver can be easily identified by the blade design on the hammer. The blade crushes the rim of the cartridge when firing the revolver.

This is a S&W No.1½ "2nd model" that accepts either .32 short or long rimfire cartridges.

The Smith & Wesson No.2 "Tip-up" Revolver and the smaller No.1½ Revolver were the first .32 caliber rimfire revolvers S&W produced.

My Antique firearms Bucket List

Hopkins & Allen's "XL" series of revolvers were the company's highest quality products that bare the H&A brand-name.

The XL No.4 was the .38 caliber Rimfire model.
 

Colt New Line pocket revolvers were available the same year (1873) as the Single Action Army/Peacemaker and although I proudly own a Colt New Line .32 caliber Rimfire, I would very much like to add the .38RF and .41RF models to my modest little collection.

American Revolvers: mail-order catalogs