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Hopkins & Allen...Attn Bill Goforth

RobatHrly
I have a Hopkins & Allen Forehand ser. #7873 that was my great grandfathers' and I was wondering if you could tell me the date of Manufacture. Bert H. said you know a thing or two about them and I would greatly appreciate any help you could offer. Thanks in advance and thank you Bert. If anybody else has any info. please feel free to jump in. Thanks
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3 comments

Date Votes
  • b.goforth
    H&A actually manufactured two forehand models. the forehand model of 1901 ( a top break revolver) and the forehand model double action (a solid frame with pull pin cylinder release) both of these models were manufactured after H&A purchased the forehand arms company in 1899. the H&A forehand models remained marked forehand model until at least 1909. at that time H&A brought out thier safety police model (a topbreak) and reintroduced thier XL series of double action revolver (solid frames). the XL double action series manufactured after 1910 were in reality just the forehand model double action using the old name.

    all H&A revolver marked with the forehand name are based on designs dating to the 1880's or earlier and should be considered as black powder only. DO NOT USE MODERN SMOKELESS AMMO IN THESE REVOLVERS.

    i can not give you an exact date on any H&A revolver as no factory records exist. your revolver was manufactured sometime between 1899 and 1909.
    bill
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  • RobatHrly
    Thank's for your response Bill, I believe you answered my question as far as records. I forgot to mention it is a 12 ga. SxS. Strictly for sentimental value, as I wouldn't shoot shoot it (i think it has what you call "Damascus" barrels.) That puts me in the ballpark. Sorry I wasn't more exact with my original post,Due to my lack of knowledge on this company I thought for some reason shotguns were all they made. Thanks again...
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  • b.goforth
    H&A made alot more revolver than they did shotguns although they did manufactured a lot of single and double barrel shotguns. the forehand model shotgun showed up first in the 1900 H&A catalog and disappeared by the 1908 catalog. the same models were made just under different model names. i don't quite have the exact proof yet but it is my belief that the forehand models were the first double barrel shotguns H&A manufactured. as the forehand models produced by H&A were actually made on the machinery purchased from forehand arms there is a 99.99% chance the same materials were used, there fore i believe your gun has damascus barrel. in fact the very first forehand models H&A put on the market were rebranded forehand products that were in invertory when H&A purchased forehand arms.

    so far i have not been able to discover any information on H&A serial numbering system. most companies of this era did not use the simple from 1 up but in fact had different series for different models and in some cases had a different series each year. most often they were really batch numbers with new batches started after 100,000 had been reached.

    sorry if my first answer did not cover shotguns but my collecting field is iver johnson handguns. i have learned much information on other companies while researching for new iver johnson material. since iver johnson also made shotguns this has led to finding information on other companies shotguns as well. if not specific when i am ask a question my first thoughts are handguns.
    bill
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