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Forehand & wadsworth question

epaker
Ok I have a hard one for you! I just picked up a 5 shot breaktop double action. Top of the barrel rib says Forehand model 1801 (might be 1901?) Hopkins & Allen arms co. norwitch ct.usa. It is tight and functional and the finish is mostly gone, pretty typical. Hard rubber grips (brown)with F&W in a scroll over a badge with stars and stripes and 8 opoint star around the grip screw the thing I find intriguing is that the serial number seems to be 78. 78 is stamped under the butt, on the cylinder and on the extractor. Any info is appreciated, especially if this could really have a 2 digit serial number and what, if anything,that means
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2 comments

Date Votes
  • He Dog
    1901 not 1801.
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  • b.goforth
    the forehand model 1901 came in to being after february 1899 and the fire at the Hopkins & Allen factory. they purchased the forehand arms co. and moved their operations to worcester, mass. until their factory building was rebuilt. this is the same model that forehand arms sold as the "forehand automatic". after the H&A factory building was rebuilt in norwich, conn. all the machines and other equipment were moved to norwich.

    the low serial number only means it is one of the first built after H&A took over the forehand factory. the forehand model 1901 stayed in production until about 1906 when H&A introduced their newly designed safety police model top break revolver.
    bill
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