1870-1890 or so
i also own a Hopkins & Allen single shot break open shotgun with "Forehand" inscribed on its side and i recently learned from another forum that Forehand was another gun manufacturing company that was taken over by Hopkins and Allen from 1901-1902. Hopkins and Allen continued to put Forehand on their models until 1903. therefore the gun you own is dated somewhere between 1901-1903.
The Hopkins and Allen company was founded in 1868 then merged with the Forehand Arms Co in 1901. Out of business by 1917.
You will need a gunsmith to show you.
25-100 USD or so
Check on line auctions to see what they are bringing in the current economy
I just got one at a gun show, 50% bluing mechanically perfact, bore clean with crisp rifiling for grips totally intact $100.
The Hopkins and Allen company was founded in 1868 by S. S. Hopkins, C. W. Hopkins and C. H. Allen. The company experienced financial difficulties and in 1898 was reorganized as the Hopkins & Allen Arms Co. A fire in 1900 hurt them and in 1901, they were forced to merged with the Forehand Arms Company. The manufacture of Hopkins and Allen firearms ceased in 1917 when the plant was taken over by Marlin-Rockwell Corporation for the war time production of Browning automatic rifle components.
The actual markings should read "forehand model of 1901". this revolver was manufactured by hopkins & allen co. between 1901 and 1917. 1917 is the year H&A went out of business and marlin took over the H&A factory to manufracture material for WWI.The 'forehand model of 1901' was offered as a 5 shot 32 S&W (small frame) or a 5 shot 38 S&W (large frame). standard barrel length for small frame is 3 inches and for the large frame 3 1/4 inches. These revolvers were manufactured for black powder cartridge pressures only and should not be fired with modern ammo. The low serial number and the F&W grips would indicate this is an early production model using left over parts actually manufactured by forehand arms co. before the H&A take over.
The Hopkins and Allen company was founded in 1868 by S. S. Hopkins, C. W. Hopkins and C. H. Allen. The company experienced financial difficulties and in 1898 was reorganized as the Hopkins & Allen Arms Co. A fire in 1900 hurt them and in 1901, they were forced to merged with the Forehand Arms Company. The manufacture o f Hopkins and Allen firearms ceased in 1917 when the plant was taken over by Marlin-Rockwell Corporation for the war time production of Browning automatic rifle components. Hopkins and Allen was well known for the many models of inexpensive revolvers and shotguns. All Hopkins & Allen Arms Co revolvers manufactured from 1902 until 1917 had serial numbers stamped into the bottom of the handle. Sometimes the grips cover up this number and thus need to be removed for viewing number. Some of the stamping wasa done on the base of the handle, some on the framework near the handle base. Many also had the serial number stamped into the cylinder, and a few had an additional stamping on the trigger guard.
When you hold the gun like you are going to shoot it you look on the left hand side right were the begining of the barrel starts and you will see like a littile black switch, when you have the break of the gun open like you are going to reload it, you can push that swith forward, and it will release the cylinder and you can pull it out.
Well, in 1902, they sold their brand name to Hopkins & Allen, who went bankrupt in 1916- so that gives you a time span. Serial number- sorry, few records, does not help date GUN. Caliber? See a gunsmith.
William Hopkins - architect - died in 1901.