Original Item: Only One available. The firm of Forehand and Wadsworth was established in 1871, but the gun making company was actually the newest incarnation of the various firearms companies operated in the New England area, going back four decades. Both SULLIVAN FOREHAND and HENRY C. WADSWORTH shared the same Father-in-law, the famous Gun Maker ETHAN ALLEN, who died in 1871. After this many of the gunsmiths he mentored went out into business on their own, with Forehand and Wadsworth inheriting the Allen Business. It would remain under this name until 1890, so all guns produced by this company are considered Pre-1899 Antique Firearms by the BATF.

The company initially continued making the existing catalog of Allen firearms, which included a lot of single shot pistols as well as "Pepperbox" percussion revolvers. This is however one of the rarely seen single shot drop breech rimfire rifles, manufactured first by Allen & Wheelock and Ethan Allen & Co. in the 1860s to 1870 and then by Forehand & Wadsworth in the 1870s and 1880s. Production of these was limited and only a few thousand are believed to have been manufactured. This is he first example that we have had!

The rifle is relatively similar to those from other makers of the period, however it features the Patented Allen "Drop Breech" design. This is actuated by a lever trigger guard with a catch at the rear. Opening the breech drops the breech block through the action, and then actuates a sturdy ejector on the underside of the barrel. It is spring loaded, and when released will snap back into place. The top of the action bears the correct Forehand and Wadsworth patent markings:

FOREHAND & WADSWORTH
WORCHESTER.MASS.
PATENTED SEPT. 18. 1860

There are no other external markings we can see, however it is marked with serial number 642 on the bottom of the drop breech, on the underside of the barrel under the fore stock, and on the fore stock itself. It definitely does not look like any parts have been swapped out over the years, and the rifle looks to have seen very little use during its long life. It measures 43 inches in overall length, with a 26 inch heavy octagonal barrel for accurate shooting.

The rifle is in very good condition, with a lovely lightly used look overall. The bluing on the barrel, hammer, breech block, and lever is very well retained, while the case-hardened finish on the frame and butt plate has faded to a lovely gray patina. There is no peppering or more advanced oxidation we can see, making this a great example.

The breech opens correctly, with the ejector presenting when the lever is pushed farther to forward The rimfire firing pin is still present, though it does not have a return spring, which means it can get a bit "stuck" in the forward position, preventing the block from dropping correctly until it resets. The hammer works correctly, with a functional half cock position. We checked the bore, and it is in excellent condition, showing a bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. It looks to have seen very little use during its life.

The American black walnut stocks are lovely, showing a great brown color from years of age and oiling. The fore stock is plain, however the butt stock is fantastic BURL figured Walnut, with fantastic grain the "flip-flops" in the light, a property known as chatoyancy. It shows only light wear, though it does look like the lower toe was broken off at some point, and the butt plate folded over onto a wood splice to cover the missing wood. Even with this, it still looks magnificent. As this is a sporting / target rifle, there are no sling swivels are other attachments for any type of carrying strap.

A lovely example of a very hard to find Single Shot Sporting rifle with a great Burl Walnut butt stock, ready to research and display!

Specifications:-

Years of Manufacture: 1871-1890
Caliber: .32cal
Cartridge Type: Rimfire
Barrel Length: 26 Inches
Overall Length: 43 Inches
Action type: Drop Breech with Manual Center Hammer
Feed System: Single Shot

The company was founded by Ethan Allen in 1831 when he started to make cutlery in Milford, MA. Allen's primary line was the knives and tools needed for cobblers. Allen then moved his small facility to North Grafton, MA where he added a cane gun to his line of shoemaker's tools. In 1836 Allen introduced his ?Pocket Rifle?, a single action, under hammer, long-barreled rifled pistol in .31 caliber. With the initial success of this product, Allen pursued the design and patent of a double action pocket pistol, and eventually the pepperboxes that would be his mainstay product line for the next 20 years.

In 1837 he brought his brother-in-law, Charles Thurber, into the business, creating Allen & Thurber. In 1842 the company moved to Norwich, CT, where it would remain until 1847. In 1847, the firm moved to Worcester, MA, where it would remain until it went out of business in 1871. In 1854 Thomas Wheelock, another of Allen's brother's-in-law joined the company, and the firm was rebranded as Allen, Thurber & Company. In 1856 Charles Thurber retired, and the company known as Allen & Wheelock came into existence. In 1865, after Wheelock's death the previous year, the company was renamed for the last time during Allen's life as E. Allen & Company. The new company included more of Allen's extended family, his son's-in-law Sullivan Forehand and Henry Wadsworth. Forehand had joined the company in 1860 after marrying one of Allen's daughters and worked in the management end of the firm. Wadsworth joined the company in the same manner, marrying another of Allen's daughters and coming to work for his father-in-law after leaving the US Army at the end of the Civil War.

In 1871 Ethan Allen died, and the 34-year-old company changed names again, this time to Forehand & Wadsworth. Although the name of the company changed, their product line did not, at least initially. Like their father-in-law before them, Forehand & Wadsworth concentrated on manufacturing reasonably priced handguns for sale to the civilian market. They also continued to market the "Drop Breech" single shot rifles as well. The expiration of the Rollin White patent concerning drilled through cylinders 

In 1890 Henry Wadsworth retired and the company was renamed the Forehand Arms Company, which it remained until Forehand's death in 1898. The family continued to run the company under that name, with limited success, until 1902, at which time all of its assets were sold to one of its primary competitors in the cheap handgun, "suicide special" market, Hopkins & Allen.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.