Original U.S. Civil War Era Bacon & Co .34cal Underhammer Rifled Percussion Boot Pistol Circa 1855 Scarce 57 of 500
Here is a small .34 caliber percussion "Boot Pistol", made by the “Scarce” Bacon Manufacturing Company. Number 57 of only 500. Thomas K. Bacon had been a gunsmith working with the Manhattan Firearms Manufacturing, and then left to found his own company and established the Bacon Manufacturing Company in Norwich, Connecticut. They quickly began manufacturing percussion revolvers, as well as some small single shot pistols, including "boot pistols". These seem to have been available in both standard and underhammer designs, and this is a very nice example of the latter.
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1855
Caliber: .34cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 8 inches
Action: Single Only
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded
Condition:
Working order / Beautiful engraving / Low manufacturing number of 57 of ONLY 500 / Some slight pitting near the muzzle / Both hammers are nice and tight …
(Under-hammer has a shortened trigger piece possibly broken off wartime or not fully casted)
More information on Thomas K. Bacon…
Thomas K. Bacon was a very ingenious gunmaker in the mid 19th century, though sadly he never never achieved the level of success that his designs warranted before his death in 1873. He associated with several different New England gunmaking firms, including Ethan Allen, Allen and Thurber, and three other companies which bore his name. He originally had been a "jobber" for Ethan Allen, also of Norwich, but when that company moved to Worcester, Bacon opened "Bacon & Company", which was a manufacturer of single-shot, underhammer, and pepperbox pistols. Unfortunately this venture did not turn out successfully, and after a failed attempt to raise capital, closed in 1857
Bacon then worked with Manhattan firearms, also located in Norwich at that point, but decided to start another firm under his own name in 1858, Bacon Manufacturing Company. This company started out by manufacturing Colt-style pocket percussion revolvers, and then turned to the production of small cartridge revolvers in .22, .25, .32 and .38 rimfire. Unfortunately at the time Smith & Wesson still held rights to the Rollin White patent for a bored through cylinder, which resulted in lawsuits and subsequent royalties being paid. Bacon was forced to put the Rollin White and Smith & Wesson patent information on all of the revolvers produced after this point.
In 1863, the chief shareholder of the Bacon Manufacturing Company became displeased with Thomas Bacon’s performance with the company, and forced him out. With Bacon gone, the company continued in business through 1868 but with lackluster sales and minimal success. The firm was subsequently reorganized in 1868 and was reestablished as the Hopkins & Allen company, remaining in business through the second decade of the 1900s
Antique No FFL Required
