Make: Hopkins & Allen

Model: Dictator, Cartridge Conversion

Serial Number: 1843

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1869-1872 / Antique

Caliber: .38 Rimfire, converted from .36 caliber percussion

Action Type: Single Action Rimfire Converted 5-Shot Revolver

Barrel Length: 4" Round.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass bead at the muzzle. The rear sight is a notch in the hammer, visible when cocked.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece walnut. There is a repaired crack in the front of the right grip and a loss at the bottom rear. There are scattered handling marks. The grips rate in Good condition as repaired antique.

Type of Finish: Blued, Case Hardened

Finish Originality: Original.

Bore Condition: The bore is dark and pitted out. The bore rates 2/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 5% of its original metal finish. The bottom of the barrel and the butt as well as the inside of the trigger guard are marked with the matching serial number "1843". The cylinder is engraved with five pictorial scenes consisting of an Eagle, Bear, Brave, Dog, and Panoply, each surrounded by decorative scrollwork. There are traces of original finish remaining on the frame beneath the grips. Most of the exposed finish has worn to white and aged to a mottled gray patina with light, generally even erosion. The barrel, frame, cylinder, hammer, and grip frame show scattered age and handling wear. The barrel to frame fit is solid with no play. The cylinder engraving remains readily identifiable, though portions of the scenes have worn somewhat soft. The screw heads show tool marks but retain serviceable slots. The markings are generally clear, with some wear to the barrel marking and cylinder scenes. Overall, this revolver rates in Good condition as an antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This revolver was originally configured as a .36 caliber cap-and-ball percussion revolver and was converted to .38 Rimfire. The percussion loading lever was removed as part of the cartridge conversion. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Hopkins & Allen Dictator represented one of the firm's early open-top revolver designs and is distinctly different from the later small-frame spur-trigger revolvers that also carried the Dictator name with only 5,100 of these manufactured. These rare little revolvers were made by Hopkins and Allen after they took over the Bacon firm in 1867.This example was originally manufactured as a .36 caliber percussion revolver and was subsequently adapted for the increasingly important metallic-cartridge market by conversion to .38 Rimfire. It retains its 4" round barrel and 5-shot cylinder, with the former loading lever removed at the conversion. Particularly attractive is the engraved cylinder, which features five individual pictorial vignettes - Eagle, Bear, Brave, Dog, and Panoply - surrounded by decorative scrollwork.

This example has seen considerable honest use and retains approximately 5% of its original finish. Most of the exposed metal has worn to white and developed an even mottled gray patina with light erosion, while protected areas beneath the grips retain traces of the original case color. The two-piece walnut grips remain in Good condition as repaired antiques, with a repaired crack and a small loss on the right panel. The bore remains surprisingly bright with sharp rifling despite intermittent erosion and pitting, rating 6/10 in this writer's opinion. The matching serial number 1843 is present on the barrel and butt, and the action functions correctly.

Early metallic-cartridge conversions occupy an interesting transitional period in American handgun development, and this Dictator retains considerable character from that era. The matching numbered components, surviving cylinder artwork, original walnut grips, and evident period conversion give this revolver strong visual and historical appeal. It would make an interesting addition to a collection focused on Hopkins & Allen, early American cartridge revolvers, or percussion-to-cartridge conversions.