Allen And Wheelock Providence Police Pistol

I purchased this old revolver a few years ago from a seller who had acquired it in a Civil War collection he had purchased. The Civil war collection came from a friend of the seller who was a caregiver for an elderly women who had passed away. The collection had presumably belonged to her late husband. Several expensive and authentic items were included in the collection.

The pistol was mounted to an old wooden plaque and had included an antique George Wostenholm knife made in Sheffield England but the knife had been removed and sold separately. Written on the plaque was the following...
"Custer items taken from C.S.A. Cavalry Men in Civil War. Revolver is a C.S.A. Mfgr. unknown or numbers. Knife is marked Geo. Wostenholm Sheffield. These were at Custer Home Tontogany, Ohio."
The writing on the front was worn off and barely legible but someone had re-written it on an index card on the back of the plaque.
General George Armstrong Custer Inside Home With Wife
Custer and his wife at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, 1874
The pistol make and age was not easy to identify as there are no clear markings. The previous owner believed it to be a Confederate Spur pistol taken from a rebel soldier and brought home as a souvenir or possibly a gift for a family member. The entire collection had been appraised with some extremely high ticket items included but they had difficulties authenticating that pistol. After some research and consulting with some members of an antique gun collectors forum I was able to identify it as an Allen and Wheelock Providence Police Model (see below). I was also able to locate what appears to be a serial number of "45" stamped into the grip frame.

Providence Police Model Revolver

This model is an anomaly which has bedeviled collectors for years. It is unmarked, but has some distinctive design features patented by Allen. It is a five-shot .36 caliber weapon with samples including 3, 4 and 5 inch barrels. It is a bit of a throwback, without a loading lever and sporting a spur trigger. Known examples had a blue finish and wood grips. There are records indicating purchase by the Providence Rhode Island police department, hence the name commonly attributed to this model. It is possible that this was a specific contract, and the model was never marketed to the public. This may indicate production very late into the E Allen and Company era shortly before Allen's death. His sons-in-law Forehand and Wadsworth may have deemed an obsolescent percussion pistol unworthy of bringing into the inventory of the company now sporting their names, and discontinued the model after that initial run.

After further research I was also able to find some information on the Tontogany Custer homestead including the following which is written on a historical marker in the town of Tontogany. 
Gen. George Armstrong Custer Family Homestead Tontogony Ohio

Custer Homestead

"Near this site stood the former Custer Homestead of Emanuel and Maria Custer from 1856-1865. For two years it was the boyhood home of Captain Tom Custer, younger brother of famed General George Armstrong Custer. At age 16, Tom misled a recruiter in neighboring Gilead, Ohio about his age and enlisted in the Civil War. He later earned two Congressional Medals of Honor, the first person in history to do so, for capturing enemy flags at Namozine Church on April 3, 1865 and at Sailor's Creek on April 6, 1865. His parents relocated to Monroe, Michigan during the Civil War. Tom continued serving in the Army during the Indian Wars in the West and often visited his brother Nevin in Tontogany. He, along with his brothers George and Boston, brother-in-law James Calhoun, and nephew Harry Reed, were killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876."


My research continues on this pistol and I have been in touch with one of the foremost experts on General Custer who has confirmed that there was an auction of items from the Tontogany home some time ago. This was the collection of the late Colonel Vietzen of Lorain, Ohio which was auctioned off by his widow. I am not sure yet if this item was included in that collection. It was confirmed that there is a good possibility that this item and the story attached may be genuine. My search for a positive link continues. I am also attempting to locate the knife that went with the plaque as well as a set of grips that would fit the pistol. Any information can be left in the comment section below and would be greatly appreciated.

Allen And Wheelock Providence Police Pistol General Custer

Allen And Wheelock Providence Police Revolver








Some More Helpful Ammo Cartridge and Bullet Reference Charts for Hunting

 Bass Pro Shops Provides these charts that are helpful in choosing the right Bullet/ Cartridge for various game sizes. Click on pictures for larger images.

Ammo Selection Comparison Chart For Game Animals

Best Game Hunting Bullet Selection Chart

Cartridge Ammo Bullet Velocity Chart Rifle
Various Rifle Ammo Velocity and Energy Chart 
Muzzle Velocity and Power Chart For Handgun Ammo Calibers
Pistol Handgun Ammo Power/ Velocity Chart
Rifle Range Comparison Charts
Rifle Range Chart
Pistol Handgun Revolver Ammo Range Chart .357, 9mm, .45 etc
Handgun Range Chart

How to Remove Mosin Nagant Rifle Rear Sights M91 91/30

Remove Mosin Nagant Rifle Rear Sights M91 91/30
These instructions are for long rifle style Mosin Nagants like any of  the M91  91/30 etc or cut downs like the 91/59 or 91/38. You'll need a metal punch for the pins and a small hammer.
Punch out the rear sight leaf pin and lift the rear sight leaf spring out of the rear sight base. Remove the rear sight slide from the leaf and pull the buttons and their springs out each side.
Mosin Nagant Sight Pins
Mosin Nagant Rear Sight Parts

Punch out the rear sight base pins and drive the rear sight base forward off of the dovetail.Using a brass punch to drive the base off is best to minimize chance of damage.


Mosin Nagant Rear Sight Pin

Mosin Nagant Rear Sight Dovetail

Mosin Nagant Without Rear Sight


Once the old sight has been removed you can use a DTP mount such as the one found here to mount a pair of standard Weaver / Picatinny style rings and any Long Eye Relief or scout style scope.

How to Remove Mosin Nagant Rifle Rear Sights M91 91/30


Helpful Hints on Soldered and Stubborn Pins
Some models are soldered into place. If so tip the barrel upside down and apply a heat source above 180F (melting point for silver solder FYI) and right after I see some of the solder "leaking" off I immediately stop what applying heat and take a hammer and punch to it. Just remember that you punch AWAY from the receiver.
You can also use Birchwood Casey Rust and Blue Remover and apply generous amounts of it around the rear sight that it "eats" away at the solder. I'm no chemist so I don't know if it actually does but it always comes out after I let it sit for five or more minutes.

Most pre 40s are soldered. Some post 40 Mosins are as well. Older Mosins (1918 and below, rarely post 40s) sometimes have a set screw as well. This actually makes removing the sight easiest.

If your pins are stuck, apply some Breakfree, brake cleaner, or WD40 or some other type of "penetrating" oil and let it sit for ten minutes or so. After that  they should slide right out.

 Mount installation : You may have to drill a shallow 5/32" shallow hole or indention on the mosin dovetail to accept the set screw (near the front top of the mount) to prevent any slippage due to recoil. Also use some blue locktite to secure all the screws. Otherwise it should fit like a normal dovetail mount.
Mosin-Nagant-91-30-rear-Sight-to-Picatinny-Weaver-Rail-Adapter-Scope-Mount