Hopkins & Allen XL-6 Revolver with a Surprising Swing-Out Cylinder

Published on September 3, 2020
Duration: 7:23

The Hopkins & Allen XL-6 is a rare .41 rimfire, 5-shot revolver notable for its early spring-loaded swing-out cylinder, a feature patented by Samuel Hopkins. Unlike other XL models, this design allowed for faster loading and extraction. Despite its advanced mechanism, the high production cost likely limited its market appeal, as Hopkins & Allen primarily targeted the budget firearm segment.

Quick Summary

The Hopkins & Allen XL-6 is a rare .41 rimfire, 5-shot revolver featuring a unique spring-loaded swing-out cylinder, patented by Samuel Hopkins. This advanced mechanism allowed for quicker loading and extraction, though its production cost likely limited its prevalence in Hopkins & Allen's budget-focused market.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Hopkins & Allen
  2. 01:37XL-6 Specifications and Features
  3. 02:08Swing-Out Cylinder Mechanism
  4. 03:52Patent History and Legal Issues
  5. 06:26Market Positioning and Rarity

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Hopkins & Allen XL-6 revolver unique?

The XL-6 is notable for its rare spring-loaded swing-out cylinder, a design patented by Samuel Hopkins that allowed for faster loading and extraction compared to other contemporary revolvers.

What was the historical context of the swing-out cylinder patent?

Samuel Hopkins patented the swing-out cylinder in the early 1860s. Bacon Arms produced revolvers with this feature but faced legal challenges from Smith & Wesson over the Rollin White patent.

Why was the swing-out cylinder rare on Hopkins & Allen firearms?

Hopkins & Allen primarily targeted the budget firearm market. The swing-out cylinder mechanism was likely too expensive to manufacture for their low-cost product line, making it a rare feature.

What caliber and capacity does the Hopkins & Allen XL-6 have?

The Hopkins & Allen XL-6 featured in the video is a .41 caliber rimfire revolver with a 5-shot cylinder capacity.

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