Fine Ethan Allen 8th Model Bird's-Head Grip Side Hammer 22 RF

Serial #8105, .22 RF (black powder), 2 1/8 inch barrel with a fine bore with good rifling and moderate roughness near the muzzle.  This is an 8th model Ethan Allen & Co. marked Side Hammer, Bird's-Head grip pistol built in the late Allen ownership of the company before the Forehand & Wadsworth era circa 1864-1866.  In Fine antique condition this late model Ethan Allen marked revolver retains about 34-40% of the original blue finish on the barrel, frame and cylinder with the contrasting nickel plated hammer showing virtually all of the original finish.  The hammer looks to be native to the gun but as an unnumbered part there is no way of knowing if this left the factory in this configuration or was a later addition.  We have observed two tone examples that utilize silver and gold plating.  The rosewood bird's-head grips rate excellent and are correctly numbered to the gun as are all of the other numbered parts.  Mechanically it functions properly with correct indexing, the hammer holding at half and full cock releasing with a crisp trigger pull.  A fine example of these neat little side hammer revolvers with the very desirable Ethan Allen & Co. marking.  Antique