Forgotten Stepchild of Kentucky Gunsmiths, The Under-Hammer Pistol

Foreword: The most overlooked product of Kentucky gunsmiths was the under-hammer pistol. While not common, under-hammers were made by several Kentucky gunsmiths during the percussion era. Production appears limited based on the few known examples, perhaps due to under-hammers being a later, non-traditional style of pistol in a state where earlier frontier traditions were highly valued. Kentucky under-hammers likely were made only when specifically requested by a customer.

Under-Hammer Pistols: Under-hammer pistols were cheaper to make than percussion lock guns. [1] They were popular in New England states in the 1830s through the 1860s, but interest in under-hammers decreased as the distance from New England increased. The benefit of under-hammers came from their simple design and ease of manufacture that significantly reduced costs. The mechanism was simple. The hammer had a notched base that, when cocked, caught on the tip of the trigger’s front extension. When the trigger was pulled, the front extension dislodged from the hammer, allowing it to drop and fire the gun. [2] Despite under-hammers’ popularity in the East, farther west in Kentucky traditions ran deep and conventional percussion lock rifles and pistols were preferred. The small number of known Kentucky under-hammers suggests gunsmiths in larger towns like Lexington, Bardstown, Frankfort, and Louisville seldom [if ever] made them. But under-hammer guns were more accepted in Kentucky’s port towns on the Ohio river, heavily visited by eastern travelers who were more familiar with under-hammer guns. Farther inland in less settled areas where money was scarce and costs a bigger consideration, cheaper under-hammer guns were occasionally made. Kentucky’s under-hammers had a range of styles, depending on how far from the Ohio River they were made. Figures No.1a and 1b show examples of the different styles made in Kentucky, and how styles changed as gunsmiths worked farther away from the Ohio River. An Ohio River under-hammer pistol is on top, with each subsequent pistol being made farther inland. The last/bottom pistol was made in southern Kentucky, far from the Ohio River.  

Figure No.1a: These Kentucky under-hammers show how styles varied, starting with an Ohio River pistol [top] and going deeper into Kentucky and farther away from the Ohio River. From top: A. J. Jones; W. C. Fryman; E. C. Burden; S. Settle. Author’s collection, photos by author.

Figure No.1b: The top pistol is a rare double-action under-hammer with no protruding thumb piece on the hammer for cocking the gun. The lower three examples are standard single-action pistols. Grip shapes changed significantly as pistols were made farther from the Ohio River.

Single vs. Double-Action: Most under-hammers used the common eastern “single action” mechanism, but in Kentucky a few guns had the rare “double-action” mechanism. Single-action hammers had a thumb piece to assist pulling the hammer down to cock before firing. In the double-action, the hammer lacked a thumb piece and had a cut-out on the front end. When loading, the trigger was pulled back slightly, lifting the hammer just above the nipple for percussion cap insertion, made easier by the hammer’s open front end. The hammer was then carefully lowered back down on the cap. [3] While perhaps a bit riskier, the pistol could then be quickly fired by simply pulling the trigger, without the single-action’s need to manually cock the hammer before firing. Since under-hammer pistols were primarily used for self-defense, the quicker “double-action” under-hammer saved a second or two… and perhaps the owner’s life.  The top pistol in Figures No.1a and No.1b has the faster double-action mechanism without the thumb piece.  

Style Variations: Despite the small number of known Kentucky under-hammer pistols, a pattern is present that helps explain style variations in different parts of the State. More sophisticated under-hammer pistols with double-action mechanisms were most often made in Kentucky’s port towns on the Ohio River where river traffic stopped and came ashore. One of Kentucky’s finest known under-hammer pistols in Figure No.2 was made by gunsmith Andrew J. Jones in the major port town of Augusta in Bracken County on the Ohio River above Louisville. [4] The pistol is exceptional for its graceful curly maple butt, fine metal work, and belt/sash hook. Similar pistols were made by gunsmith J. Harding of Covington in Kenton County, Kentucky, another major port town on the Ohio River across from Cincinnatti. [5] Another Bracken County pistol made a few years later by gunsmith Joshua Barlow and dated “1854” is shown in Figure No.3. It has the traditional single-action mechanism with an attractively curved curly maple butt; however, its later butt style is not as strongly curved as the butt on the earlier Jones pistol. While extremely rare, a double-action under-hammer pistol was occasionally made farther inland. They came from larger, more prosperous towns where cost was a lesser issue. A known inland double-action under-hammer pistol was made by Kentucky gunsmith Jesse E. White of Lexington and signed “J. E. W.” in large script like his rifles. [6]

Figure No.2: This fine under-hammer was made by A. J. Jones at Augusta, Kentucky, a bustling port town on the Ohio River. It has a graceful, more traditional butt, belt/sash hook, and a rare “double-action” mechanism. Barrel: 5-7/16 inches with .32 caliber bore.

Figure No.3: This Bracken County pistol, made near the Ohio River in 1854, has a more naturally shaped butt and full octagon barrel. It has the traditional “single-action” mechanism with a thumb piece for cocking. Barrel specs unknown

Kentucky’s under-hammer pistols had changing butt styles as pistols were made farther inland from the Ohio River. On the river, most butts were attractively curved and reminiscent of Kentucky’s earlier flintlock pistol butts. Two counties inland in Harrison County, gunsmith William C. Fryman made the under-hammer pistol shown in Figure No.4 below. It retains some grip curvature, but the classic Kentucky pistol butt shape is gone, and it has the common single-action ignition. However, it has a belt/sash hook on the barrel that often appears on smaller Kentucky pistols. Going farther inland to Nicholas County, gunmaker Joshua Barlow [before moving to Bracken County] made the under-hammer pistol in Figure No.5. The trigger is smaller and the butt’s center-line straighter like a New England under-hammer, although the barrel is still octagon for its entire length.

Figure No.4: William C. Fryman made this pistol at Cynthiana in Harrison County, Kentucky. The county was influenced by nearby Ohio River traffic as seen in the pistol’s curved grip and small belt hook. Barrel: 6-1/8 inches long with .38 caliber bore.

Figure No.5: Joshua Barlow of Kentucky’s famous Barlow family of gunsmiths made this pistol in Nicholas County, well away from the Ohio River. The grip no longer has the graceful curve of an Ohio River pistol. Barrel specs unknown.

Another Nicholas County pistol by gunsmith Edmond C. Burden, apprenticed to Joshua Barlow, is shown in Figure No.6 below. The pistol is neatly made with a single-action mechanism, and while the stock is curly maple, it lacks the curvature of Ohio River pistols, instead angling sharply down like a New England under-hammer. The final Kentucky under-hammer pistol in Figure No.7 below is dated “1842” and was made in southern Kentucky by the well-known Green County gunsmith Simon Settle. It has a curly maple grip but otherwise looks very much like a New England under-hammer with its octagon-to-round barrel, “boot leg” shaped butt, and single-action mechanism [hammer head is missing]. Green County is two-thirds the way down toward Tennessee in a less populated, more rural area where cost was a major factor and probably influenced the style of pistol being made.

Figure No.6: Edmond C. Burden of Nicholas County, Kentucky, was known for making conventional rifles and pistols; this is his only known under-hammer pistol with his name stamped on the barrel. Barrel: 3-7/8 inches length with .32 caliber bore.

Figure No.7: Despite being made by well-known gunsmith Simon Settle of Green County, this pistol copies a New England under-hammer in most aspects including its “boot-leg” grip and octagon/round barrel. Barrel: 5-1/2 inches with .38 caliber bore.

Summary: Under-hammer pistols from Kentucky are rare. The few surviving examples exhibit a range of styles with the most attractive pistols being made in port towns along the Ohio River. Farther inland, pistols began to look more like New England under-hammers, and in Kentucky’s southern counties, under-hammer pistols closely copied New England pistols. But Kentucky under-hammers retained several small differences… they were usually stocked in curly maple, often had a belt/sash hook, and generally had smaller bores and shorter barrels than Eastern under-hammers. Kentucky under-hammers were small self-defense weapon, which may explain why so few were made in Kentucky. Kentuckians usually preferred pistols with longer barrels made in a more traditional Kentucky style… a holdover from their proud frontier history.