ticketsMember | Make a donation

Cased Six-Barreled Revolving Percussion Pistol ("Pepperbox")

Manufacturer Ethan Allen American
Manufacturer Charles T. Thurber American
1842–47
Not on view
Invented by the gunmaker Ethan Allen, the pepperbox was the most popular multishot firearm in America and Europe prior to the introduction of Samuel Colt's revolver.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Cased Six-Barreled Revolving Percussion Pistol ("Pepperbox")
  • Manufacturer: Ethan Allen (American, 1808–1871)
  • Manufacturer: Charles T. Thurber (American, active 1837–55)
  • Date: 1842–47
  • Geography: Norwich, Connecticut
  • Culture: American, Norwich, Connecticut
  • Medium: Steel, gold, silver, ivory, wood (rosewood), velvet
  • Dimensions: L. of pistol 7 in. (17.78 cm); case 12 15/16 x 8 3/16 x 2 5/8 in. (32.84 x 20.78 x 6.65 cm)
  • Classification: Firearms-Pistols-Percussion
  • Credit Line: Gift of Eric Vaule, 1990
  • Object Number: 1990.137a–j
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Colt Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver, serial no. 12406, Samuel Colt American, Steel, brass, gold, wood (walnut), American, Hartford, Connecticut
Colt Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver, serial no. 12406
Samuel Colt
ca. 1853
Colt Paterson Percussion Revolver, No. 5, Holster Model, serial no. 940, Samuel Colt American, Steel, silver, mother-of-pearl, American, Paterson, New Jersey
Colt Paterson Percussion Revolver, No. 5, Holster Model, serial no. 940
Samuel Colt
Frederick Hanson
ca. 1840
Colt Walker Percussion Revolver, serial no. 1017, Samuel Colt American, Steel, brass, wood (walnut), American, Whitneyville, Connecticut
Colt Walker Percussion Revolver, serial no. 1017
Multiple artists/makers
1847
Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver (serial no. 20133), with Case and Accessories, Samuel Colt American, Steel, copper alloy, gold, wood (walnut), textile, glass, cork, bone, pewter, paper, American, Hartford, Connecticut
Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver (serial no. 20133), with Case and Accessories
Samuel Colt
Waterman Lilly Ormsby
ca. 1853
Colt Model 1855 Pocket Percussion Revolver, Serial no. 4460, with Case and Accessories, Samuel Colt American, Steel, wood (oak), American, Hartford, Connecticut
Colt Model 1855 Pocket Percussion Revolver, Serial no. 4460, with Case and Accessories
Samuel Colt
Herman Bodenstein
ca. 1856

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.