Ethan Allen hinge breech shotgun

[double barrel]

The trigger guard is rotated forward and the cartridges are expelled, there is a gear (teeth) at the end of the trigger guard that mesh with the extractor gear (teeth), the extractor just barely catches the rim as the the cartridges are forced backwards. The original cartridges have a very small rim and sometimes the extractor slips past the cartridge rim making it a devil to get the extractor back in the correct place, this is one of the problems with this mechanism the rim's should be larger.

[Kevin McCormack]

Wow, what a great old gun!

[Ken Snyder]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

Does that trigger guard rotate like a Jones underlever to take the gun down?

This gun does have a keyed forend but doesn't break down in the manner we are used to seeing with most doubles. The barrels are fixed to the action with a partial dovetail at the breech of the action and then retained with a screw from below, very similar to standard muzzle loading barrel hooks but far more refined. Removal of that screw AND the extractor mechanism would presumably allow for the barrels to be drifted off the action from right to left (toward the hinge) but unless there was a catastrophic tube failure I can't imagine any reason to attempt it. The photo with the hinged breech open shows the extractor in the fully rearward position so trigger guard fully hinged forward. The only function of the all wooden forend (other than being a forend) is to conceal the extractor coil spring and retaining rod. Please excuse the poor condition of the example I am able to photograph here. The OP should be very pleased with his wonderful example, not too many around like that one!
Ken

[Stan Hillis]

Great condition E. Allen gun. Good on you for "saving" it.

SRH

[Daryl Hallquist]

Trigger guard acts as a shell extractor.

[Researcher]

Ken,

Thank you for the great explanation. From one of the early pictures I could see that the trigger guard was only attached at the front and figured it had to do something. With all the hand fitting this must have required, it seems it would have been easy enough to make the extractor much larger.

Dave

[William kephart]

My dad has an Ethan Allen hinge breech 12ga. It’s in great condition but previous owner removed and lost the firing pins.
Does anyone have a photo or diagram of the pins? Maybe even someone who has two to sell? Thanks.
Bill K.

[Dean Romig]

Bill, you can send/bring your gun to a good gunsmith and he can make them for you. It shouldn’t be hard to do.

A talented gunsmith/machinist will be able to make them. I highly recommend Dan Cullity & Son in E. Sandwich, MA. At least three of our members have used him extensively.




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[Daryl Hallquist]

The firing pins are unlike most other pins. Long, partially flat, and hard to describe. They fit into the trap door. I have a 10 gauge , possibly unfired, made for a Mr. Coats who was the superintendent of the Allen works at the time. He has a long and interesting history in that time. It comes with a neat “leather pouch” with unfired Allen patent shells. Also a tin of Allen Patent primers. The 10 gauges had long barrels, while the 12 gauges, I have seen a dozen or two, have had 26” barrels. The 12 gauges also came with the leather pouch with Allen patent shells. I can furnish email pictures if someone has an interest.