Merwin Hulbert 2

An amazing discovery ! This Merwin has been in a single family for several generations, and treated with great care. It is a 3rd Model, Pocket Army revolver. What is a 3rd Model ? It has the top strap above cylinder, and the straight cut cylinder flutes, unlike the early “scoop” cut flutes. The singular factor making it a 3rd Model it is a Double Action revolver ! By the very late 1870’s to early 1880’s all major manufacturers wee introducing double action firing systems. Colt introduced the 1877 Lightning and 1878 Large Frame Models, and S&W the large frame Model of 1881 Double Action in .44 Russian. Merwin, Hulbert & Co. maintained the SAME physical design of the Pocket Army, BUT reworked mechanical actions to make it a double action firing system. This is an EXCEPTIONAL revolver. Serial No. 2276X, with matching Assembly No’s of 4939 remains in 99.999999% factory new condition. Upon examination, I believe it has never been fired !!! ALL factory applied markings are crisp and visible: side manufacturing address of H&A, frame markings of Merwin, Hulbert & Co, plus Pocket Army. The ORIGINAL factory nickel finish is BRIGHT and 100% present ! ALL the case color hardening on trigger and trigger guard are present. The working action is 100% correct on every feature. In fact so new it has so much suction it is difficult to easily slide open once twisted. It’s that new, but it works 100% correctly. The checkered hard rubber grips are perfect in age color, and crispness, NO damage. It is simply REMARKABLE that this Pocket Army has remained as new for 141 years !!!! The issue of caliber needs to be addressed here as it is such a rare offering. Merwin introduced their revolvers with a company caliber of 44MH, however they quickly realized a loss of market share and re-chambered to 44/40 ( 44 Winchester Center Fire) HOWEVER, they made a quick thought, and made about 100 revolvers in 44 Russian. Why, well they wanted a piece of the S&W business, quickly re-thought the issue and went with 44/40 looking for the Rifle combination pistol cartridge. This Double Action is another example of re-thinking markets, the Model of 1881 S&W revolver was in 44 Russian. Once again, quickly dropped for the same reason as before. HOWEVER a Double Action Pocket Army in 44 Russian is EXTREMELY RARE, maybe only a few, very few. Mow think of that in terms of a factory new condition one, compute the odds !!! As I said earlier, the actions of single action operation and double action function perfectly. The unique open twist and pull shell extraction system works as new and perfectly. I cannot over emphasize the condition of this Merwin. If you are a collector of Merwin, Hulbert revolvers, or Western Frontier revolvers, you cannot do better !

The firm of Merwin, Hulbert & Co. was always looking forward and embraced progress. By the end of the 1870’s they realized a new design a solid Top Strap had replaced the Open Top design. This created a sturdier revolver frame and a safer concept. However, the Single Action mode of firing stayed ! This one is a very early production of the 2nd model, and still has the Orange Mottled hard rubber grips, which later became solid black. Serial No. 1549X is an outstanding example, and has endured 144 years in superb condition. It has 90%+ of the original factory nickel plated finish. the only loss, or dark spotting in the finish is in the cylinder flutes. The body of the revolver is 98%++. It even has the fire blue screw heads, still very obvious. The hammer still has slightly faded case colors. The trade mark Orange Mottled hard rubber grips are in spectacular fine condition, and retain most of the bright color with No damage.

MOST IMPORTANT: for Merwin’s are the pull, twist and eject mechanics to load and unload. This Merwin is 100% in ALL mechanical features, opening, closing, locking tight, loading, cocking indexing perfectly, tight and finally firing!!! A 100% Merwin, Plus ALL original parts, ALL matching Assembly Numbers 5286, and original Serial Number 1549X This Merwin Single Action Army is very early in top strap models, and was the new future of production beginning in about 1879-1880. It would be extremely difficult to find a better condition example, physically and mechanically.

This 1st/1st Merwin Army revolver exudes ! the old west. it wears it’s 146 years of existence well. Not hiding the fact it was used and used all the time, leaving it with character and the true look of the old west. Serial No. 115X, with matching assembly numbers of 1017 is ALL original, every part ! Amazingly the mechanical working actions are 100% correct: opening, twist and pull ejection, cocking , indexing, and releasing to fire. This was more than likely a Wexell Y deGress shipped Merwin. It bears the Mexican Eagle motif on the left panel scene. More interesting, on the right frame panel a Longhorn Steer standing in the rough cactus & brush of the southwest. New York style engraving is seen on the barrel and frame area.