MERWIN, HULBERT & Co., 1st MODEL POCKET ARMY REVOLVER, in 44/40...UNFIRED!

Serial No. 48X has 99.999% of all the original factory nickel plate, applied at the H&A factory for Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Regarding the recoil shield, and cylinder face, it is safe to say, it has never been fired! The Pocket Army from Merwin, Hulbert & Co. was without doubt the most STOUT and STURDY large frame "Pocket" revolver you could obtain in the 1870's period. This 1st Model has all the desirable collector features: scoop flute cylinder, barrel wedge, open top frame, birds head "skull cracker grip", single action, and in 44/40 caliber. All the case hardening colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard, with deep blue on the trigger. ALL parts are original to the revolver, with MATCHING assembly numbers. All factory applied markings: barrel address/patents, and frame caliber identification are sharp and clear. The checkered hard rubber grips are in perfect condition. Speaking of perfect condition, the patented shell extraction system functions flawlessly. In addition, the loading system, safety notch, full cock, all work with precision. each cylinder rotation locks tight, and perfectly indexed for firing. In early models such as this, condition of this magnitude is indeed rare. PRICE $7,250

SOLD

MERWIN, HULBERT & Co., 1st MODEL SPUR TRIGGER SINGLE ACTION .38, 2nd VARIATION

WINCHESTER CARTRIDGE SPECIFICATION PATTERN REVOLVER..........

This revolver has it's back strap engraved W R A Co., for Winchester Repeating Arms Co. It once was the pride of Art Phelps Collection, who authored the only existent historical text on Merwins. Serial No. 484X is in 99.999% original factory condition, with the original nickel plate finish. in addition it has all the EARLY characteristics of a .38: exposed cylinder pin, for shell knock out, spur trigger, and beautiful Dog Head hard rubber grips. ALL facets of mechanical operation work 100% correctly. Shell extracting, loading, indexing, and firing, all have crisp precision. All case hardening color remains on the trigger, and hammer. ALL company applied features, such as barrel address and frame markings, are clear, sharp, and present. This Merwin .38 was the property of Winchester cartridge division, and used to maintain CORRECT dimensions for .38 Merwin cartridges they produced, PLUS was the test fire revolver for some of them. The back strap engraving is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT and AUTHENTIC! THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN EVER BE OWNED BY A COLLECTOR!  price $3,750

MERWIN, HULBERT & Co.,1st,1st FRONTIER ARMY REVOLVER .44 mh /"HUMPBACK HAMMER"

In an ORIGINAL Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Catalogue, they showed two identical 1st Model .44 Army revolvers side by side, except for one feature. That feature was the hammer, one had the standard elevated spur hammer, the other, the " hump back hammer". They referred to the :hump back" hammer version as the Mexican Model. This 1st, 1st Merwin, Serial No. 115X, has ALL the early features:

• scoop flutes
• open top
• hump back hammer
• orange mottled grips
• wedge in barrel
• straight trigger guard
• detent pin
• two screw drop out floor plate
• front tension screw

This Merwin has about 99% of all the original nickel plating, with just some "pepper spotting" on the cylinder. The orange grips are in perfect condition, and have bright colors remaining. Almost all the case hardening colors remain on the hammer. The unique extraction system works perfectly, as does the loading, cocking, and firing operations. It is a very crisp revolver, and shows hardly no firing. the company applied manufacturer address, and Merwin barrel address are clear and very distinct. All parts are original to the Merwin,. and ALL assembly numbers are matching. A very SCARCE Model, and very early into production, with superb condition. PRICE $ 7,950

This Merwin Army revolver exhibits ALL the earliest production characteristics.

• Open Top Frame
• Scoop Flute cylinder
• Two screw frame/ removable floor plate
• Detent Pin
• Barrel Wedge
• .44 Merwin caliber

This is the most sought after version by Frontier revolver collectors. This example, Serial No. 61XX, is in MAGNIFICENT condition. It has 99.9% of all the original factory applied nickel plating, and strong amounts of case color hardening on the hammer. All factory applied markings, such as the two barrel address rolls, and the Serial Numbers, and assembly numbers, are perfectly clear, and very legible. All assembly numbers match, and all parts are original to the Merwin. The patented twist and pull extraction system functions perfectly. The loading, cocking, and indexing to fire, all function perfectly. Why not? the revolver is in unfired condition.

The revolver is fitted with factory Mother of Pearl grips, which are full of color and fire, and just the right patina produced by 130 years of natural age. Simply put, this is a magnificent specimen of the earliest production! PRICE $11,250

The VERY first .38 Single Action Pocket Pistol introduced by Merwin , Hulbert & Company, still showed the developmental stage of their design. It still has an exposed cylinder pin, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, it does not have their sliding loading gate! The entry point for cartridges is a hole cut through the right hand recoil shield! This was present on ONLY the very earliest models, which saw LIMITED production.

This specimen, Serial No.39XX is in mint condition. I say mint because, only the cylinder shows some loss of gold wash, but still most is present. The revolver is PROFUSELY engraved, and ALL the original black jewelers enamel is still in the engraving cuts. Almost all the case color hardening remains on the hammer, and spur trigger. in addition, it is complimented with mother of Pearl grips, in perfect condition. They still sparkle with color. All mechanical features of the patented twist and pull ejection system function perfectly, as well as the loading. It cocks, locks, and indexes perfectly. All factory applied markings on frame and barrel are clear, and extremely sharp and visible. this is an EXTREMELY scarce configuration, perhaps the best in existence. PRICE $ 3,950

• 4th MODEL POCKET ARMY
• BLUE FINISH
• TWO BARREL SET -- WITH STANDARD 3rd MODEL 2ND BARREL..ALL MATCHING NUMBERS.

The rarest of all Merwin's is the 4th Model, as it was the last design change, and the last of the Merwin's before the operation closed their doors in 1895. Serial No. 97XX is a 4th Model Pocket Army, finished in the blue ! It is a two barrel set, and both barrels have identical assembly numbers, making it a factory shipment. The rarity is also, that on all 4th models, when supplied with a 7 inch barrel, they were always of the 3rd model style, and this one is no exception. Today, the pocket Army has about 35% of the original blue, the balance is a ' plum " color, produced by oxidized blue. All factory applied markings, barrel address, frame markings etc..are all clear and well defined. The patented extraction system operates perfectly, as do all phases of loading, cocking, and firing. ALL parts are original to the revolver, and ALL assembly numbers are matching.

I have shown the set with both long and short barrel on the frame. However, I think it was carried more with the long barrel, as it has slightly less blue finish remaining.  This is a VERY rare and scarce set for the Merwin collector, or for that matter, the collector of large frame Frontier revolvers. PRICE $5,900 SOLD/RESERVE

During the 1880's Merwin excelled with their Double Action revolvers. The patented twist and pull rapid extraction system, combined with easy loading, made the Merwin Pocket revolver very popular. In fact, Pat Garret, of Billy the Kid fame, was presented this same identical style model, and he carried it all the time, as a back up! Serial No. 89XX also has the patented Hopkins & Allen, Folding Hammer. this allowed the revolver to be carried in the pocket with the hammer folded, allowing for quicker extraction. Once out and firing, it could be flipped up for the standard spur hammer effect. This specimen is Factory Engraved, and remains in 99.9% condition. The only " spot" is a dark spot near the panel scene, otherwise, perfect condition. The hammer, trigger , and trigger guard, exhibit all their case hardening colors.

The panel scene is unique, as it shows a deer laying in the tall grass. All Assembly numbers are matching, and ALL factory applied markings, like barrel address etc.. are clear and well defined. All mechanical aspects, of unloading, loading, cocking ( single and double action), indexing, and firing operate with perfect efficiency. A very fine example of a Factory Engraved .38.  PRICE $3,500

Without exception, one of the RAREST & SCARCEST models of Merwin Revolvers is the Russian Model. It is estimated at only a FEW hundred manufactured. This one, Serial No.34XX, is exceptional, as it is a 1st,1st Model. This means it has the earliest characteristics:

• Scoop flute cylinder
• Detent pin on barrel release
• 2 screw removable floor plate
• short length trigger guard

In addition, it has COWHORN grips !, which are very Western, very Frontier, and very attractive. They are professionally made, and fitted to the Merwin. Merwin was seeking their own identity cartridge, that is why almost all the early revolvers were in .44 MH caliber. Then they went to the Winchester'73 caliber. ONLY A FEW were made to possibly capture the S&W market, in .44 Russian. This SA Army has about 80 -> 85% of all the original nickel plating, and the hammer shows strong trace colors of the case hardening process. The patented opening and shell extraction system functions perfectly, as do ALL phases of loading, cocking, indexing, and firing. ALL  assembly numbers match, and all parts are original to the Merwin, including the grips. All factory applied roll die markings are present, and clear and distinct. This is an 1875 production revolver, and a great addition to any collection of early Frontier Large Frame revolvers. PRICE $3,850SALES HOLD

Listed on Page 52, of Phelps, First edition, on the History of Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Revolvers, it states this configuration , has only one known. However, this example just surfaced ! Serial No. 250XX, has the 5-1/2 inch barrel, and is a .38. BUT!, it is a SINGLE ACTION, only firing system. Identical to the one on page 52, please note, it has only a 2 screw side plate ! The overall finish is about 90% of the original factory nickel plating, with most wear on the frame where one's thumb would rest. It has all matching assembly numbers, and all maker, and patent address markings are clear and distinct. The famous Merwin extraction system functions perfectly, and the revolver cocks and locks for firing flawlessly.  The checkered grips are crisp, except for a missing piece on the left grip. The " skull cracker " grip pattern is very desirable. In addition, it comes with it's original flap russet brown holster. This is literally a one time chance to own, what previously to today, was unknown, NOW two such models are known to exist !

PRICE $  2,500

Surely this Pocket Army must have a secret to tell ! It was used in the 19th century, doing what it was meant to do, being carried, and being  fired ! Today, there is about 75 -80% of the original factory nickel plating remaining, with the balance a gray patina. Serial No. 26XX has " the look ", the short barrel, open top frame, scoop flutes, and it's single action in firing. All parts are original to the revolver, and all assembly numbers match. The Pocket Army is elegantly finished off with radiant, and bright with color Pearl grips. The famous shell extraction system functions perfectly, as does the cocking, locking, indexing, and firing operation. All factory applied lettering is still clear and very legible. There is still case color visible on the hammer, and the trigger guard case colors have silvered out. This is an " honest " Merwin Pocket Army, used, and taken care of for 130 years. PRICE $2,650