1st,1st MODEL MERWIN, HULBERT &Co..44MH, SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, with HUMPBACK HAMMER, a.k.a. "THE MEXICAN MODEL", with ORANGE MOTTLED GRIPS.....

When in the 1870's the Westward Expansion of America created an unheard of market for large frame Frontier Revolvers. Merwin, Hulbert & Co. had a new .44 Army revolver, with colorful grips, and a UNIQUE patented, and rapid ejection system for spent cartridges. Faster than all the big names like Colt, etc..It was a twist and pull system, ejecting only fired cartridges, extremely quickly, closing to reload. It attained quite a bit of popularity, and can be seen in antique cabinet card photo's of the period, not to mention NUMEROUS personalities who carried a Merwin. THIS is the first of the .44's to be introduced, and it had several KEY factors which soon were designed improved, and disappeared. The most notable features are:

• Orange Mottled grips
• Humpback Hammer ( shorter and curved)
• Two screw floor plate
• Short trigger guard
• Detent pin
• Scoop Flute cylinders, and eventually the Open Top Frame

Serial No. 213X is a very early production Model, and has ALL, the above unique features. This would date about 1875, so it was in the heart of the Westward expansion, and demand for large frame revolvers. Today, it has about 80, maybe 85% of all the ORIGINAL factory nickel plating, with faded case color hardening on the Trigger guard and Hammer. ALL the Assembly numbers are matching, and ALL factory applied markings: two barrel addresses, Merwin, and the maker H&A, and serial Number are clear well defined and present. MECHANICALLY, it operates PERFECTLY, just as it did some 136 years ago.

These First, First models are EVER INCREASINGLY harder to find, and are a top demand item among Merwin, and Frontier Arms collectors. PRICE $3,950

SOMETIMES SEEN IN MERWIN CATALOGUES, WITH THIS HAMMER, AND REFERRED TO AS THE "MEXICAN MODEL"

Fits ONLY this Merwin revolver, and is period with the revolver 1875 -1880

This is a DARK, DARK brown, or possibly Black Holster and Cartridge Belt, for the 1st Model .44 Merwin Army Revolver. It has that late 1870's flair, with a natural leather trimmed cartridge belt. It has the buckle, and width, and billet, of the 1870's style cartridge belt, with matching holster. This holster fits ONLY a Merwin 1st Model Army revolver. It is quite rare indeed to encounter a "rig" for a Merwin, especially a large frame .44 Merwin. The belt and holster are reasonably supple, and show only the slightest signs on minor surface cracking. So, it would be more than possible to display a Merwin in this holster. The holster is Border Stamped and tooled, with the body remaining plain leather. The belt is trimmed in natural leather, giving a artistic appearance to the outfit. A UNIQUE accessory for the Merwin, or Frontier Revolver Collector. PRICE $750

A LAW SUIT with S&W, AND A MODIFICATION TO EXISTING REVOLVERS....PATENT INFRINGEMENT

This was one of ONLY two Models ever bearing the name of Merwin, Hulbert, that was NOT their Patented Twist & Pull Ejection System. Made for Merwin, Hulbert &Co., probably by O. S.Cummings of Lowell Mass., it was an EXACT copy of the S&W Model No.1 Third Issue .22. The barrel on top was rolled with Merwin, Hulbert & Co. New York. It didn't take long for S&W to get wind of this, and they hit Merwin, Hulbert with a Law Suit, for Patent Infringement. Long story short, Merwin lost, and an UNUSUAL deal was struck!! There was nothing could be done about the ones already SOLD before the suit, BUT the ones in Inventory were changed. Merwin was forced to "stipple"/ punch dot, what have you, on top of the barrel, to obliterate the Merwin name. In addition, they could sell the balance of Inventory, BUT had to pay S&W .50 cents on each sale ! That settled the suit. SERIAL No. 6U is one of the one s which was in inventory, and had the barrel address obliterated, please see image.

Today, the .22 Merwin has about 99 -99.9% of all the ORIGINAL nickel plate finish, with only MINIMAL sporadic "pepper spots" scattered here and there. The Walnut grips are perfect and in superb condition. The hammer still has almost all the case hardening colors. Mechanically, the revolver operates on ALL phases perfectly: opening, loading, closing, cocking, and firing. A GREAT SCARCITY for Merwin collectors, or as a "Law Suit" revolver defending 19th century S&W patents on Pocket Pistols. PRICE $1,150

Aside from the patented unique twist and pull ejection system found on all Merwin revolvers, the second MOST unique feature was interchangeable barrels! With simply NO tools etc.. you could change from a 7" to a 5-1/2", or 3" barrel, it was part of the enormous popularity of Merwins. The SCARCEST of all Merwin, Hulbert & Co. weapons is the RIFLE ! Fully marked on both barrels, Merwin, Hulbert & Co. New York. This TWO barrel set, has a 28 inch Octagonal .22 barrel, and a .12 gauge, 30 inch barrel. It has semi deluxe Walnut forearms, and the stock, all with 99%+ of their original varnish. Also, deluxe checkering. The case hardened color frame has faded, with only "ghost" traces of the color, HOWEVER the rolling block has ALL it's original case colors. The wood is free from any damage, and has a fine antique luster, and all the varnish. Mechanically it operates PERFECTLY, with either barrel. Cocking and locking to fire, and releasing smoothly. The saddle Ring style frame bolt easily unscrews for removing and adding barrels. A VERY difficult Merwin for collectors to obtain, due to low production, and survival rate, especially with BOTH barrels. PRICE $2,500

BOTH BARRELS RETAIN 100% OF THEIR DEEP LUSTROUS FACTORY BLUE FINISH

DENVER & RIO GRANDE RAILWAY

1st MODEL, 2nd VARIATION, MERWIN, HULBERT & Co. FRONTIER REVOLVER, in RARE .44 RUSSIAN CALIBER, and marked on Frame.

This Merwin, Hulbert revolver has seen the Westward expansion of the Railway in the late 1870's, and served on our expanding Frontier. It's mere presence shows the life of a frontier revolver. The barrel has been professionally cut to 3&3/4 inches, and re-sighted perfectly! Serial No. 909X "suited" the user just fine, and is in it's ORIGINAL Two Loop Holster, which has been with it, since the day the barrel was adjusted. The barrel is marked for the Denver, Rio Grande Railway.

Currently, there is about 10-15% of the original Nickel Plate finish, mostly on the cylinder, and trigger guard. the balance of the revolver is a soft gray patina. It's interesting to note: there is still a detent pin, which shows it is actually a transitional revolver between first/first, and first/2nd. The Merwin still has the very worn Mother of Pearl grips. Amazingly, ALL mechanical operations function PERFECTLY: opening to eject, closing, cocking, indexing and firing. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway, also ran an Express service, so this revolver could have served as a guard revolver for the Express Messenger. If you are looking for high condition, this isn't it, BUT if you are looking for an action packed Frontier Merwin , and in the words of Elmer Keith " hell I was there", then this is an excellent choice. PRICE $ 2,795