SCARCE EARLY OPEN TOP MERWIN & HULBERT MODEL 1873 SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.

SCARCE EARLY OPEN TOP MERWIN & HULBERT MODEL 1873 SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 11194. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Nickel finish with 7″ rnd bbl, integral front sight and 1-line Merwin & Hulbert address on top with Hopkins & Allen information on the left side. Frame is marked on left side below the cyl “CALIBRE / WINCHESTER 1873”. Mounted with checkered mottled red & black hard rubber grips. Frame is the early open top style with scooped flutes on cylinder. There is a lanyard swivel & ring in the butt strap. Serial number is on the butt strap with the assembly number “842S” on left side of front strap under the grip. Assembly number was observed on rear face of bbl lug, rear face of cyl and with the number “841” on cyl spindle, obviously an assembler’s mistake. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only a “few thousand” of these revolvers were produced in six different models in the period 1876-1880. Merwin & Hulbert were dealers & distributors who were not manufacturers. They promoted a diversified line of merchandise which they had manufactured by various companies with Hopkins & Allen being the actual manufacturers of these revolvers. Merwin & Hulbert large frame revolvers were popular with those who used them on the frontier due to their ease of loading & reloading. Once all the cartridges in the cyl had been fired the push of a button, simple twist of the wrist and a short pull forward emptied the spent cases. The bbl & cyl were then returned to locked position where the cyl could be reloaded through the sliding loading gate in the right recoil shield. This process was very fast and facilitated quick reloading. Unfortunately for Merwin & Hulbert they were late on the scene by about three years. By that time Colt was extremely well-established with extensive military contracts and a wide civilian distribution system. In addition to which Remington had introduced their Model 1875 which further deluded the market. Merwin & Hulbert had an additional problem in that when they introduced their Army Model revolvers they were chambered for a proprietary cartridge, they 44 M&H, which was not readily available on the frontier. They eventually recognized the problem and began chambering their revolvers for the 44 Winchester cartridge. Unfortunately by then the handwriting was on the wall and production ceased after only a few thousand revolvers. Accompanied by an extremely well made mail order flap holster with brass closure stud and a brass button on the tab. Front of holster is roll tooled with image of a cowboy on horseback, a running deer and other decorative designs. Flap is matching tooled. The sturdy, wide belt loop on the back is sewn & riveted and marked “HERCULES” with model & size numbers. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Overall retains virtually all of its strong orig nickel finish with some minor dulling & one small flake around muzzle and some minor pin prick pitting on bottom edge of bbl lug. Trigger guard retains strong case colors in sheltered areas being mostly faded to gray. Hammer is a gray patina. Grips are sound showing light wear. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with fine pitting. Holster is sound with lightly crackled finish around the toe and retains most of its orig mahogany colored finish. 4-42700 JR126 (6,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2270	$10,925.00	SCARCE EARLY OPEN TOP MERWIN & HULBERT MODEL 1873 SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 11194. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Nickel finish with 7″ rnd bbl, integral front sight and 1-line Merwin & Hulbert address on top with Hopkins & Allen information on the left side. Frame is marked on left side below the cyl “CALIBRE / WINCHESTER 1873”. Mounted with checkered mottled red & black hard rubber grips. Frame is the early open top style with scooped flutes on cylinder. There is a lanyard swivel & ring in the butt strap. Serial number is on the butt strap with the assembly number “842S” on left side of front strap under the grip. Assembly number was observed on rear face of bbl lug, rear face of cyl and with the number “841” on cyl spindle, obviously an assembler’s mistake. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only a “few thousand” of these revolvers were produced in six different models in the period 1876-1880. Merwin & Hulbert were dealers & distributors who were not manufacturers. They promoted a diversified line of merchandise which they had manufactured by various companies with Hopkins & Allen being the actual manufacturers of these revolvers. Merwin & Hulbert large frame revolvers were popular with those who used them on the frontier due to their ease of loading & reloading. Once all the cartridges in the cyl had been fired the push of a button, simple twist of the wrist and a short pull forward emptied the spent cases. The bbl & cyl were then returned to locked position where the cyl could be reloaded through the sliding loading gate in the right recoil shield. This process was very fast and facilitated quick reloading. Unfortunately for Merwin & Hulbert they were late on the scene by about three years. By that time Colt was extremely well-established with extensive military contracts and a wide civilian distribution system. In addition to which Remington had introduced their Model 1875 which further deluded the market. Merwin & Hulbert had an additional problem in that when they introduced their Army Model revolvers they were chambered for a proprietary cartridge, they 44 M&H, which was not readily available on the frontier. They eventually recognized the problem and began chambering their revolvers for the 44 Winchester cartridge. Unfortunately by then the handwriting was on the wall and production ceased after only a few thousand revolvers. Accompanied by an extremely well made mail order flap holster with brass closure stud and a brass button on the tab. Front of holster is roll tooled with image of a cowboy on horseback, a running deer and other decorative designs. Flap is matching tooled. The sturdy, wide belt loop on the back is sewn & riveted and marked “HERCULES” with model & size numbers. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Overall retains virtually all of its strong orig nickel finish with some minor dulling & one small flake around muzzle and some minor pin prick pitting on bottom edge of bbl lug. Trigger guard retains strong case colors in sheltered areas being mostly faded to gray. Hammer is a gray patina. Grips are sound showing light wear. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with fine pitting. Holster is sound with lightly crackled finish around the toe and retains most of its orig mahogany colored finish. 4-42700 JR126 (6,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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