SCARCE MERWIN & HULBERT EARLY OPEN TOP ARMY REVOLVER.

SCARCE MERWIN & HULBERT EARLY OPEN TOP ARMY REVOLVER. SN 1173. Cal. 44 M&H. Nickel finish with 7″ rnd bbl, integral front sight and 1-line Merwin & Hulbert address with Hopkins & Allen information on left side. It has an open top frame with early scooped fruit cylinder and is mounted with mottled red & black hard rubber grips. Butt strap is fitted with a factory lanyard stud & loop. Left side of toe under the grip is marked with the assembly number “297” which number was observed on the rear face of the bbl lug, rear face of cyl, on cyl spindle and scratched inside both grips. Merwin & Hulbert were not manufacturers but were salesmen, promoters & distributors for a variety of products. Not being manufacturers they contracted out for their products and employed Hopkins & Allen to make these revolvers. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only a few thousand of these revolvers were produced in five styles during the period 1876-1880. These revolvers were popular among the few users due to their ease of loading & unloading. A push of a button, twist of the wrist and a short pull forward emptied the cyl of all spent cartridge cases and a quick return to the locked position allowed reloading through the sliding gate in the right recoil shield. Unfortunately for the company they arrived on the scene about 3 years too late, long after Colt had become well-established with extensive military contracts and feverish demand for the single action Army revolver by all facets of users on the great American frontier. Another factor was the fact that Remington had introduced their Model 1875 revolver just the year before the introduction of this revolver which further diluted the market. And the final factor which hampered sales was the fact that the early Merwin & Hulbert Army revolvers were introduced in a proprietary cartridge, the 44 Merwin & Hulbert which was not readily available on the frontier although the 44 American would function. And so with so many adverse problems production ceased in about 1880 after only a few thousand were produced. CONDITION: Very good to fine, all matching including grips. Bbl & cyl retain virtually all of their strong orig nickel finish. Frame retains traces of orig nickel in sheltered areas being mostly a gray/brown patina. Grips are sound showing moderate wear and a strong aged patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, possibly unfired. 4-42510 JR138 (1,500-2,500)

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
	2271	$2,875.00	SCARCE MERWIN & HULBERT EARLY OPEN TOP ARMY REVOLVER. SN 1173. Cal. 44 M&H. Nickel finish with 7″ rnd bbl, integral front sight and 1-line Merwin & Hulbert address with Hopkins & Allen information on left side. It has an open top frame with early scooped fruit cylinder and is mounted with mottled red & black hard rubber grips. Butt strap is fitted with a factory lanyard stud & loop. Left side of toe under the grip is marked with the assembly number “297” which number was observed on the rear face of the bbl lug, rear face of cyl, on cyl spindle and scratched inside both grips. Merwin & Hulbert were not manufacturers but were salesmen, promoters & distributors for a variety of products. Not being manufacturers they contracted out for their products and employed Hopkins & Allen to make these revolvers. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only a few thousand of these revolvers were produced in five styles during the period 1876-1880. These revolvers were popular among the few users due to their ease of loading & unloading. A push of a button, twist of the wrist and a short pull forward emptied the cyl of all spent cartridge cases and a quick return to the locked position allowed reloading through the sliding gate in the right recoil shield. Unfortunately for the company they arrived on the scene about 3 years too late, long after Colt had become well-established with extensive military contracts and feverish demand for the single action Army revolver by all facets of users on the great American frontier. Another factor was the fact that Remington had introduced their Model 1875 revolver just the year before the introduction of this revolver which further diluted the market. And the final factor which hampered sales was the fact that the early Merwin & Hulbert Army revolvers were introduced in a proprietary cartridge, the 44 Merwin & Hulbert which was not readily available on the frontier although the 44 American would function. And so with so many adverse problems production ceased in about 1880 after only a few thousand were produced. CONDITION: Very good to fine, all matching including grips. Bbl & cyl retain virtually all of their strong orig nickel finish. Frame retains traces of orig nickel in sheltered areas being mostly a gray/brown patina. Grips are sound showing moderate wear and a strong aged patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, possibly unfired. 4-42510 JR138 (1,500-2,500) 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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