SCARCE CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION MERWIN & HULBERT DA POCKET REVOLVER 2-BARREL SET.

SCARCE CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION MERWIN & HULBERT DA POCKET REVOLVER 2-BARREL SET. SN 3694. Cal. 38 S&W. Nickel finish with 5-1/2″ and 2-3/4″ keyhole shape bbls with pinned half moon front sights. Rear sights are grooves in the top straps. It has standard fluted 5-shot cyl. Frame has a sliding loading gate in right side and a skull cracker buttstrap and is mounted with 2-pc smooth birdhead pearl grips matching numbered to this revolver. Bbls have 2-line Merwin & Hulbert address on tops of the ribs with no mention of the Hopkins & Allen manufacturing. Revolver, bbls & cyl are factory engraved with typical foliate & floral patterns and a standing pheasant on the left sideplate. Left side of frame has the caliber marking. Hammer & trigger are color case hardened and the cyl is gold washed. The 5-1/2″ bbl has added red & green color in flower petals of the engraving patterns on the sides. SN was observed on left side of front strap under the grip, on rear face of 5-1/2″ bbl lug and rear face of cyl. Rear face of 2-3/4″ bbl lug has the number “698”, possibly an assembler’s mistake as the last three digits of the SN is “694”. It is noted, however, that the engraving pattern on the 2-3/4″ bbl is somewhat different than that on the longer bbl. Backstrap is engraved in period block letters & script “PRESENTED to HARRY ALAMAN June 13 ’85” and front strap “by N.& W. R.R. Employees” (Northern and Western Railroad). Accompanied by its orig black leather covered, red satin lined, hinged lid Hartly & Graham case and fitted in the bottom for the revolver with long bbl mounted and a recess in left front for the 2-3/4″ bbl. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only a few thousand of these scarce revolvers were produced in the 1880s. Very likely very few were engraved and of those only a very few were cased. Merwin & Hulbert were distributors in the 1880s who purchased patents for various merchandise and had them produced by established manufacturers, in this case Hopkins & Allen made their revolvers. Even though the Merwin & Hulbert design was superior to existing revolver technology they were unable to gain a strong foothold on the market and ultimately ceased production. PROVENANCE: Bill Sisney (1979); Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except short bbl as noted above. Overall both bbls, cyl & frame retain virtually all of their orig factory nickel finish; cyl retains strong gold wash in flutes and rear face, outer diameter has been cleaned to nickel; grips are sound with great fire & color. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bores in both bbls. Case shows heavy edge wear with losses around corners; left rear hinge is somewhat loose, otherwise case is sound; interior is lightly faded and moderately soiled with damage to the fabric. 4-45318 JR77 (3,500-6,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	1644	$8,050.00	SCARCE CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION MERWIN & HULBERT DA POCKET REVOLVER 2-BARREL SET. SN 3694. Cal. 38 S&W. Nickel finish with 5-1/2″ and 2-3/4″ keyhole shape bbls with pinned half moon front sights. Rear sights are grooves in the top straps. It has standard fluted 5-shot cyl. Frame has a sliding loading gate in right side and a skull cracker buttstrap and is mounted with 2-pc smooth birdhead pearl grips matching numbered to this revolver. Bbls have 2-line Merwin & Hulbert address on tops of the ribs with no mention of the Hopkins & Allen manufacturing. Revolver, bbls & cyl are factory engraved with typical foliate & floral patterns and a standing pheasant on the left sideplate. Left side of frame has the caliber marking. Hammer & trigger are color case hardened and the cyl is gold washed. The 5-1/2″ bbl has added red & green color in flower petals of the engraving patterns on the sides. SN was observed on left side of front strap under the grip, on rear face of 5-1/2″ bbl lug and rear face of cyl. Rear face of 2-3/4″ bbl lug has the number “698”, possibly an assembler’s mistake as the last three digits of the SN is “694”. It is noted, however, that the engraving pattern on the 2-3/4″ bbl is somewhat different than that on the longer bbl. Backstrap is engraved in period block letters & script “PRESENTED to HARRY ALAMAN June 13 ’85” and front strap “by N.& W. R.R. Employees” (Northern and Western Railroad). Accompanied by its orig black leather covered, red satin lined, hinged lid Hartly & Graham case and fitted in the bottom for the revolver with long bbl mounted and a recess in left front for the 2-3/4″ bbl. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only a few thousand of these scarce revolvers were produced in the 1880s. Very likely very few were engraved and of those only a very few were cased. Merwin & Hulbert were distributors in the 1880s who purchased patents for various merchandise and had them produced by established manufacturers, in this case Hopkins & Allen made their revolvers. Even though the Merwin & Hulbert design was superior to existing revolver technology they were unable to gain a strong foothold on the market and ultimately ceased production. PROVENANCE: Bill Sisney (1979); Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except short bbl as noted above. Overall both bbls, cyl & frame retain virtually all of their orig factory nickel finish; cyl retains strong gold wash in flutes and rear face, outer diameter has been cleaned to nickel; grips are sound with great fire & color. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bores in both bbls. Case shows heavy edge wear with losses around corners; left rear hinge is somewhat loose, otherwise case is sound; interior is lightly faded and moderately soiled with damage to the fabric. 4-45318 JR77 (3,500-6,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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