September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
Serial number is 1972, barrel length is 7-1/2" caliber is .44 M&H. Offered is an extremely fine Merwin & Hulbert open top, scoop flute single action revolver chambered for the .44 M&H cartridge. Manufactured by the Hopkins & Allen Company, these were produced from 1876 to approximately 1883. Merwin Hulbert & company were not manufactures, they were dealers and promoters. Standard features include a 7" barrel, single action, nickel finish, six shot, .44 caliber, with the red mottled gutta percha saw handle grip, lanyard ring, and case colored hammer. The face of the cylinder shows no sign of any firing rings, nor does the inside of the cylinder. The gun retains fully 95% of the original factory nickel finish with usual minor freckling and high edge wear here and there. The grips are original and fit perfectly to the gun. Lock up and timing are perfect, as is bore. Good suction. Cylinder has a drag line. These revolvers were engineering marvels at the time, allowing quick interchanging of barrels. The fit and finish is that of a Swiss watch. They were widely used on the Western frontier in the 1870's and this particular style of Merwin is considered the true classic single action of this type. The red and black mottled gutta percha grips are very similar in material to those manufactured by Smith & Wesson. They remain in excellent condition with sharp checkering, no chips and fit superbly. The barrel legends are sharp. There are no caliber marks on frame which is consist in the fact that it was the only caliber available on the early first models. The serial number can be found stamped on the barrel, cylinder and center post. The number of the butt is not a serial number but rather than an assembly number. Production of the early open top scoop flutes and the Merwin caliber pre date 1880. An extremely high condition early large frame single action revolver.