Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
After hijacking numerous threads about Merwin Hulbert revolvers I thought I should start one of my own. I will attempt to delve into some of the mysteries and mystique of the unique Merwin Hulbert design. I will also attempt to dispel some of the myths that have arisen about Merwin Hulbert revolvers.
First, a bit of history. Joseph Merwin was an arms inventor and a business man. In 1853 he formed a partnership with William Bray, creating the Merwin and Bray company, headquartered in New York City. In 1864 he entered into a new partnership called Merwin and Simpkins, which soon became Merwin, Taylor and Simpkins. In 1868 he formed a new company with William A. Hulbert and M. H. Hulbert. The new company was named Merwin, Hulbert and Company.
It appears the Hulberts' contribution to the enterprise was financing, while Merwin was the inventor and designer. At this time, Merwin, Hulbert and Company owned half interests in the American Cartridge Company, the Phoenix Rifle and Ammunition Company, and The Hopkins and Allen Company. In addition, Mewin had invested $100,000 dollars in the Evans Rifle Company of Mechanics Falls Maine.
By this time Merwin Hulbert were well known importers and exporters of firearms and sporting goods, with an extensive catalog. MH was the exclusive distributor for the above mentioned companies. They also distributed products for many other companies, including Marlin, Winchester, Colt, Charles Daly, Remington, Ithica, and L. C. Smith.
Hopkins and Allen was located in Norwich Connecticut, and was known as a manufacturer of inexpensive firearms. Having a major firearms manufacturer at his disposal allowed Joseph Merwin to begin manufacturing the revolvers of his unique design.
Merwin died in 1879 and the company went into receivership in 1880. The Evans Rifle Company also went into bankruptcy, representing another major financial loss. The company appears to have continued manufacturing revolvers, the last model was developed in 1887 and appeared in the 1889 catalog. I believe Merwin, Hulbert and Company continued operating until sometime in the 1890s, but a major fire destroyed all the company records.
Merwin Hulbert revolvers were made in a variety of sizes, small 32 and 38 caliber pocket pistols as well as large 44 caliber belt pistols.
Lastly, somewhat of a myth has arisen about Merwin Hulbert revolvers, with many gun writers claiming it was the most perfect revolver design ever manufactured, built with a precision no other company was capable of producing. I will reserve my comments about this myth until later in this essay.
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Like many others, I had read about Merwin Hulbert revolvers in many books and magazines, and just like many others I was fascinated by them. A number of years ago I had an opportunity to buy a pair of Merwins for a very reasonable price, and I jumped at the opportunity.
This pair of Frontier Models are not museum pieces, they have been heavily reworked by their former owner to return them to shooting condition. They are Third Model Frontier Merwins. The Top Strap and lack of a barrel rib makes them Third Models. The grips are imitation ivory. If you look closely you will see the one at the top of the photos has a longer cylinder than the other one. This one was originally chambered for 44-40, the one with the shorter cylinder was chambered for 44 Russian. It is in fact marked on the frame below the cylinder 'Russian Model'.
The 44-40 revolver had a problem at one point.
The previous owner is a highly skilled gunsmith and machinist. He fabricated two new cylinders, both chambered for 44 Russian and he made a new top strap which he welded onto the frame of the damaged revolver. That is the condition they are in today, both have new cylinders chambered for 44 Russian.
More to follow.
After hijacking numerous threads about Merwin Hulbert revolvers I thought I should start one of my own. I will attempt to delve into some of the mysteries and mystique of the unique Merwin Hulbert design. I will also attempt to dispel some of the myths that have arisen about Merwin Hulbert revolvers.
First, a bit of history. Joseph Merwin was an arms inventor and a business man. In 1853 he formed a partnership with William Bray, creating the Merwin and Bray company, headquartered in New York City. In 1864 he entered into a new partnership called Merwin and Simpkins, which soon became Merwin, Taylor and Simpkins. In 1868 he formed a new company with William A. Hulbert and M. H. Hulbert. The new company was named Merwin, Hulbert and Company.
It appears the Hulberts' contribution to the enterprise was financing, while Merwin was the inventor and designer. At this time, Merwin, Hulbert and Company owned half interests in the American Cartridge Company, the Phoenix Rifle and Ammunition Company, and The Hopkins and Allen Company. In addition, Mewin had invested $100,000 dollars in the Evans Rifle Company of Mechanics Falls Maine.
By this time Merwin Hulbert were well known importers and exporters of firearms and sporting goods, with an extensive catalog. MH was the exclusive distributor for the above mentioned companies. They also distributed products for many other companies, including Marlin, Winchester, Colt, Charles Daly, Remington, Ithica, and L. C. Smith.
Hopkins and Allen was located in Norwich Connecticut, and was known as a manufacturer of inexpensive firearms. Having a major firearms manufacturer at his disposal allowed Joseph Merwin to begin manufacturing the revolvers of his unique design.
Merwin died in 1879 and the company went into receivership in 1880. The Evans Rifle Company also went into bankruptcy, representing another major financial loss. The company appears to have continued manufacturing revolvers, the last model was developed in 1887 and appeared in the 1889 catalog. I believe Merwin, Hulbert and Company continued operating until sometime in the 1890s, but a major fire destroyed all the company records.
Merwin Hulbert revolvers were made in a variety of sizes, small 32 and 38 caliber pocket pistols as well as large 44 caliber belt pistols.
Lastly, somewhat of a myth has arisen about Merwin Hulbert revolvers, with many gun writers claiming it was the most perfect revolver design ever manufactured, built with a precision no other company was capable of producing. I will reserve my comments about this myth until later in this essay.
********************
Like many others, I had read about Merwin Hulbert revolvers in many books and magazines, and just like many others I was fascinated by them. A number of years ago I had an opportunity to buy a pair of Merwins for a very reasonable price, and I jumped at the opportunity.
This pair of Frontier Models are not museum pieces, they have been heavily reworked by their former owner to return them to shooting condition. They are Third Model Frontier Merwins. The Top Strap and lack of a barrel rib makes them Third Models. The grips are imitation ivory. If you look closely you will see the one at the top of the photos has a longer cylinder than the other one. This one was originally chambered for 44-40, the one with the shorter cylinder was chambered for 44 Russian. It is in fact marked on the frame below the cylinder 'Russian Model'.
The 44-40 revolver had a problem at one point.
The previous owner is a highly skilled gunsmith and machinist. He fabricated two new cylinders, both chambered for 44 Russian and he made a new top strap which he welded onto the frame of the damaged revolver. That is the condition they are in today, both have new cylinders chambered for 44 Russian.
More to follow.