Original U.S. Merwin Hulbert & Co. .38cal Medium Frame Double Action Revolver with 5 1/2" Barrel and Folding Hammer - Serial 28466

Original Item: Only One Available. To some this is one of the most beautiful revolvers ever made. Wonderful design, great workmanship and so easy on the eye, the firearms produced by Merwin, Hulbert, & Co. of New York were beautiful, and also over-engineered almost to a fault. Among the lesser-known yet remarkably inventive firearms of the American frontier era, the Merwin Hulbert .38 Medium Frame Revolver with a Folding Hammer holds a special place. Produced in the 1880s, this compact revolver featured a mix of forward-thinking design elements that made it stand out from the more familiar sidearms of its time. Chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, the revolver was built around a double-action system with a five-shot cylinder. The majority were manufactured with a 3 1/2" barrel, although some were outfitted with a longer 5 1/2" option, and they had the standard polished nickel plated finish with hard rubber grips.

The most notable feature of the design was the patented folding hammer spur, which allowed the hammer tip to pivot forward when not in use. This feature made it easier to carry the revolver in a pocket without it catching on fabric, a practical touch for those who needed quick, discreet access. The .38 pocket models were introduced primarily throughout the 1880s, during the company’s operation from 1876 to 1891. Each piece bore the stamp “Merwin Hulbert & Co NY USA,” a subtle yet enduring mark of its New York roots.

This is a lovely well preserved specimen a .38 "pocket" model, though with a 5 1/2" barrel it is probably larger than one would want. The serial number of M&H revolvers is marked on the bottom of the grip frame, and this example is marked 28466 , which is also marked on the rear of the cylinder. The back of the barrel is marked with number 17652, while the grip frame is marked on the left side with 8716. The folding hammer spur is marked with assembly number 131. We have had several Merwin & Hulbert revolvers before, and the assembly and or serial numbers seem to rarely match, so there really is no way to tell if any parts have been switched. In this case however, it does look like the barrel was swapped, as it has some lovely "bank note" engraving on both sides, and is also still almost fully nickel plated, while the frame and cylinder only have traces of the original plating. The original hard rubber grips are still present, though the left side is missing the front bottom portion.

Unlike a lot of examples we have seen, the top of the barrel on this revolver still has legible original markings:-

MERWIN HULBERT & CO. NEW YORK U.S.A.
PAT. APR.17.77 JUNE 15.80 MAR.14.82 JAN.9.83

The folding spur for the hammer is also marked with PAT'D JAN. 27. 85. The left side of the frame is marked 38 CAL. indicating the pistol is chambered for the popular .38 Smith & Wesson cartridge, a medium size cartridge popular during the late 19th century, which would remain popular throughout much of the 20th century in certain variants.

Built with a lot of advanced features, this unfortunately also means there was that much more that could malfunction. One example of the complex internal workings include a "safety" that prevents the revolver from being broken open unless the hammer is in the loading position, and if the latch on the bottom of the frame is not in the fully forward position, these revolvers can have trouble cycling. It also was made with tight enough tolerances that the barrel and cylinder arbor pin being moved out creates suction, which with inertia ejects the spent cartridges. The cylinder and barrel on excellent examples will also "bounce back" when broken open for reloading.

The revolver functions and breaks down correctly, though the action is definitely a bit finicky in both double and single action. The cylinder lock is quite weak, so it will overshoot in single action unless the hammer is pulled back very slowly. The same is true in double action, so the lock definitely needs repair or adjustment. We tested the hammer, and it has a working safety position, which allows the frame lock can be moved once it is in position. Due to oxidation and wear, there is no "suction" evident when breaking open the revolver. We checked the bore, and it is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is some sign of past fouling and oxidation, now removed, showing that it was definitely well cared for during the period. This is definitely way better than the typical example we see.

A lovely example of a hard to find Merwin Hulbert revolver

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: circa 1885
Caliber: .38 Smith & Wesson
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 5 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 9 3/4 inches
Action: Double and Single Action
Feed System: 5 Shot Revolver

Merwin, Hulbert, and Co., often referred to as Merwin Hulbert or Merwin & Hulbert, was an American firearms designer and marketer based in New York City which produced revolvers and rifles from 1874 to 1896. The firearms were manufactured by a subsidiary company, Hopkins & Allen of Norwich, Connecticut. Merwin Hulbert's designs had influenced other gunmakers of the time, such as Meriden Firearms Co., Harrington & Richardson, Forehand & Wadsworth, and Iver Johnson. During the late 19th century, Merwin Hulbert revolvers were used by police departments of many cities in the eastern United States.

Joseph Merwin was involved with marketing and manufacturing revolvers as early as 1856 when he formed an arms company known as Merwin & Bray. This company folded after the end of the Civil War. In 1868 Merwin formed a partnership with William and Milan Hulbert, who owned 50% interest in Hopkins & Allen. Merwin and Hulbert not only designed firearms, but imported firearms and retailed firearms and other goods in a large sporting goods endeavor. Merwin and Hulbert additionally purchased several firearms manufacturers. Author Art Phelps opined that if Merwin and Hulbert had not marked the revolvers with the manufacturers name 'Hopkins and Allen' (known for inexpensive and poor quality weapons), the Merwin Hulbert would be as well known as Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Remington.

The company made numerous innovative designs such as folding hammers on their revolvers for pocket carry and a unique takedown system but was plagued by financial missteps. Payment for three sizable shipments to Russia were never realized. The bankruptcy of subsidiary Evans Rifle Company cost Merwin and Hulbert $100,000. A company associate stole the firm's operating capital and disappeared. During 1880–1881, Merwin and Hulbert was in receivership, but it was able to recover.

After Merwin's death in 1888, the company became known as "Hulbert Brothers & Company". Hulbert Brothers declared bankruptcy in 1894 and in 1896 it was liquidated. Hopkins & Allen continued to manufacture Merwin Hulbert style rifles, primarily .22 and .32 caliber single shots, until 1916 when it went bankrupt and was bought the following year by Marlin Firearms.