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. Mervin & Hulbert started business in 1876 with this Open Frame cartridge revolver that took the .44 Merwin & Hulbert cartridge. This example was originally nickel plated, however that is now all but gone, replaced by a nice polished bright steel. It still retains it's original long 7 inch barrel and integral sight, which were often shortened for "gunfighter" use.

The revolver is fitted with lovely red / black swirl color checkered hard rubber grips. They still have strong checkering, and show only a bit of wear, without any cracks or chips. Removing them shows the serial number 3656 is marked on the bottom of the grip frame. Single action only, it was hoped to be accepted by the U.S. Government, however by this date Colt had most all of the Government Contracts in its pocket. There was stiff competition from Remington, Smith & Wesson and Forehand & Wadsworth however Mervin and Hulbert did succeed in getting some Police Contracts.

The left side of the frame has no caliber marking under the cylinder, indicating the pistol is chambered for the .44 Merwin & Hulbert cartridge. The revolvers chambered for .44 Russian were marked "Russian Model" and the ones chambered in .44-40 were marked "Caliber / Winchester 1873". The .44 Merwin & Hulbert cartridge was comparable to Smith & Wesson's "44 American" cartridge, but had a slightly longer case.

With an ingenious reloading system it became a favorite with many individuals and even more so with Collectors of today. Revolver functions well but is quite stiff due to a brass spacer used to remove slop around the cylinder.

Merwin died in 1888 whereupon the Company became Hulbert Bros Co., but that eventually was liquidated in 1896.

A lovely and rare large Single Action U.S. Revolver.

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: 1878 to 1882
Caliber: .44 Merwin & Hulbert (.44-30)
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 7 inches
Overall Length: 12 1/2 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address in the US.