Merwin, Hulbert & Company

Name Street Town State From To
Merwin, Hulbert & Company   New York New York 1868 1892


Patent Date Remarks
     


Contract for
   


Product
Joseph Merwin formed this company together wirh William and M.H. Hulbert. Unfortunately the company records were lost due to a fire in 1891.

Merwin, Hulbert & Co. was quickly successful and soon owned half interests in American Metallic Cartridges co., Phoenix Rifle and Ammunition Co. and the Hopkins & Allen Co.. $100,000 was also invested in the Evans Rifle Company. Merwin, Hulbert & Co. became one of the world's largest importers and exporters of firearms, accessories and related merchandiese. Their catalog was at 176 pages. The company was saltes agents for Ballard, Colt, Charles Daly, Eagle Arms, Ithaca, Lombard, Manhattan, Marlin, National Arms, Parker, Plant, Prescott, Remington, L.C. Smith, Spencer and Winchester. Changed to Hulbert Bros. in 1892 declared bankruptcy in 1894 and was liquidated in 1896. Merwin, Hulbert & Co. marked guns were still made by Hopkins & Allen until thir bankrupt in 1916. Hopkins & Allen was bought by Marlin Firearms in 1917.

To control profits and product quality, Merwin, Hulbert & Co. looked for manufaturing facility to produce metallic cartridge revolvers largely of their own design and patents. For that they chose Norwich, Connecticut as it was home toe the HOpkins & Allen Mfg. Co., in which MH&Co. were half owners. Norwich was also home of many other well known arms manufactures during the last half of the nineteens century and its reputation grew as the source of many inexpensive, often as not cheaply-made small revolvers now called "suicide specials".

In 1874, Charles A. Converse, one of the founding pricipals of Hopkins & Allen effected a controversial deal with Bacon Arms Co. Merwin as well as the Hulberts protested and finaly it was solved when Converse sold his interests in Hopkins & Allan to Merwin, Hulbert & Co. As of that time all Hopkins & Allan guns were made on the same machinery as the Merwin, Hulbert & Co. guns.

Merwin was strongly invested in MH&Co. He oversaw planning, mass production methods, inventing, improving and always emphasizing pride in workmanship. As a result the guns were solid, well designed and well made.

Besides of their own guns, the company handled sales for:
Bonehill shotguns
Flobert
W.W. Greener
Lyman sights
Manton
Quackenbush
Westley Richards
Union Hill Rifles
Volcanic Repeating Arms Co.

However, by end 1870s the company staggered under several devasting blows. It struggled for three years to collect payment for three shiploads of revolvers sent to Russia without success. The Eavans Rifle CO. collapsed and the investment of $100,000 was lost. A company associate absconded with the firm's funds. The hearth of the company Joseph Merwin died. During 1880 and 1881 Merwin, Hulbert & Co slid into receivership.

Tradename:
ACME
See also Manhattan Arms Co. (eventually used as a tradename but I've my doubts)

1876 Automatic First Model Frontier Army

In general these revolvere single- and double action, six shot guns of .44 centerfire caliber. The automatic feature refers to the unique ejection systme, where simply by unlocking and turning the barrel one-quarter turn while drawing it out to a stop automatically ejects all spent cartridges. Unfired ons remain in place in the cylinder due to the added length of the bullet. In those days oftentimes a fired copper shell would expand upon firing which made its extraction of the cylinder difficult or even impossible. For these cases Merwin, Hulber & Co. revolvers incorporated a screw or cam action to force lose the fired shells for easy extraction. All revolvers were loaded throught a rearward slinding gate at the right side of the cylinder shield. All guns were machined to remarkably close tolerances. They can be taken apart for cleaning or for changing the barrel without any tools in just two quick motions. Both ends of the cylinder are covered to exclude contaminating dirt and grit. Standard was nickel platening. Only one of about twenty revolvers were blued which made them more desirable for collectors.

Its specifications are the following:
Total length - 12.5"
Barrel length - 7"
Cylinder length - 1.5"
Cylinder diameter - 1.735"
Number of chambers - 6
Chamber diameter - .44"
Bore diameter - .42"
Rifling groves depth - .12"
Uniform twist of rifling groves - one turn in 22.43"
Number of groves - 5
Total weight - 2 lbs. 11 1/4 oz.
Weight of powder charge - 23 grains
Weight of bullet - 252 grains

First Model Frontier Army production started in 1876 and was made until 1879. Is a single action open-top revolver, chambered for the .44 MH&Co. caliber cartridge. This cartridge was designed by Joseph Mervin. It resembles the S&W .44 American but is longer. The 7" barrel is secured by a Colt-type wedge. This was eliminated in later models. The cylinder are so called scoop cylinder flutes. This made the cylinder stronger as early reloaders packing more powder into the cartridges than safety would dictate. The grips was black hard rubber, checkered and with a plain circular panel at the top. Some guns were found with dark brown or red and black mottled hard rubber grips. Wood or ivory grips were available at extra cost.

left side,
right side,

1876 Automatic Second Model Frontier Army

This model was made between 1878 and 1882. It was virtually identical in appearance to the First Model. Inside the change to a shorter cylinder locking bolt was made which eliminated the access plate in the frame below the cylinder. The trigger guard was longer and deeper, the form of the hammer thump grasp was changed. The outside screw heads were made uniform in size. A significant feature is the detent pin in the barrel release lever. It was a result of a recommendation from the U.S. Army Ordnance Board's trial on May 19, 1879. However, this feature was later deemed unnecessary and eliminated on later models.

Second Model Frontier Army is a single action open-top revolver, and the first MH&Co. revolver also chambered for the .44-40 Winchester cartridge. They were stamped CALIBRE WINCHESTER 1873 at the left side of their frame.

left side,

Other gun

left side,
right side,

1876 Automatic Third Model Frontier Army

This improved Third Model was introduced in 1883. It is double action. The most noticeable is the folding hammer spur variation and the top strap over the cylinder giving them the advantages of a solid frame revolver yet retaining its quick take-down, loading and ejection features. The barrel wedge could be eliminated. The scoop flutes cylinder were replaced by concentional three-quarter length flutes cylinder. Some early made Third Models were still found with the scoop flutes cylinder but most likely only because the company used up old style cylinders remaining in stock.

When chambered for the .44-40 Winchester they are stamped CALIBRE WINCHESTER 1873 at the left side of their frame.

left side,

1876 Automatic Fourth Model Frontier Army

This improved Forth Model was introduced in 1887 and featured the last major changes to their Frontier Army revolver. They are doulbe action. On the barrel was made with a classic rib running full lenght along the top of the barrel and for the first time the front sight was a separate part, helt to the barrel rib by a pin. It was offerd in three standard barrel length 3 1/2", 5 1/2" and 7". It could be ordered with matching serial number for the 3 barrels. As also this model is easily taken apart the changing of the barrel is quickly possible. This model was accepted for testing in the 1886 Army Ordnance Board trials.

Chambered for the .44-40 Winchester of 44. MH&Co. cartridge.

Pocket Army

.38-40, .44-40 or .44 WCF caliber, 6 shot single action revolver, 1st Model Pocket Army, open top, 3 1/2" or 7" round barrel, made from 1880 to 1892

right side,

Pocket Army Model .44 caliber

These Pocket Army Model revolvers were introduced around 1880, concurrent with the Second Model Prontier Army. They had many design features of the Second Model Frontier but with a face lift. And as curiosity there is no First Model Pocket Army. All Pocket Army were Produced with six chot cylinders. Their first apearance was open-top, single action, barrel retaining wedge and integral barrel and frame sights as the Fontier revolvers. They were made with birdhead grips and 3 1/2" ord 7" barrels.

This one is the Second Model Pocket Army (in fact the First Model) chambered for the .44-40 or .44 WCF caliber cartridge with 3 1/2" barrel.

right side,

Here is a Third Model Pocket Armx (in fact the Second Model) chambered for the .44-30 (.44 M&H), .44 Russian, .44-40 or 44 WCF caliber, double action revolver. Its production started in 1883. The features are closely those of the Automatic Third Model Frontier Army revolvers.

This one is made with folding hammer and two barrels 3 1/2" barrel and matching 7" extra barrel

left side,

Pockets made by Hopkins & Allen for Merwin

.22 r.f. caliber, 5 shot double action revolver, with or without folding hammer, trigger guard, made from 1880 to 1892

.32 M&H or .32 S&W caliber, 5 shot double action revolver, 3" barrel, with or without folding hammer, somes marked on left side of the barrel M H & CO'S DOUBLE ACTION 32 CAL, trigger guard, made from 1880 to 1892

.32 5 shot, left side,
.32 5 shot, right side,

.38 S&W caliber 5 shot double action revolver, 3", 3 1/2" or 5" barrel, with or without folding hammer, somes marked on the left barrel side M H & CO'S DOUBLE ACTION 38 CAL LONG S&W 5 SHOT, trigger guard, made from 1880 to 1892

.22 r.f.caliber, 7 shot single action revolver, copy of the S&W 1 Model 3rd issue, spur trigger 3" barre l
Due to patent infringement only view of these revolvers were sold. At unsold revolvers the name Merwin, Hulbert & Co. was stamped over with xxxx.
left side,

.32 S&W caliber, 7 shot double action revolver, 3", 3 1/2" or 5" barrel, with or without folding hammer, marked on the left barrel side M H & CO'S DOUBLE ACTION 32 CAL LONG S&W 7 SHOT, trigger guard, made from 1880 to 1892

.38 caliber, 1st Model, 5 shot single action revolver, solid frame, spur trigger, 3 1/4" barrel
left side,

XL No. 3 double action (made by H&A for M, H & Co.)

.22 r.f. caliber, 7 shot double action revolver, solid frame, trigger guard, 2 1/2" or 4 1/2" barrel marked X.L. DOUBLE ACTION on its left side, square butt grip, with or without hammer, made from 1875 to 1907

.32 r.f. caliber, 5 shot double action revolver, same as above

XL No. 5 double action (made by H&A for M, H & Co.)

.38 S&W caliber, 6 shot double action revolver, solid frame, 5" octagonal barrel with side extractors, barrel marked X.L. DOUBLE ACTION on its left side, trigger guard, with or without folding hammer, made from 1876 to 1907

XL double action, large frame (made by H&A for M, H & Co.)

.32 S&W caliber, 7 shot double action revolver, solid frame, 3 1/2" octagonal barrel with side extractors, fluted cylinder, trigger guard, square-butt grips, with or without folding hammer, made from 1876 to 1907

.38 S&W caliber, 6 shot double action revolver as above

XL BULLDOG double action (made by H&A for M, H & Co.)

.32 r.f. or .32 S&W caliber, 6 shot double action revolver, solid medium frame, trigger guard, octagonal barrel marked XL BULL DOG on its left side, square-butt grips, made from 1875 to 1907

same as above but with folding hammer and made only in centerfire calibers, production started in 1885

XL BULLDOG double action, large frame (made by H&A for M, H & Co.)

.38 S&W caliber, 6 shot double action revolver, solid frame, 5" octagonal barrel with side extractors, fluted cylinder, trigger guard, square-butt grips, with or without folding hammer, made from 1876 to 1907

.32 S&W caliber, 7 shot as above but sold as Target Model

Auto Ejecting Revolvers (certainly made by H&A for M, H & Co.)

.37 M&H or .38 S&W caliber, 6 shot single action revolver, 3 1/2" or 5 1/2" barrel, birdhead shaped grips, spur trigger, made from 1883 to 1892, barrel and cylinder is to push forward to extract shels

Rifles and shotguns

Merwin, Hulbert & Co. produced also some rifles ans shotguns. Very little is known about them. They were made in a wide variety of sizes, calibres and gauges. The action is lever operated. They advertised them with "Rebounding Locks and Automatic Shell Ejecots". They can easily be taken a part by withdrawina thumb screw. These longarms are found with either MH&Co. or Hopkins & Allen markings. Only very view were made as almost unknown.

Junior Rifle, .22 r.f. and .22 long and .22 short single shot, 22" roung barrel, blued

No. 134, .22 r.f., sporting rigle, pistol grip 28" barrel

No. 134, .32 r.f. or center fire, sporting rigle, pistol grip 28" barrel

No. 135, rifle and shotgun combined, .22 or .32 r.f. caliber, 26" rifled barrel and 16 gauge shotgun barrel

X. L. shot gun. 32 caliber c.f.

Interchangeable shot gun barrel rifle. .38 caliber, 18" or 24" barrel with extra 18" or 24" shotgun barrel, pistol grip, rubber but, case-hardened frame

Interchangeable shot gun barrel rifle. .44 caliber, 18" or 24" barrel with extra 18" or 24" shotgun barrel, pistol grip, rubber but, case-hardened frame

Hunters and target rifle, .32, 38 or .44 "Winchester", .32 long strait cartridge, 32-40 Winchester, .32 M. H. & Co. long and .38-55 Winchester caliber, 24", 26" and 28" octagon barrel, pistol grip, rubber but

Gallery and squittel rifle, .22 r.f. of .38 r.f. caliber, 24", 26" or 28" barrel, pistol grips

Hunters and Target rifle, 32-40 and 38-55 Winchester, 28" barrel, pistol grips, Swiss butt

X. L. Shot Gun, .44 caliber, 24" barrel, pistol grip

X. L. Shot Gun for boys, .32 c.f. caliber or .44 c.f. caliber shot gun, 18" barrel, pistol grips

Junior Rifles, .22 r.f., .32 r.f., .32 WCF, .44 WCF caliber, 24", 26" and 28" barrel

.22 r.f. Junior rifle