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SCARCE MERWIN & HULBERT FIRST MODEL ARMY SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
SCARCE MERWIN & HULBERT FIRST MODEL ARMY SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.
SN 6379. Cal. 44 M&H (44 Remington will also chamber). Nickel finish with 7" rnd bbl, integral front sight with Merwin & Hulbert 1-line address on top and Hopkins & Allen address on left side. Frame is first type with open top and is completely unmarked. Cyl is first type with scooped flutes. Mounted with 2-pc checkered, marbled red & black hard rubber grips that are pencil-numbered to this revolver. Butt strap has a factory lanyard ring. Left side of butt strap, under the grip, is marked with assembly number "3850" which number is also found on the cyl arbor, rear face of the cyl and rear face of the bbl lug. According to Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms only a few thousand Merwin & Hulbert revolvers were produced in the period 1876-1880 in six different iterations making this one of the more rare American made revolvers. Merwin & Hulbert were major manufacturers & distributors of firearms & ammunition, owning substantial interests in ammunition companies and Hopkins & Allen Firearms Company. Mr. Merwin was an accomplished firearms designer with several patents to his name and Mr. Hulbert was a financial whiz. Their designs were superior to their contemporaries with the ease of loading & reloading but unfortunately they came on the scene late, long after Colt had established government contracts and an extensive distribution system. Mr. Merwin died in 1879 and the company failed shortly thereafter. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching. Overall retains 99% strong orig nickel with only a faint cyl line, some pinprick flaking on the sideplate and a minor nick or two, appears to be new & unfired. Grips are crisp showing only faint diamond point wear. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-48160