Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Pocket Army Double Action .44-40 – Original Nickel Finish

Merwin, Hulbert & Co. – Pocket Army Double Action

Manufactured: circa 1880-1883 – Caliber: .44-40 / .44 WCF – 3rd Model, original nickel finish

American collectible Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Pocket Army Double Action Third Model revolver chambered in .44-40, retaining a substantial amount of its original nickel finish and its original mother-of-pearl grips.

History

Merwin, Hulbert & Co. occupies a distinctive place in the history of American firearms of the late nineteenth century. Although its production was limited and less extensively documented than that of the major American manufacturers, its revolvers are increasingly sought after by collectors specializing in American Frontier firearms. From the 1870s onward, the company marketed a range of revolvers, most of which were manufactured by the Hopkins & Allen Manufacturing Company. Merwin, Hulbert became particularly known for its distinctive opening system, which allowed the barrel and cylinder assembly to pivot forward to facilitate extraction and reloading.

Among its most recognizable productions were the Pocket Army models, offered in several calibers and configurations. Their distinctive grip profiles, particularly the “Bird's Head” or Head Butt style, remain one of the identifying features of Merwin, Hulbert revolvers.

Merwin, Hulbert & Co. revolvers are associated with several figures of the American West, including John Wesley Hardin, Bob Dalton, Calamity Jane, Pat Garrett and Pancho Villa. The company's financial difficulties, including losses resulting from unpaid export transactions, contributed to its eventual disappearance and help explain the limited documentation surrounding some of its productions.

Our Revolver

This Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Pocket Army Double Action Third Model, chambered in .44-40 Winchester, also known as .44 WCF, retains a substantial amount of its original nickel finish. The metal surfaces display an even satin appearance with normal signs of age. The original markings are correct for the model and remain clearly visible on the frame and barrel. The original mother-of-pearl grips display an attractive coloration and remain in excellent condition.

Mechanically, the revolver retains the distinctive Merwin, Hulbert “twist-open” system. Ignition and cylinder indexing are in good working condition. The 7½-inch .44-40 barrel has a clear bore with well-defined rifling, together with light signs of use consistent with the age of the firearm.

This Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Pocket Army Double Action is a representative example of a distinctive American revolver manufacture, today sought after for its unusual mechanism and its connection with the history of the American Frontier.

The revolver is accompanied by its official French National Proof House (Saint-Étienne) Category D classification certificate.