Merwin & Hulbert Medium Frame Double Action .38 S&W 3.5″ Revolver Antique
SOLD FOR: $1001
LSB#: 210608MW71
Make: Merwin, Hulbert, & Co.
Model: Medium Frame Double Action
Serial Number: 5630
Year of Manufacture: 1880s
Caliber: .38 S&W
Action Type: Double Action 5-Shot Revolver
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MERWIN HULBERT & CO. NEW YORK U.S.A. / PAT. APR. 17. 77 JUNE 15. 80. MAR. 14. 82. JAN. 9. 83”. The left side of the frame is marked “38 CAL”. The back of the cylinder is marked “5630”. The rear of the barrel is marked “5630”. The left side of the grip frame is marked “5630” and the interior of the right grip panel is marked “5630”.
Barrel Length: 3 1/2″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a round blade pinned to the barrel, and the rear sight is “V” notch in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber. There are light handling marks with scattered light nicks & scratches on the smooth portions. There is a crack on the bottom of the left panel. The checkering has some rub wear but is well defined. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is shallow. There is erosion and scattered pitting.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. There are light-to-moderate handling marks, draglines, and swirls on the nickel. There are some small scattered spots of finish loss that have taken on oxidation. There are some little nicks and dings. The hammer, trigger, and trigger guard have heavy thinning and finish loss. Some of the finish is slightly cloudy. The cylinder has a turn line. The screws are sharp to tool marked with serviceable slots. Overall, this revolver rates in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup produces some light side-to-side play. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: Merwin, Hulbert & Co. were not actually manufacturers or makers of guns. There were a group of New York City gun and sporting goods dealers who had a major interest in Hopkins & Allen Firearms of Connecticut and had Hopkins & Allen make guns for them under their own name. Sometimes they sold guns marked with the Hopkins & Allen name, and some guns were marked with both names, but all were made by Hopkins & Allen in Connecticut. This is a .38 Medium Frame Double Action revolver with a nickel finish and black hard rubber grips. This model pistol has a latch on the bottom of the frame which when pushed back, with the hammer in quarter-cock, allows the barrel and cylinder to be twisted off the frame, finally released by a 2nd latch on the left side of the barrel’s underlug. The revolver also has a loading gate, which is pushed down to get access to the cylinders, although there is no provision for an ejector. This pistol retains its original nickel finish and it is parts matching, in about Very Good condition as Antique. This is a really nice Antique double action with a very interesting design that should appeal to all with an appreciation of firearms history. We expect the collectors of early American revolvers and those of Hopkins & Allen and Merwin Hulbert in particular to be very interested in this revolver. Please see our photos and good luck!