Some of the most expensive American antique revolvers on the market today are those marked “Merwin, Hulbert & Co.” The kind of price they fetch rival those of Colts, Smith & Wessons and Remingtons. A surprising fact when you consider that a) Merwin, Hulbert & Co. never manufactured a single firearm, and b) the manufacturer is known to have made some of the worst handguns ever…
So, who was / were Merwin, Hulbert & Co., and why are their guns so precious?
To understand the history of the name, we must go back to 1868, when Charles W. Hopkins, Samuel S. Hopkins, Charles W. Allen, and Charles Converse bought up the assets of Thomas Bacon’s first company, Bacon Mfg. Co. Converse had been superintendent at Bacon, and probably had “insider knowledge” as to the financial woes of the firm. This was 1868, a mere three years after the civil war ended, and the country was deep in a post-war recession. There was a glut of surplus firearms available on the market, and all but the most established manufacturers faced a tough sales environment. Taking this bold step and venturing into a troubled industry must have been courageous, perhaps even foolish by some contemporaries’ opinion. The principals of the new company were looking further ahead, though… Hopkins & Allen first continued to manufacture percussion revolvers using Bacon’s machinery and parts inventory, until the expiration of the Rollin White patent held by Smith & Wesson in December of 1869. Undoubtedly, they used the two years leading up to the expiration of the patent to tool up their factory to produce cartridge guns, and were ready to enter the market as soon as it was legal to do so. Hopkins & Allen soon expanded their line of products, specializing in what they would come to call “popularly priced firearms”, competing with the major makers of pocket revolvers. By 1900 H&A manufactured more small caliber handguns than Colt, S&W and Remington combined, producing countless cheap, “generic” lines for a variety of wholesale customers like department and hardware stores…
Ten years prior to H&A’s beginnings, Joseph Merwin opened his sporting goods store in New York City, with Edward Bray as his business partner. Antique collectors may recognize the name of “Merwin & Bray” from a small number of pocket revolvers and single-shot deringers with their name on it. Merwin, even at that time, did not manufacture any of the guns bearing his name, but had them made under contract by – you guessed it – Thomas Bacon. Since these were in direct violation of the Rollin White patent of 1855, White sued, and won his case. Merwin had to cease production of his revolvers, and only had his single-shot deringers to fall back on. By 1866 Bray withdrew from the partnership, both the sporting goods store and the gun distribution, and Joseph Merwin took on new partners. The company would operate as Merwin & Simkins, and Merwin, Taylor & Simkins for two years before William Hulbert joined the firm in 1869. Hulbert must have brought a significant amount of “clout” to the table, because Merwin immediately changed the name to Merwin, Hulbert & Co., relegating his former partners to a mere “& Co.” mention in the name…
The previous connection between Merwin and Bacon undoubtedly sparked the eventual partnership with Hopkins & Allen. The fledgling company was in need of financial support and would grant Merwin a controlling 50% (or more) share of the company, including a seat on the board of directors in return for his investment. It was under Merwin’s direction that Hopkins & Allen expanded their line of revolvers to include large-frame, military grade models, and high-end center fire revolvers for commercial sale. Until that time, Hopkins & Allen had concentrated on mediocre-quality, cheap “Suicide Specials” and low-cost pocket revolvers. The line of Merwin, Hulbert & Co revolvers is unmistakeable. Although they were made in a variety of sizes, calibers and styles, they all use the same patented extraction and barrel locking mechanism: The barrel and frame are two separate pieces, the barrel sliding on the cylinder pin to allow access to the cylinder. The mechanism is unique, and somewhat complicated, however the execution and quality are excellent, and are considered the best Hopkins & Allen ever turned out. Hopkins & Allen tried very aggressively to secure government contracts for their large-frame revolvers, but none ever materialized. It was probably the complicated design which failed to impress ordnance officials.
Merwin, Hulbert & Co revolvers were made in at least 11 different models from the mid-1870’s to the late 1880’s. Early specimens bear both the “Merwin, Hulbert & Co.” as well the “Hopkins & Allen” name and address. Later models are only marked Merwin, Hulbert & Co.
Antique Status:
Merwin, Hulbert & Co. revolvers fall into a variety of categories, from antique to prohibited. Although they were all made before 1898 (Merwin, Hulbert & Co. ceased as such in 1892 and was renamed “Hulbert Brothers & Co.”), some of the calibers make them excluded from antique status in Canada. Any of the guns marked “44-40” or “Calibre Winchester 1873” are excluded from antique status, and are either restricted or prohibited, based on barrel length. Equally, any .38 center fire M&H is excluded, since the RCMP Technical Division established without doubt that the 38 M&H cartridge is identical to a 38 S&W, which is exempt from antique status. Only those “grandfathered” before about 1999 may retain their antique status, if the owner has the proper documentation from the RCMP. The .32 caliber guns are a bit more complicated: Merwin made this one in a “small frame” and a “medium frame”, the latter having a cylinder length of about 1 ¼ inches, while the smaller one has a cylinder measuring about 1 inch. The RCMP only accept the LONGER cylinder as a unique M&H caliber, whereas the shorter one is a .32 S&W, which is exempt from antique status.
Value:
Merwin, Hulbert & Co. revolvers have become a popular, and therefore valuable, collecting specialty. About 25 years ago, these revolvers were on the periphery of collectability, and could be had for a few dollars. Since then, several good books on the subject, and a Merwin & Hulbert collectors club have brought these guns into the mainstream, and today they fetch prices similar to a Colt SAA or S&W No. 3 top break revolver. A couple of years ago, a Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Large Frame Frontier Model sold at auction for almost $12,000 Canadian with buyer’s premium, and similar others sell for between $3000 and $5000 regularly. This is definitely outside of the realm of the usual Hopkins & Allen products. For our Canadian collectors the availability of qualifying specimens is even more limited due to the legal constraints, and it is not very often that these surface on the Canadian market…
Merwin, Hulbert & Co. "Russian Model", Factory Engraved, Antique Ivory Grips
"Medium Frame" .32 M&H 7-Shot Revolver, MOP Grips
So, who was / were Merwin, Hulbert & Co., and why are their guns so precious?
To understand the history of the name, we must go back to 1868, when Charles W. Hopkins, Samuel S. Hopkins, Charles W. Allen, and Charles Converse bought up the assets of Thomas Bacon’s first company, Bacon Mfg. Co. Converse had been superintendent at Bacon, and probably had “insider knowledge” as to the financial woes of the firm. This was 1868, a mere three years after the civil war ended, and the country was deep in a post-war recession. There was a glut of surplus firearms available on the market, and all but the most established manufacturers faced a tough sales environment. Taking this bold step and venturing into a troubled industry must have been courageous, perhaps even foolish by some contemporaries’ opinion. The principals of the new company were looking further ahead, though… Hopkins & Allen first continued to manufacture percussion revolvers using Bacon’s machinery and parts inventory, until the expiration of the Rollin White patent held by Smith & Wesson in December of 1869. Undoubtedly, they used the two years leading up to the expiration of the patent to tool up their factory to produce cartridge guns, and were ready to enter the market as soon as it was legal to do so. Hopkins & Allen soon expanded their line of products, specializing in what they would come to call “popularly priced firearms”, competing with the major makers of pocket revolvers. By 1900 H&A manufactured more small caliber handguns than Colt, S&W and Remington combined, producing countless cheap, “generic” lines for a variety of wholesale customers like department and hardware stores…
Ten years prior to H&A’s beginnings, Joseph Merwin opened his sporting goods store in New York City, with Edward Bray as his business partner. Antique collectors may recognize the name of “Merwin & Bray” from a small number of pocket revolvers and single-shot deringers with their name on it. Merwin, even at that time, did not manufacture any of the guns bearing his name, but had them made under contract by – you guessed it – Thomas Bacon. Since these were in direct violation of the Rollin White patent of 1855, White sued, and won his case. Merwin had to cease production of his revolvers, and only had his single-shot deringers to fall back on. By 1866 Bray withdrew from the partnership, both the sporting goods store and the gun distribution, and Joseph Merwin took on new partners. The company would operate as Merwin & Simkins, and Merwin, Taylor & Simkins for two years before William Hulbert joined the firm in 1869. Hulbert must have brought a significant amount of “clout” to the table, because Merwin immediately changed the name to Merwin, Hulbert & Co., relegating his former partners to a mere “& Co.” mention in the name…
The previous connection between Merwin and Bacon undoubtedly sparked the eventual partnership with Hopkins & Allen. The fledgling company was in need of financial support and would grant Merwin a controlling 50% (or more) share of the company, including a seat on the board of directors in return for his investment. It was under Merwin’s direction that Hopkins & Allen expanded their line of revolvers to include large-frame, military grade models, and high-end center fire revolvers for commercial sale. Until that time, Hopkins & Allen had concentrated on mediocre-quality, cheap “Suicide Specials” and low-cost pocket revolvers. The line of Merwin, Hulbert & Co revolvers is unmistakeable. Although they were made in a variety of sizes, calibers and styles, they all use the same patented extraction and barrel locking mechanism: The barrel and frame are two separate pieces, the barrel sliding on the cylinder pin to allow access to the cylinder. The mechanism is unique, and somewhat complicated, however the execution and quality are excellent, and are considered the best Hopkins & Allen ever turned out. Hopkins & Allen tried very aggressively to secure government contracts for their large-frame revolvers, but none ever materialized. It was probably the complicated design which failed to impress ordnance officials.
Merwin, Hulbert & Co revolvers were made in at least 11 different models from the mid-1870’s to the late 1880’s. Early specimens bear both the “Merwin, Hulbert & Co.” as well the “Hopkins & Allen” name and address. Later models are only marked Merwin, Hulbert & Co.
Antique Status:
Merwin, Hulbert & Co. revolvers fall into a variety of categories, from antique to prohibited. Although they were all made before 1898 (Merwin, Hulbert & Co. ceased as such in 1892 and was renamed “Hulbert Brothers & Co.”), some of the calibers make them excluded from antique status in Canada. Any of the guns marked “44-40” or “Calibre Winchester 1873” are excluded from antique status, and are either restricted or prohibited, based on barrel length. Equally, any .38 center fire M&H is excluded, since the RCMP Technical Division established without doubt that the 38 M&H cartridge is identical to a 38 S&W, which is exempt from antique status. Only those “grandfathered” before about 1999 may retain their antique status, if the owner has the proper documentation from the RCMP. The .32 caliber guns are a bit more complicated: Merwin made this one in a “small frame” and a “medium frame”, the latter having a cylinder length of about 1 ¼ inches, while the smaller one has a cylinder measuring about 1 inch. The RCMP only accept the LONGER cylinder as a unique M&H caliber, whereas the shorter one is a .32 S&W, which is exempt from antique status.
Value:
Merwin, Hulbert & Co. revolvers have become a popular, and therefore valuable, collecting specialty. About 25 years ago, these revolvers were on the periphery of collectability, and could be had for a few dollars. Since then, several good books on the subject, and a Merwin & Hulbert collectors club have brought these guns into the mainstream, and today they fetch prices similar to a Colt SAA or S&W No. 3 top break revolver. A couple of years ago, a Merwin, Hulbert & Co. Large Frame Frontier Model sold at auction for almost $12,000 Canadian with buyer’s premium, and similar others sell for between $3000 and $5000 regularly. This is definitely outside of the realm of the usual Hopkins & Allen products. For our Canadian collectors the availability of qualifying specimens is even more limited due to the legal constraints, and it is not very often that these surface on the Canadian market…
Merwin, Hulbert & Co. "Russian Model", Factory Engraved, Antique Ivory Grips
"Medium Frame" .32 M&H 7-Shot Revolver, MOP Grips
