The History of Merwin Hulbert

[@francescofissore161]

I've got some years ago an original Frontier model in .44 M.H. caliber, serial no. leading to early 1877. In almost the same condition as the nickeled one shown here, just mine could be at 75% nickel plated. Also those appealing, mottled grips. Great gun, fantastic mechanical features. Bought here in Italy from a gunshop owner and It took me some months to pay through several times, but absolutely worth of that when I 'play' with the gun in (almost) every minute of my spare time. Greetings from Italy to all of you guys so much keen on firearms !! Frank.

[@pabasra1]

I have a 3rd model army with the birds eye grip and I love shooting a piece of history, It took me a some time and a trip to my local gunsmith to figure out 1873 Winchester became 44-40.

[@rafearpin4190]

When I first scrolled by, I thought it was a 3rd model S&W Schofield, other than the break top. Cool firearm. Colt & S&W had a kid.

[@Treblaine]

Best. Revolver. Ever.

[@boydgrandy5769]

Technically, the reaction of the spindle to cylinder is not due to vacuum, it is due to the tolerances being so tight that the space between them is pressurized by compression. That pressure is what drives the cylinder and barrel towards the pistol frame.

[@kendon81]

........wish i lived int he US so i could buy these......amazing pieces of engineering

[@newhuskytwenty]

Incredibly well designed for the time.

[@GloboMexico]

One Great Video guys! Keep them coming! :)

[@sofknsad]

They are probably re-finished? Great work but are they really in original condition?

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

+sofknsad Yup! Both in original condition. The blued revolver we rated at 90% and the nickel plated at 97+%

[@bretthoomana2541]

What calibers did they come in?

[@davidblackburn5774]

Would it be safe to load six in one of the double action variants?

[@klover224]

I want a company to make replicas of these in more popular modern revolver calibers. Like .357 mag or .38 special or .44 mag even .45 long colt id totally pick one up.

[@ronrobertson59]

My Dad had two one was a first model in 44-40 the other one was an Cleveland Ohio police gun in 38 Colt if I recall.

[@stevejenkins9984]

Definitely the best revolver ever made! I have a Hopkins and Allen 45 Cal Barrel on my Kentucky rifle and it's a tack driver. Definitely Quality Parts someday I can only hope to own one of these Merlin and Hulbert revolvers

[@justjoe1995]

My grandfather has a Merwin & Bray serial number 449 ! Only thing on it is the serial number and the dates on the cylinder (july12th 1859-july21st 1863) ... no caliber marking , no company name. It’s driving me crazy I can’t find any info about them anywhere online.

[@davidm.4670]

> The Original Joe - have you checked Ians' 'Forgotten Weapons' channel ?

[@guymorgan9667]

The gun is the best for it's Day ...

[@ironwolfF1]

A brilliant bit engineering; however, it's also a classic example of "reputation matters"...being tied to Hopkins & Allen did this marvelous revolver *no* favors. I'm guessing it was the favored weapon of the third category of pistol users: the 'not flashy' pistoleer (people not interested in being featured in a dime novel). The first category: the military / workaday folks...they carried Colts. The second category: the folks used their pistols to make a living...those folks carried Smith & Wessons. (The crowd that carried Remington revolvers were just odd ducks...😉)

[@0570965]

would you have to "Cowboy load" it or could you carry all six?

[@WalkaCrookedLine]

Awesome. How come I've never heard of these?

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

How about some gun videos for your weekend? Start with this one on the Merwin Hulbert revolver. If you haven't seen how one reloads, you're missing out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXzKpmqFqrieepI

[@belaboured]

The other gun with a similar loading and extraction system, even down to the "drop only fired cartridges" is the British .476 Enfield of about the same era. It used a top break, but the cylinder slid forward in a very similar way. Loading was by conventional gate as well. In the end it wasn't considered as practical as the simpler top break, and wasn't as reliable either. It would be interesting to see what people's actual experience was with the M-H.

[@Paladin1873]

I believe the S&W Model 3 Schofield made the same claim, but I've never confirmed it.

[@Mygg_Jeager]

I really want to hear where this myth of the empty chamber came from. I hear a lot of modern Firearms historians were saying that "this was the practice at the time" when really, all research indicates that opposite; that this is modern safety precaution, like eye and ear protection.

[@rodan2852]

It was primarily for (early BP to pre ww2 revolvers) when riding with the gun holstered on horseback. The firing pin is 1 piece with the hammer on old revolvers. The only option is to have the hammer resting directly on the primer or at full cock since half cock is for reloading only. There for if the trigger is tripped or if the up and down motion of the horse (firing pin resting on the primer) sets off the primer then the gun could go off in the holster. So hammer closed on an open cylinder means no fire unless hammer is cocked or on a da the trigger would have to be pulled ("long stroke") and thus the main spring was stiffer to prevent acidental da trigger pull. Hope that covers it.

[@jimbasler9294]

Very cool!!!

[@luciustitius]

Fantastic design. Why does noone make a reproduction?

[@daveybass655]

Best pistol ever made.

[@daveybass655]

I shot many a sassy bandit, with just my pistol....

[@rodan2852]

Im just trying to wrap my head around the machining in these guns. Its no small feat to get this kind of fitment, and in the 1880s at that. No dro no auto cad, just what looks like "hand fitment"

[@brostelio]

I guess the Peacemaker, being prettier, won out in the end...

[@Stuingtion]

I wish they made reproductions of this revolver!

[@Thebluebridgetroll]

There was an attempt made. It failed. Getting a firearm production line set up is extremely expensive.

[@vasilizaitzev2281]

exist in 32?

[@Poleson]

There must be a few of these floating around Russia you would think, considering how many were shipped and never paid for.

[@dutchmountainsnake5379]

epic guns

[@guymorgan9667]

STARS END wxpn 88.5 sunday's 1am-6am...

[@larslarsen8010]

Here it comes again ! Leave one chamber empty. ? NO YOU DON'T. You fill it up full and then let the hammer down between two cartridges. I know: it's not on every pistol this will work but on most/all S/A's it will.