Author Topic: My New Merwin (Read 11970 times)

Driftwood Johnson · « **on:** June 20, 2015, 07:34:20 PM »

Howdy

Pocket Army, 44-40. Took it to the range today for the first time. Fired about 35 rounds through it. Black Powder of course. More to follow.

Abilene · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2015, 07:55:11 PM »

Wow, looks great! Original nickle?

Driftwood Johnson · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2015, 08:09:04 PM »

Yup, although some of the plating has worn away and the base metal is showing. But you have to look close to see it.

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Pettifogger · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2015, 09:31:49 PM »

Looks in really GREAT shape!

Blackpowder Burn · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2015, 07:04:03 AM »

Beautiful revolver. You are, indeed, a fortunate man.

My fondest wish at this point is to have a pair of Merwins.

wildman1 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2015, 10:29:05 AM »

Nice! Looks like a keeper Driftwood. wM1

Lefty Dude · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2015, 01:09:06 PM »

Sweet !

Blair · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2015, 01:59:23 PM »

I too would very much like to say... very nice!
One day, maybe I will be able to find one that I can add to my collection, as nice?
My best,
Blair

Slamfire · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2015, 07:57:35 PM »

Dang! ,,Drift.,,sorry you only got to shoot 35, rds.,before she blew apart , hope you weren't hurt. BUT ,if you'll box her up and ship it to me ( i'll even pay the fgt.) I believe I can put her back together fer ya. I'll have to shoot it a few fdrs., just to make "dang sure" ,it will be safe to use.

Truly, Hootmix.

Slamfire · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2015, 08:03:56 PM »

Hey, Drift, did i mention ,I shoot 44/40 ,soooooo, I have plenty of ammo.

Hootmix.

Fox Creek Kid · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2015, 02:32:14 AM »

Sweet!!

Major 2 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2015, 07:48:59 AM »

NICE

St. George · « **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2015, 11:35:31 AM »

An exceptional piece - congratulations!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

wildman1 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2015, 12:17:33 PM »

Rumor has it that you used it this weekend and it performed very well. wM1

Driftwood Johnson · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2015, 02:38:00 PM »

Howdy Again

Yes Wildman, I used it yesterday at the New Hampshire State Match in Candia NH.

I decided that yesterday would be antique pistols day. I brought the Merwin and my S&W New Model Number Three for the match. The Smith is chambered for 44 Russian and the Merwin is 44-40, so I did not have too much trouble keeping their ammo straight.

According to Art Phelps' book The Story of Merwin Hulbert & Co. Firearms, this Merwin is a Pocket Army, 2nd Model. This model was produced from about 1880 to 1883 when a top strap was added for the 3rd Model. Incidentally, there was no 1st Model Pocket Army, this model was introduced at the same time as the Frontier Model 2nd Model, and shared the same features, so Phelps calls it the Pocket Army, 2nd Model. This one has a 7" barrel, so I can't imagine slipping it into a pocket. I think the reason it was called the Pocket Army is because the birds head style grip is a bit more compact than the Frontier Model grip, but I cannot imagine stuffing a 44-40 six shooter into a pocket, unless the barrel was shorter and the pocket was really large.

I have a letter for the Smith, it shipped in 1882.

Ruby Marie was kind enough to snap a couple of photos of me shooting the Merwin. Ooops, looks like I forgot to photoshop out the beer belly.

Even though I have been shooting 44-40 in rifles for years, this is the first revolver I have ever owned chambered for the caliber. The gun is heavy enough that even with a full BP load, the recoil is surprisingly mild. I missed a few targets over the top. I forgot that just like the Smith, the short front sight tends to make it shoot high. Later I adjusted my aim.

The gun performed flawlessly for all 8 stages yesterday (as did the Smith). The huge bushing on the front of the cylinder kept the fouling away from the arbor, and with Mav-Dutchman Big Lube bullets lubed with SPG I had no problems at all with the gun, other than it shooting a little bit high. These photos were taken at the end of the match, when the gun was a bit sooted up.

That's not a shadow on the front of the cylinder, that is Black Powder fouling. Gonna be sure to clean it and the Smith today. The Hopkins and Allen markings are plainly visible on the side of the barrel. You can see in this photo where some of the nickel plating has worn away and the base metal is revealed, however the colors of the two are pretty close and you have to look closely to spot the worn away nickel.

All in all I was extremely happy with my new Merwin. I was wearing a huge grin at the end of the day. It performed flawlessly for 8 stages (40 rounds).

A little bit more eye candy of the Merwin.

wildman1 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2015, 02:45:00 PM »

Very Nice. Thank You. wM1

Will Ketchum · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2015, 03:21:00 PM »

In one of Mike Ventorino's books (I don't recall the title) he claims the Merwin Hulberts tolerances were too close for extended shooting with BP. He lost credibility with me after that since I had shot entire matches with one.

Will Ketchum

Coal Creek Griff · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2015, 04:02:37 PM »

Thanks for the great report, Driftwood! I'm not jealous at all. Well, maybe a tiny bit jealous. Okay, I'll admit it--I'd love to even hold guns like that.

By the way, what long guns did you use?

CC Griff

Driftwood Johnson · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2015, 04:09:06 PM »

My usual long guns, my Uberti 1860 'Iron Frame' 44-40 Henry and my little Stevens Model 250 side lock hammered double.

Coal Creek Griff · « **Reply #19 on:** June 28, 2015, 04:13:03 PM »

With the glove on your left hand, I was guessing a Henry. In my line of work, we call that a "clue".

CC Griff

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Author Topic: My New Merwin (Read 11970 times)

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