In House Shipping:
Make: Hopkins & Allen manufactured this revolver for Merwin, Hulbert & Co.
Model: 4th Model Pocket on Birdshead “Skull Crusher” Grip Frame
Serial Number: 24909
Year of Manufacture: 1887-1892
Caliber: .38 SW Centerfire
Action Type: Single/Double Action 5 Shot Revolver with Push Down Loading Gate Side Loading Cylinder and Barrel Assembly That Twists to Remove
Markings: The top of the barrel rib is marked “MERWIN, HULBERT & CO. N.Y. USA ./ PAT APR. 17. 77 JUNE 15.80.MAR.14.82.JAN.9.93”. The left side of the frame is marked “38 CAL”. The left side of the grip frame below the grip is marked “5734”. The front face of the cylinder, the bird’s head “skull crusher”, and the rear face of the barrel lug are marked “24909”. The articulating hammer spur is marked “340”.
Barrel Length: 5.5” in length with a full top rib and 2/3 underlug.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall thick blade half-round blade integral with the top of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V” groove in a boss at the top of the frame in front of the articulating hammer.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are Pearl on a birds-head grip frame. The “beak” extends below the grips with a large lanyard hole in the center. There are several light handling marks on the grips, mostly observable on the right grip panel. There is a chip on the right panel near the top and the left panel has a small crack near the escutcheon. The grips are in about good condition.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling is worn. There is erosion scattered throughout the bore. The bore rates at 5/10 in this writer’s opinion.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 50% of its metal finish. There are spots of finish loss with dark eroded metal scattered over the barrel, top strap and the top of the frame around the hammer. Heavy erosion is present near the muzzle. There are areas of finish loss on the front sight, front strap, back strap, trigger guard, cylinder, and the sides and underside of the frame, with scattered dark spots of light erosion, including pinprick surface erosion scattered over the cylinder; A dark drag line in the cylinder. The hammer knurling shows wear and the edges of the barrel latch are sharp. The screw heads are tool-marked and show good slots. The markings are faded. Overall, this handgun rates in about Fair condition.
Mechanics: The action does not function correctly. The hammer does not like to cock at all times and will only fall when assisted. The action needs to be addressed by a competent gunsmith. This pistol has a very unique twist barrel, unlocked via a sliding button on the bottom of the frame, that only moves forward far enough for fired cases to be removed, but not far enough to eject loaded cartridges. A latch on the left rear of the barrel allows the barrel and cylinder to be removed. 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: A leather holster and ammo rig that appears appropriate for the time of the revolver. The Holster Rig is in fair condition and should make a fine display.
Our Assessment: Merwin, Hulbert & Co. were not manufacturers or makers of guns. There was 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 DA Pocket Revolver with a bird's head butt and folding spur hammer. This model pistol has a latch on the bottom of the frame which when pushed back 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. Besides its unique design, this pistol is also unique in that it has a folding spur hammer, which was not installed on all guns of this model.
This pistol is in about Fair condition with about 50% of its original finish remaining. Although the bore is dark with dull rifling and spots of erosion. The action does not function properly. With its folding spur hammer, matching serial numbers, this revolver should still be of interest to the antique revolver collectors out there.