Merwin, Hulbert pocket .32

[Jaymo]

Found one in a fun shop recently. It's in pretty decent condition. I think the hand is worn, as it doesn't fully carry up when cocking SA, or when cocking DA.
No, I didn't dry fire it. I blocked the hammer falling completely, with my finger.

Anyway, how much would one be worth? They're asking $399, IIRC.

Also, which .32 cartridge did this shoot?
Yes, if I get it, I'd love to get it in safe firing condition.
I think it would be fun to load it with some heavy jacketed bullets and a case crammed full of smokeless powder.
JUST KIDDING!!
I'd like to shoot it with real, honest-to-God BP.

What say ye merry gentlemen?

ETA: Does NOT have the folding hammer spur.

 

[Mango88]

A quick look at GunBroker shows three Merwin Hulbert .32 revolvers. They have starting bids of $400, $600 and $1200. While GunBroker can be a bit squirrelly at times at least you can take a look at them and see if any are comparable to the revolver that you are interested in.

However, if the Merwin in question is in any sort of decent shape I certainly would make them something of a reasonable offer as Merwin Hulberts seem to be fairly rare on the open market.

 

[Jim K]

Those guns were made for the .32 M&H cartridge. Now if you think 9mm Luger is hard to find, .32 M&H is really tough.

They will fire .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long, but once you see how the gun works you will see why they made a special cartridge for it. The idea was to design a revolver that, when opened, would allow fired cases to drop clear while unfired cartridges would be retained. This was seen as better than a gun like the S&W in which everything in the cylinder was ejected, fired or unfired, or a gun like the Colt SA which was very slow to eject fired cases.

When the M&H is opened and the barrel/cylinder pulled forward, fired cartridges are kept back by a ring at the breech face. If the cartridge case is the right length, an empty case will fall clear, while a loaded cartridge will be kept from falling out of the chamber by the bullet. If the case is too long (.32 S&W Long), no cartridges or cases, fired or unfired, will fall out. If it is too short (.32 S&W) all the cartridges and cases will fall out.

It was a good idea, but the M&H guns (they were actually made by Hopkins & Allen) are tricky to reload, not much faster than a Colt SAA and a lot slower than an S&W breaktop. Ideally, the removal of fired cases is fast, but reloading used basically the same loading gate system as the Colt.

A fair number were sold in SA and DA/SA in .22, .32, .38, .44-40 and .44 Russian. The latter two and the .22 are quite rare and valuable. The .32 and .38 are more common but will still bring upwards of $1500 if in top condition; they average around $400-500 in good, functional condition. They are very interesting guns.

Jim

 

[Jaymo]

I'd be afraid to fire .32 Long in it, based upon how thin the chamber walls are.

 

[Onward Allusion]

DO NOT fire .32 S&W LONG in those guns, even if they happen to fit in the chambers. They were made for the .32 M&H or .32 H&R. They can shoot .32S&W, though. Also, make sure that it can handle smokeless powder.