Hopkins & Allen Merwin Hulbert Small Frame Folding Hammer Pocket Pistol

Make: The revolver was made by Hopkins & Allen for Merwin & Hulbert, who distributed the revolvers. Model: Small Frame .32 DA Revolver with Folding Hammer Spur Serial Number: 11732 Year of Manufacture: 1883-1890 Caliber: .32 S&W Short 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 rib on the barrel is marked “MERWIN HULBERT & CO. NEW YORK U.S.A. / PAT. APR.17.77 JUNE15.80 MAR.14.82 JAN.9.83”. The left side of the frame is marked “32 CAL.”. The bottom of the grip frame is marked “11 / 732”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked “11 / 732” and the rear face of the barrel lug is marked “11 / 732”. The left side of the grip frame is marked “6757” and the hammer spur is marked “80”. Barrel Length: The barrel is 3” in length with a full top rib and 1/2 underlug. Sights / Optics: The front sight is a thin half-round blade pinned to the rib. The rear sight is as a small “V” notch at the top rear of the top strap. Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black hard rubber on a square butt grip frame. The grips have a smooth four pointed star shape around the grip screw and round circles at the tops of the grips filled with a checkerboard pattern. There is a small ding in each of the two stars around the grip screw and a few drag lines in the bottom surfaces of the grips. The checkering shows light wear in the left grip and moderate wear in the right. The grips rate in about Fine to Excellent overall condition. Type of Finish: The finish is nickel with a case colored hammer and trigger. Finish Originality: The finish is original. Bore Condition: The bore is gray with sharp rifling. There is light erosion the length of the bore. Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 93% of its metal finish. There are tiny spots of surface loss with dark eroded metal showing through in the grooves between the barrel and its rib and on the left side of the barrel. There are scratches through the finish on the right side of the frame in front of and behind the cylinder. There are a few small scuff marks through the finish on the left side of the barrel, a few light marks in the sideplate and the sides of the frame, a light drag line in the cylinder and a few short drag lines in the bottom of the grip frame. There are also swirl marks in the finish throughout. The knurling on the hammer, barrel latch and barrel release is sharp. The grip screw is disfigured but the frame screws are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver rates in about Fair condition and would be Excellent were the mechanical condition better. Mechanics: On one chamber, the action functions correctly in both single and double action with SOLID cylinder lockup. However, on the other four chambers, the cylinder either doesn’t turn at all or doesn’t turn far enough for the chamber to line up with the barrel. We think the top edge of the hand (pawl) is worn. The barrel lockup is solid. This revolver has a folding trigger spur. 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: None Our Assessment: Merwin, Hulbert & Co. were not manufacturers or makers of guns. There were 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 .32 Small Frame DA Pocket Revolver with a square 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. It 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 hammer spur, which was not installed on all guns of this model. This pistol has about 93% of its original nickel finish remaining, but we are rating it in Fair condition because the cylinder doesn’t always turn when the trigger is pulled or the hammer cocked. We think the top edge of the pawl (hand) is worn and slips off the notches on the cylinder’s star. The bore is gray with sharp rifling and light erosion the length of the bore. The barrel lockup are SOLID. With its folding hammer spur, matching numbers, and fantastic original finish, this five shot pocket pistol is perfect for the collector with a box of spare parts or who has mastered the art of TIG welding on small objects.   NRA ANTIQUE FIREARM CONDITIONS STANDARDS:

• FACTORY NEW: All original parts; 100% original finish; in perfect condition in every respect, inside and out.
• EXCELLENT: All original parts; over 80% original finish; sharp lettering, numerals and design on metal and wood; unmarred wood; fine bore.
• FINE: All original parts; over 30% original finish; sharp lettering, numerals and design on metal and wood; minor marks in wood; good bore.
• VERY GOOD: All original parts; none to 30% original finish; original metal surfaces smooth with all edges sharp; clear lettering, numerals and design on metal; wood slightly scratched or bruised; bore disregarded for collectors firearms.
• GOOD: Some minor replacement parts; metal smoothly rusted or lightly pitted in places, cleaned or re-blued; principal letters, numerals and design on metal legible; wood refinished, scratched bruised or minor cracks repaired; in good working order.
• FAIR: Some major parts replaced; minor replacement parts may be required; metal rusted, may be lightly pitted all over, vigorously cleaned or re-blued; rounded edges of metal and wood; principal lettering, numerals and design on metal partly obliterated; wood scratched, bruised, cracked or repaired where broken; in fair working order or can be easily repaired and placed in working order.
• POOR: Major and minor parts replaced; major replacement parts required and extensive restoration needed; metal deeply pitted; principal lettering, numerals and design obliterated, wood badly scratched, bruised, cracked or broken; mechanically inoperative; generally undesirable as a collector's firearm.