Merwin Hulbert "Baby Merwin" tip up amazing find??

[rickjones]

Hi all, I received a call from a good friend asking me to stop by and look at a Merwin Hulbert tip up single action. Company marked and numbered H5 at the barrel. I have never seen one from the company and my research has it as a gun that is very rare but our smith & wesson friends were not happy about and destroyed many. I am not sure what to tell him so FORUM CHALLENGE time! Is this an amazing find? Worth a lot?

[Gene L]

What caliber is it? I wouldn't think worth a LOT, it's a BP gun that should be fun to shoot with BP if you can reload rounds for it. Maybe like an Iver Johnson?

[cgt4570]

If it's .22 short, I've shot my few S&W .22 short tip-ups and Ladysmiths with .22 BB or CB. They're basically a bullet with a primer and little or no primer. No risk to the gun and fun for shooting in the garage at the rimfire bullet trap at close range.
As to value for a MH copy of a Smith, I would guess it's about the same as a Smith in the same condition.

[TIMETRIPPER]

The few Merwin Huberts I've seen of any type have brought prices equal too or greater than S&Ws from the same era.

John

[moosedog]

A seldom encountered gun. I would think that it should bring more than a same era/style S&W just because of the scarcity.

[DWalt]

I am not any sort of expert on M&H revolvers, but they do have a good reputation for quality workmanship. And they are not often seen. I'd think .22 Short SV target loads would also be OK to use in one.

[2152hq]

Very scarce gun.
The lawsuit was in place shortly after production and marketing began and was successful.
Production stopped, and most unsold stock went to S&W.
I've read that some were sold with the Merwin & Hulbert name XX'd out.
I don't know if those defaced guns were sold by M&H,,maybe by the actual manufacturer of the M&H guns which was Hopkins and Allen in Ct perhaps.
Trying to get some investment dollars back.

The value isn't really in line with being as rare as they are. M&H name isn't exactly a big collectors field.
The larger frame M&H revolvers do bring decent money however due to their unique design(s).
This Baby Merwin was just a flat out copy of the S&W though and so the lawsuit was placed.

'Excellent' condition examples of this particular revolver usually go for $1000 to $2000.

Here's a nice one w/ivory that went for $2000 + buyers premium back in 2011.
Merwin & Hulbert .22 caliber 7-shot revolver closely resembling 1st model 3rd issue Smith & Wesson

Another one in with 3 other larger frame M&H revolvers.
All looking quite nice. The package of 4 went for $11,500 + Buyers Prem.
This action was in 2012.
LOT OF 4 MERWIN & HULBERT REVOLVERS.


Nice values when you average them all out and consider when the auctions were.
As far as shooting on of these,,I'd stick to CB Shorts in them.
Shooting would be just to say you did so.

[rickjones]

Wow! Thank you for the info! I’m assuming it’s a very early production and shows it’s age. It does function and I’ll let my buddy know that he’s a lucky guy lol. Maybe it’s #5 based on the marking