I saw an interesting, antique revolver today. It looked very much like a 6" barreled S&W DA 38 Top Break - the precise "model" wouldn't actually be relevant. But picture this gun with a 6" barrel and you're there:



So, just curious to see if anyone has any information about "Meridian" brand revolvers from the late 19th/early 20th centuries. The particular gun that I handled was a .38 S&W.

One more thing - this revolver had a safety!!!! A small, flat thingamabob on the right side which, when pressed, caused the hammer to lock up. One the left side of the frame there was a round "button" thingamabob which, when pressed, released the safety.

WEIRD!!!

__________________
Come and take it!!

Meriden Firearms Company

They were only in biz from 1908 to 1918.
The last 2 yrs (maybe 3yrs) they were under the control of the New England Westinghouse Co,,actually a US Govt takeover during WW1.
During that 2 yr time the factory was converted to mfg War production needs.

The Meriden F/A Co was actually started by Sears Robuck so as to mfg guns to sell in their catalogs. Winchester and some other US mfg'rs had started to refuse to sell Sears their guns as Sears discounted them so much that the other dealers complained loudly to the home Factorys about it. The smaller dealers were loosing business.

Meriden made their Sears cataloged guns under the Meriden name and also the A.J Aubrey name.
(A.J. Aubrey was an actual person,,the Secr. of the Company I believe.
They just used his name for a line of firearms. )

Meriden made a long list of guns, SxS shotguns, single shot shot guns both hammer and hammerless, Revolvers, a couple single shot boys rifles ( Model 6 & 10)
Two very simple single shot 22's as well. The Atlas and Deadshot rifles. I haven't seen either of the latter two in 40 yrs.

.. and a very nice pump 22 (Model (19)15.
This pump was made on a design & pat that was done by the two sons of Arthur Savage/Savage Arms.
The rights to the little pump was later bought up by OF Mossberg in 1921/22 when Mossberg first opened shop. Mossberg built the rifle as the Model K, M & L (I think I have those Model designations right)

Meriden also made a pump action 12ga shotgun. Pat in 1912, it is sometimes called 'The Other Model 12' but only Meriden Arms groupies would know what you are refering to.
It was actually sold as simply the Meriden Repeating Hammerles Shotgun.
It didn't actually come to market till 1913. It has a Krupp Steel Bbl.
In 1913 you can imagine that didn't last too long.
This is another gun that was the design and Patent of the two sons of Arthur Savage.
I think Savage Arms may have used part of it's design in the Savage Model 21 pump shotgun.

Meriden made nearly 2 dozen different revolver models.
They sold them as Meriden and AJ Aubrey names. They also sold the guns under House brand names of Eastern Arms and Empire (State?) Arms.
Likely more names as well.
I've never paid as much attention to the handguns of the company as to the longguns.

Quite a few Parker Gun Co employees worked at Meriden Gun Co as well.
Not uncommon in that world at the time.
Marlin, Winchester & Mossberg had employees work extra shifts at the competing plants when all were in NewHaven. Money is Money.

Wm Gough engraved for Meriden Arms. He was also engraving for Parker at the time,,and about anyone else that made firearms.

I did have a high grade AJ Aubrey SXS that was Gough engraved at one point.
A hammerless AJ Aubrey SingleShot 12ga Trap gun. That was a restoration project only I could love. But I like the Meriden guns for some reason.
That one is gone now too.
A very nice Boys Rifle Model 6 came and went.

I still have one of the Meriden Hammerless Repeating Shotguns w/ an extra bbl&forend assembly.
A simple Meriden hammer single shot still 'in the white' , never stocked but all complete still sits awaiting ,,Do something with it.

A Meriden Model 1915 pump 22 Deluxe Grade was a restoration project a couple yrs back.
Another badly buffed and blued mess,,but a real Deluxe Grade. I restored and upgraded that one with some engraving but did not copy the Factory patterns that were offered at the time.
Came out nice,,then I sold it.
Good shooter as well.
I've got some pics of it though on the other computer.

I would've had a pretty good Meriden/Aubrey collection had I hung on to things.

It could be Meridan, not Meridian. I have a .22 pump, decent hardware store rifle. They made a lot of different firearms back when. Including top break revolvers.

This is the 22 pump Meriden made.
The Model 1915
This one a Deluxe grade I mentioned above.
It's been restored and upgraded.

Attached Images

2316FF9A-A804-4071-BB3A-0E0AFB424E10.jpg (166.8 KB, 53 views)

Neat old advertisement. A Sears catalog ad I'd guess as Meriden was their company.
..and Pearl 'stocks' too!

FWIW, Read that "Notice to Purchasers' statement at the top of the Meriden adv. above.
You might have to enlarge the pic.
Interesting since it's somewhere in the 1908 to 1913-ish time period.
We're takin' names and callin' the Po-lice if needed.
CYA & Gun-control certainly isn't new.

VERY INTERESTING!!!!!

Thanks, y'all!!!!

__________________
Come and take it!!