Merwin Hulbert hand

[Colt Fanning]

Howdy,
I am trying to restore an MH and can't understand how the hand can engage the ratchet since it is rounded.  Is there supposed
to be a piece of steel with a sharp edge in the notch to engage the ratchet on the cylinder?
Regards
Colt

[DJ]

Colt Fanning--

What model Merwin is this for?  I assume it's one of the double actions, because I have made a couple hands for Merwin single action .44s and they look nothing like this. 

--DJ

[Colt Fanning]

It is a 44 40 pocket army.  Double action
Regards
Colt

[DJ]

Colt--

Your hard work inspired me to open up a Merwin and take some photos for you.  This hand is from a third model Frontier double action in .44-40 Win, so take that into consideration if yours is a different model, but at least this will give you an idea.

Best of luck, and keep us posted.

--DJ

[Professor Marvel]

Thank goodness DJ has a M&H and his hand looks vaguely like yours...

it looks as tho yours has become ..... bent?

I had hoped to find one of the original M&H patents, but up to now, my methods at patent search are less succesful than in years past...
something odd is going on either with my search tools vs "the web"  (very likely) and/or my little grey cells (extremely likely)

If I can find anything that helps I will post it. otherwise, good luck on your quest Colt.

yhs
prof marvel

[Colt Fanning]

Howdy,
You are very perceptive.  It is indeed bent.  After straightening it with lots of heat, it now works.  Must be low carbon steel to
survive such bending.
Regards
Colt 

[St. George]

Like the rest of them, frontier-era metallurgy was pretty much like that of wrought iron - and didn't gain strength with age.

The additional strain placed on them by modern-day users can exhaust the working parts, and unfortunately, any spare parts are made of unobtanium.

Scouts Out!