Merwin, Hulbert & Co revolvers

[bear tooth billy]

Rock Island Auction has a few Merwin revolvers at their upcoming auction, you can google their website to check them out
I'm lucky that I live 40 miles away, and their Thursdays preview days are quite amazing.

                                        BTB

[Blair]

The .41 LC's rim diameter will be too small for the extraction ring on the cylinder pin/frame to extract these cases.
Same may also be true if one tries to use .44 LC, even if you can get the body dia. of the case small enough to fit in the chambers of the cylinder.
The .41 Mag rim dia. is large enough for the extraction ring to work properly or as intended.
Just a suggestion on my part.
My best,
Blair

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Here is a case dimension chart.  I don't see .44 Rem here, but I think it is "close" to .44 Colt.

Here is the chart. make your own comparisons;

http://members.shaw.ca/cstein0/revolver.htm

20Jun14; And learn the art of CARTRIDGE CASE CONVERSIONS

[litl rooster]

No surprise.

Let me get a stick and poke the dead horse too

[Pettifogger]

Since my M&H is a junker/shooter I re-chambered it to .44 Russian.

[Blair]

Pettifogger,

My MH fits your description of junker/shooter in the .44 MH cart. The barrel has also been cut off to roughly 4 3/4".
I would have the barrel "stretched" and sleeved to .429 and the chambers opened up for .44 S&W Russian.
In my opinion, I believe this would be much more practical for shooting than trying to keep it in .44 MH cart.
My best,
Blair

[wildman1]

Blair, the MH that I saw in Cabelas is a 44/40. wM1

[Blair]

wM1,

That cart. too is, in my opinion, more practical than the .44 MW.
Suggestion, load cartridges to original specs and you should be fine.
My best,
Blair

[wildman1]

I'm thinkin at $3,000 I might have ta just look at it until someone else buys it. wM1

[Colt Fanning]

Pettifogger,
What was involved in converting from 44MH to 44 Russian? Did you reline the barrel?
Regards
Colt

[Blair]

Colt Fanning,

If you look back to a few earlier postings (reply #262), Sir Charles, links to a forum that has dimensional information on the .44 MH Cartridge. (among many other cartridges)

I believe that info says the Bullet dia. for the .44 MH is .422.
The other two .44 calibers the large frame that MH revolver were manufactured in;
44-40 Winchester = .427 dia. and
44 S&W Russian = .429 dia. bullets.

This would give me reason to believe that something should probably done about the bore size.
Just my opinion, but I cannot say if re-boring & rifling or sleeve/re-lining would be your best option. That may depend on the overall condition of the firearm.
My best,
Blair

[Colt Fanning]

Hi,
Yes there are several possible solutions that to the problem.  I was hoping for a response from someone who has successfully done it.
My present thought is to try to enlarge the groves with homemade broach.
regards
Colt

[Pettifogger]

Pettifogger,
What was involved in converting from 44MH to 44 Russian? Did you reline the barrel?
Regards
Colt

The bores are all over the place.  I have .44-40s that vary from .423 to .435.  I can't remember the exact bore diameter on the M&H but it was over .425.  Close enough that a soft lead slug over BP works fine.

[Blair]

Here are the chamber and bore dimensions on the (unmodified) .44 MH revolver that I own.

Cylinder = .442 dia. at the breech end.
    "       = .416 dia. and the face or muzzle end.

Barrel bore = .419 dia. at the breech end.
   "        "   = .419 dia. at the muzzle end. (grove to grove depth on both)

These are measurements for only one .44 MH chambered revolver.
More such measurements would be needed from other revolvers to get a good working idea on making cartridges for this chambering.
Anyone else care to volunteer measurements from their .44 MH chambered revolver?
My best,
Blair 

[Colt Fanning]

Hi,
Here are my measurements.
Frontier Army 44-40: Cylinder Breach .474 Front .426 Barrel Bore .4345

Pocket Army 44-40:  Cylinder Breach .475 Front .432 Barrel Bore .434   ( Cylinder appears to have been recently reamed.)

Regards
Colt

[Blair]

Colt Fanning,

Thanks.
You list two revolvers. Are there any cartridge caliber makings on either of your revolvers?

If there are, This maybe on the right or left side of the frame, below the cylinder. (depending on the model)

Those revolvers chambered in the .44 MH chambering will often not have any caliber markings on them. (for most of the large frame 44 models)
My best,
Blair

[Colt Fanning]

Hi,
The frontier army has Cal____ Wi______ 1873. (Winchester 1873?) on the left side.

The Pocket Army has had all lettering polished off the frame and has been case hardened.  A very distinct 44 is stamped on
the Rt Hand side and a US stamped on the left side.  I think these were stamped after the polishing.

Regards
Colt

[Blair]

Colt Fanning,

I would suspect the revolver you call the "frontier army" is pretty close to the original cartridge caliber chambering as far as the measurement may take you.

As for the" Pocket Army" model... I would suspect it has been changed or other wise modified.
Just based on my suspicion and what you have told me.
My best,
Blair

[Colt Fanning]

Hi,
Does anyone know of a hammer spring that will work in a Merwin Hulbert pocket army or of a source for an original part.
I would like to find a replacement before trying to make one. 
Regards
Colt

[Major 2]

ha !  I'm afraid you are mining for unobtainium....
I chuckle , because I've been there done that , I tried every source I could find , including the Merwin & Hulbert Collectors Organization
for a Double action spring.
Finally, the gun was sent to a fellow in Iowa, who made the spring and got the gun running...