This early production Merwin Hulbert & Co. large frame open top .44 caliber single action revolver was manufactured c. 1876. In addition to the open top frame the revolver has the early scooped cylinder and flat butt with lanyard ring. The barrel, cylinder and frame are nickel plated and the hammer and trigger are casehardened. The revolver is fitted with the very desirable multi colored checkered hard rubber grips. The oval at the top of the left grip is inlaid in pearl with the monogram "AF". The left side of the barrel is roll stamped "THE HOPKINS & ALLEN Manufacturing Co. Norwich. Conn. U.S.A." in one line. The top of the barrel is roll stamped "MERWIN HULBERT & Co. NEW YORK. U.S.A." followed by extended patent dates. The serial number "92" is stamped on the butt behind the lanyard ring. The assembly number "103" is stamped on the face of the barrel lug and rear face of the cylinder. There are no caliber markings on the revolver. The revolver is complete with a French fitted mahogany case lined with purple velvet. The corners of the case lid have scalloped brass reinforcements. A German silver shield inscribed with the initials "AF" is inlaid in the top of the lid. The case contains a wooden block with holes for 43 cartridges. Included with the revolver are 12 rare .44 caliber centerfire Merwin & Hulbert cartridges. Extensive documentation provided by the consignor indicates that the initials and monogram "AF" may stand for Alonzo Follett, a prominent Wall Street stock broker. In 1882 Follett's firm failed. The failure resulted in massive financial losses for a number of prominent clients. Included with the revolver is a notebook with 42-pages of photocopies of period newspaper articles that exhaustively detail the failure of the Follett brokerage. The New York Times reported that while doing business at No. 9 Wall Street, Follett was the "second largest broker of his class in the City and dealt only in gilt-edge paper." But when suspicious creditors demanded the recovery of their money, Follett failed to produce the assets, "causing the failure of several other individuals and of the firm of Richarson, Boynton & Co." With newspaper headlines like "A Note Broker's Failure," "Pulled Down by Follett" and "The Note Broker Drags Down Another Large Firm," one can easily image the outrage the Follett affair caused in late 19th century New York City.