The high quality revolvers manufactured by Hopkins & Allen for Merwin, Hulbert & Co. were popular with the police departments in the major cities in the eastern U.S. They were also carried by many in the West including lawman Pat Garret, but the company was besieged by financial problems throughout its history and closed before the end of the 19th century. Their revolvers utilize a unique mechanism that allows the barrel to be rotated and pulled forward along with the cylinder, causing the empty cartridge cases to fall out. This example is pictured in the book "The Story of Merwin, Hulbert & Company" by Art Phelps and is shown in a holster with the serial number visible on page 34 with the current leather lanyard attached. It has the desirable long barrel, the open top frame, cylinder with "scoop" fluting, and the bird's head grip profile. It is marked with the one line Merwin, Hulbert & Co. address and patent information on the top of the barrel, the Hopkins & Allen address in one line on the left of the barrel, "CALIBRE/WINCHESTER 1873" on the left side of the frame, "2133" on the right side of the grip frame by the lanyard hole, and "1214" on the left side of the grip frame, rear of the barrel and cylinder, and the underside of the grips. The front sight is a round blade integral to the barrel, and a notch in the top of the frame behind the cylinder serves as a rear sight.

Fine. 60% plus of the original nickel plating remains. The balance has a brown patina. Most of the finish loss is on the cylinder. There is also some light spotting and various dings and scratches including some strike marks and scrapes on the left side of the barrel near the breech. There are traces of the silvered case colors on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips are very good and have moderately worn checkering and light aging. The action functions fine, and the markings are crisp.