Merwin Hulbert Merwin , Hulbert , and Co . or Merwin Hulbert was an American firearms designer and marketer based in New York City which produced revolver s and rifle s from 1876 through 1916 . The firearms were manufactured by a subsidiary company , Hopkins & Allen of Norwich , Connecticut . Merwin Hulbert ' s designs had influenced other gunmakers of the time , such as Meriden Firearms Co . , Harrington & Richardson , Forehand & Wadsworth , and Iver Johnson . During the late 19th century , Merwin Hulbert revolvers were frequently used by police departments of many cities in the eastern United States . History . Joseph Merwin was involved with marketing revolvers as early as 1856 and first formed an arms company known as Merwin & Bray . This company was folded by 1874 . In 1876 Merwin formed a partnership with the William and Milan Hulbert , who owned 50 % interest in Hopkins & Allen . After Merwin ' s death in 1888 , the company became known as " Hulbert Brothers & Company " . Hulbert Brothers declared bankruptcy in 1894 and in 1896 it was liquidated . Hopkins & Allen continued to manufacture Merwin Hulbert marked guns until 1916 when it went bankrupt and was bought the following year by Marlin Firearms . In 2010 it was announced that the name of the company had been purchased as well as all of the designs and patents by Gunmaker Michael Blank . Blank plans to reintroduce the revolvers made on modern machinery with modern materials . In 2012 , the revived Merwin Hulbert company was bought by Sharps Rifle Company , Inc . Potential buyers were encourgaged to send in deposits . None of those potential buyers ever got a gun nor did any of them get their money back . Broadsword Group , the purchaser of Sharps Rifle Company , announced on their website their commitment to return deposits of those who pre - ordered and the discontinuation of any further involvement in the production of Merwin Hulbert revolvers , though they did indicate they are seeking to sell the design to a company that already specializes in reproduction firearms . Models . Merwin Hulbert manufactured both single action and double action revolvers . Merwin Hulbert ' s innovation was a rotating barrel design which allowed the user to rotate the barrel 90 degrees in order to pull the barrel and cylinder forward to remove the fired cartridge cases . Small frame single pocket models were produced in . 38 caliber and had a spur trigger and no trigger guard . Other small frame double actions were produced in . 32 cal . M & H and medium frames in . 38 cal M & H . These were available in three and five and one half inch barrels or could be purchased with both barrels . There are five known . 38 medium frame revolvers in single action with a trigger guard . The . 32 Long target model was made on the . 38 frame . The frames were in a saw handle style butt or a birdshead type grip frame . There was also a . 22 caliber tip up spur trigger model . Large frames were made in Frontier and Pocket Army models in . 44 M & H caliber , . 44 - 40 Winchester , and . 44 Russian . The Frontier model consisted of four styles . Open top first model with two screws above the trigger in the left side of the frame . Second models which were open top but with one screw above the trigger in the left side of the frame . All single action revolvers for the first two and caliber was in . 44 M & H . The Third model has a top strap above the cylinder and a round barrel . Third and fourth models were available in single or double action . The fourth model has a ribbed top strap and barrel . Any of these could be ordered with extra barrels that could be changed without tools . Rare : There is one known matching serial number 7039 three barrel set Merwin Hulbert Frontier 4th model . There are two known smooth bore . 44 - 40 shotshell revolvers with Wild West Shown background . There are five known Merwin Hulbert 4th Models with NO Merwin Hulbert markings , just Hopkins & Allen . These were towards the end of production and possible after the Merwin Hulbert company went out of business . There are five known single action medium frame . 38 ' s with a trigger guard and birdshead grip frame . References . 8 . Merwin Hulbert Collectors Association .