Front Loading Pocket Revolver

Merwin & Bray Firearms Co. NY. It is a Cup Primed front loading spur trigger 5 shot revolver with a 3 ½” barrel. It is nearly identical to the large frame Third Model Army Plant revolver. The mechanical function is very good crisp and tight. 

This is serial number 5426 of total of 20,000 and was made in or about 1865

An excellent example of the unusual front loading Army Model .30 Cup-Primer Cartridge revolver by Merwin & Bray Firearms Co New York (Merwin & Bray made the .42 Army Model aimed at Military contract sales and a smaller .30 cartridge pocket version for the civilian market). Our Army Model example has a 3” octagonal barrel with top rib which is marked “Merwin & Bray Firearms Co NY”. The circumference of the cylinder is faintly marked “PATENTED July 12 1859 July 21 1863”. The front sight is a half round blade. It has a grooved frame rear sight. The grips are smooth varnished rosewood which have just the bumps and bruises to be expected with age. The steel barrel, removable cylinder, sheathed trigger and hammer retain their original blue finish. The action functions correctly. This revolver loads its special cartridges from the front, and extracts them with a captive rod with bolt action mounted on the frame’s right side. The cartridges used in this revolver had a priming compound in the cup shaped base of the cartridge. This revolver was manufactured C1860's by Merwin & Bray. It was designed as a front loading cartridge revolver in an effort to circumvent the Rollin White patent held by Smith & Wesson which allowed for chambers bored completely through the cylinder and loaded from the rear.