Just got a new-to-me single shot pistol, a Merrill Sportsman, two barrel set, 44mag & 357mag, 9.5" length on both vent ribbed and dove-tail ring grooved barrels, topped with Micro-Sites adjustable rear sites and Shark Fin front sights. Pics below.

I had seen these pistols advertised for years [for the past 20 years or so they have gone by the name RPM XL pistol] and from what I understand, they have been in continuous production [under different makers] since 1948! Well, I finally found a set that I could not resist, so it is now mine

First impressions: For an old design, this break action switch barrel system is actually quite good and what I consider to be "timeless" and easier and faster to change barrels than a Contender. It is also stronger than a Contender as well [The RPM XL is available in 308 win for example]. The hinge pin is a threaded pin that once through the right side of the action and the barrel lug, threads crosswise into the left side of the action, and has a knurled head on the right side. Lockup is quite tight, and the trigger is as good or better than my Contenders. There is a safety of sorts, a metal thumb tab that looks sort of like a slide stop lever, but physically rests more ergonomically right under the thumb on the thumbrest on the left side of the grip frame, and which takes very minimal effort to depress. The firing pin seems to be a spring loaded affair that is placed under tension by fully opening the action, and released from that tension by the trigger, sort of like how a Glock works, but again, the feel is crisp and extremely light with no overtravel at all.

I will write more later after I have had ample opportunity to shoot it, but from all appearances, the fit and finish are top notch!

Has anyone here ever owned or fired one?

Sean, we may have discussed this on the phone, but a neighbor just up the road from me has a "non-gun" Merrill that is cut away to show the internal mechanism and how it operates. Interesting design, yes.

I do have my doubts about its actual strength, though. Looking at how small the lockup contacts are at the slide on the rear made me a bit skeptical.

I got pix of it and sent them off on disc to a friend, but may be able to get my hands on the gun again for more pix when the owner is back in town. We can post them here if you like.

BTW, Sean, yesterday the remains of the infamous Graybeard stainless .35 Rem. barrel got its hinge pin hole drilled, locking bolt retaining pin hole drilled, and is also now drilled and tapped 6-screw topside. Extractor slot was milled just prior to that.

I need to go through the same steps on the rest of the barrels in the batch, then mill the locking bolt slots to final dimensions for fitting to the shop frame.

Forend dovetails will complete the mill work.

Then......it is ready to become a 9mm Luger! Unless, that is, you have changed your mind and want it to be a .357 Max., or .357 Bain & Davis, or whatever else works well in a short barrel. Didn't put the tape to it for final length after abbreviating it from the breech end. Just had to taunt you a bit.

All the best,

Mike

Mike, Greetings!

I do somewhat recall conversations about that cutaway gun, and now those memories seem to be seeping back into the old' "hard drive" again It is a really interesting mechanism. The contact points for barrel to action fit are unusual and I agree that it does not appear that it should work as it does, yet there are 308win and 358 win barrels for these things, and no accounts of actions coming loose at all. I really want to look into that more deeply and understand what it is about the pistols that gives them such an advantage. Maybe you could take another look at that cutaway model and analyze the frame? That would definately be an interesting study Also, in your years in the industry, have you ever had contact or opportinity to discuss the pistol with Jim Rock of RPM?

I am really looking forward to that infamous Graybeard stainless .35 Rem. barrel: I'll be calling soon to discuss it