Merrill Sportsman SS Pistol

The Sportsman or the Rex Merrill Pistol was made by the Merrill Arms Co. of Rockwell City, Iowa. It was a single shot target pistol made in a wide range of calibers and with a hinged break open action. It has an octagonal tip-up barrel, wide ventilated rib, adjustable sights and integral telescope mounts. These pistols, the brainchild of an Iowa farmer named Rex Merrill, gained popularity in the '80s for hunting and silhouette shooting. The original Merrill pistols were accurate, but as they were chambered in heavier calibers, many of them had extraction difficulties, due to a relatively weak extractor. Many of those guns could be seen on IHMSA firing lines in the late 70's and early 80's with their users carrying a cleaning rod "just in case", to punch out the empties that failed to extract. Later versions used an improved extractor with an external thumb lever, which allowed improved leverage for better extraction, and also allowed the use of rimless cartridges. The Sportsman pistol could be purchased in factory presentation case with eight different caliber barrels. Those calibers are .22LR, .22WMR, .22 Hornet, .256Magnum, .357, .30-30Win, .30 Herrett, .44 mag. It was made with patented positive thumb action safety device preventing accidental discharge of pistol. It also was made with a removable skeleton buttstock for steadier target shooting. In 70's Mr. Merrill sold his company to Jim Rock and Rock Pistol Manufacturing Co. started making them in Fullerton, CA. The name of the pistol changed from Merrill to “XL”in 1985. In 1989 they relocated to Tucson, Arizona.