H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

It has become apparent, recently, that there are some holes in the H&R SPORTSMAN history and development both in the Double Action 999 and the Single Action 199. More research is warranted to fill in those holes. IF you own any H&R SPORTSMAN and would like to contribute to the research, I would appreciate the following information (pics would be a great asset):
1. Serial Number (partials are welcome, but entire numbers will help more)?
2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame?
3. Safety rim on cylinder? PATENT APPLIED FOR; one patent number; two patent numbers?
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side -or- small push button on left side of frame right in front of cylinder.
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel -or- on right side?
6. DA or SA?
7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? If fixed - soldered in slot or pinned in slot?

Thanks in advance. I'll provide era of manufacture and Model and Variation determination for your SPORTSMAN.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Jim, I hope this is what you are looking for:

Sportsman Model 999
Serial Number AU159XXX
Firing Pin on frame
Cylinder has rim, NO patent number stampings anywhere
Cylinder has release tab on left side
Manufacturor's address on left side of frame (H&R INC GARDNER MASS.U.S.A.)
Double Action
Adjustable front sight

Sorry, I'm too old to know how to post pictures to anything other than Walmart's photo lab. Jim

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Jim brady,
"Sorry, I'm too old to know how to post pictures to anything other than Walmart's photo lab. Jim
:eek:

Jim, that's EXACTLY the type of info I'm looking for, complete and factual.
'AU' indicates manufacture in 1980 and it's a 3rd Model. That model was in production from 1973 - the end of H&R Arms - 1986.
Thanks for your help, amigo.
Here's a pic for you: (this one made the year before yours) -
Attachment 50192

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Jim,
I think you are going to find your self VERY busy in the near future!I think this thread will far outlive the H&R Club thread we had going recently!
Hope you turn up more info!
Jim

ps, I will have to get home to send you all my info, don't know any serial#'s of the top of my head.
Dr's, talking at least another week now!

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Jim,
You just take care of yourself. Plenty of time for your serial number info and stuff, later. I probably have some of it already - I know I have pics of many of your pieces.
Yeah - going over the Sportsman sections in THE book, piqued my interest - I've managed to pick-up 3 more Sportsman examples over the past two months - just finished my "patented" preservation treatment on them. Anyway, there's some, what appears to be, ambiguity in what we think we know about the various variations, dates of production and characteristics of the 1930's guns and I realized I don't have much info on the 1950 and beyond guns either. I'm beginning to see some pieces that don't seem to fit the "mold". Hoping for lot's of input to help flesh out the progression.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

I have a DA and a SA. I sent you the stats in a PM.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Jim,
Here's a couple of older H&R Sportsmans with info you requested;
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/t...5/000_0415.jpg
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/t...5/000_0417.jpg
1. Serial Number-D21732
2. Firing pin mounted in frame.
3. Safety rim on cylinder, one patent number.
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side.
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel.
6. DA
7. Adjustable front sight.
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/t...5/000_0420.jpg
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/t...5/000_0419.jpg
1. Serial Number-S19599
2. Firing pin mounted on hammer.
3. Safety rim on cylinder, two patent numbers.
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side.
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel.
6. SA
7. Adjustable front sight.
Jim, I hope this info is helpful.
Old Gun Guy

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

rhmc - got your e-mail, info added to files - THANK YOU!

Old Gun Guy - great, more "grist for the mill", info also added to research files.
re: the 1st Model DOUBLE ACTION - appears to be a "transitional" variation (from 2nd to 3rd) made late 1933 or early 1934. This one is EXACTLY in the period in question - it has the one patent # and safety rim - while retaining frame mounted firing pin and a fairly high in range serial number with the 'D' (for double action) prefix. There remains some confusion in this area and the more pieces found in this range - the less the confusion.

re: the SINGLE ACTION (only one model recognized) - it appears to be a 4th Variation (hammer mounted firing pin) made circa 1937-38 - two patent numbers. The Model 199 SINGLE ACTION is, also, poorly defined because of the rather few number of examples seen. This info is also valuable.
Thanks.
p.s. Was it you to whom I promised to get H&R Sportsman cylinder info?
If so, or even if not - I'll be posting a thread on the cylinders that I observed while digging through my SPORTSMAN cache. I had them out on the living room floor and decided it was a good time to pull some cylinders and take pics - had the camera charged up and all. I THINK I have covered the differences starting from a piece made in 1932 up into the 1970s -'80s. Not too many changes, but enough to make it interesting.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

[QUOTE=Jim Hauff;



p.s. Was it you to whom I promised to get H&R Sportsman cylinder info?
If so, or even if not - I'll be posting a thread on the cylinders that I observed while digging through my SPORTSMAN cache. I had them out on the living room floor and decided it was a good time to pull some cylinders and take pics - had the camera charged up and all. I THINK I have covered the differences starting from a piece made in 1932 up into the 1970s -'80s. Not too many changes, but enough to make it interesting.[/QUOTE]

Jim,
That was me!

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

H&R Sportsman
1-Serial number 46743 no prefix.
2-Firing pin mounted on hammer.
3-Cylinder has rim, two patent numbers.
4-Cylinder release is small button on left side.
5-Manufacturers address is on right side
6-Double action.
7-Adjustable front sight.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...R/100_3391.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...R/100_3389.jpg

If you need better pics let me know. I'll have to take more.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

HAWG,
Thanks for the info, noted and recorded.
Your SPORTSMAN is what we're calling the 5th Variation (c. 1936-'39) and was (most likely) made sometime in 1936 after March 17th - it is fairly early in the "known" serial number range for that Variation
I like seeing the pics and they sure help - but I'm afraid I don't have room to store everyone's pics - so I'll have to be chosey and pick only pics of those that I don't already have or have some oddball or significant feature that needs to be documented.
Thanks, buddy!

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Well mine isn't the best looking thing anyway. I just thought if you needed clarification on anything I'd be glad to take more. Cant have too many H&R pics anyway.:D

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Tell me about it! I've got right around 3000.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

STill looking for more H&R SPORTSMAN data - there's hundreds of thousands out "there" - ...............

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

More data needed.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

bumping - still more info out there.
Here's a couple pics of a very early 1st Model 1st Variation - note the NON-adjustable front sight - soldered into a slot.
Attachment 50563

Attachment 50564

Attachment 50565

Attachment 50566

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Come on folks get off your butts and post some H&R pics.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

I just received this H&R Sportsman. I assume it may be from the first year of production since it has a very low serial number. I would appreciate any information you can provide. Thank you.
“H&R Sportsman” - on barrel (left)
1. Serial # 1784 (no prefix) - Number 784 stamped on cylinder
2. Firing pin mounted on frame
3. Safety rim on cylinder -yes
4. “Patent Applied For” on cylinder
5. Cylinder release - Right side, in front of cylinder
6. “Harrington & Richardson Arms Co. Worcester MASS USA” - Top of barrel
7. Double action
8. Front sight pinned in slot
9. “22 Long Rifle CTC” - on barrel (right)

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Fla13,
Welcome to the forum.
Thanks for posting all your info and for the excellent pics - makes it a lot easier for me.
Yep, you have an early 1st Model 1st Variation. The non-adjustable front sight, "key-hole" barrel X-section, firing pin in frame all fit with the serial number being so low...
Your gun was made in late 1932 or very early in 1933 - can't be sure right now as more information is coming in about these early ones and it looks like there may be a date shift for the early ones - not much, maybe a few months.
Thanks again - compare yours with my pics below:

Attachment 51094

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

A bit more data for you,Mr. Hauff.Picked up a Sportsman at a yardsale,about 95% bluing,certian it is pre-WW2.
Serial #D243XX
Top flat Worcester address
Right side of barrel, .22 LONG RIFLE CTG.
Left side of barrel, H&R "SPORTSMAN"
Bar style cylinder release on right side
Firing pin on hammer
Adjustable front and rear sights
Numbers matching on all visible
Large walnut one piece grip with checkering on sides and back,think it might be the type 4 grip?
Heavy barrel,does not have the keyhole profile of the first model.
Two patten numbers on cylinder,one above the other,on same area between ttwo flutes:PAT.1904730,PAT.2034632.
Hope this is some help.

Whoops,forgot! Safety rim is present.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Dustydog,
Thanks for the info - it is exactly what I need for my data base. Yours was made sometime in 1936 - still need more data in that range to get better DOM feel. It is a 1st Model 5th Var. (address on top rib, 2 patent dates, rt side cylinder release are indicators).
Strangely, your piece is only the second one out of a couple hundred, now, that has Xs in the serial number??? :rolleyes:

Attachment 51182

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

SNORT!!!!!okay,okay, old habits die hard.........last two are 6 0

Buy the way,same grip as the photo..is that what is called the #4?

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

:DThanks for the "extra" numbers - they'll on be used for research purposes and NO names are attached to the data base - so no personal info.

Ya know, I never paid much attention to the Grip #s - I have some old catalogue info someplace in this overwhelming stack of H&R stuff, maybe I should find out, if I can. :confused:

Thanks, again.

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Mr. Hauff,
I am a new member here. I just acquired an H&R Sportsman - details below:

1) Serial number = S14018
2) Firing pin = Frame mounted
3a) Safety rim on cylinder = Yes
3b) Patent numbers on cylinder = only one number, 1904730
4) Cylinder release = 1 in. lever on right side
5) Address location = Top of barrel
6) DA or SA = Single action
7) Front sight = Adjustable

I have an ulterior motive for posting; I have a small problem with this gun, and with another H&R of similar vintage.

On the Sportsman, the firing pin appears to be made of bronze. It had rings of verdigris around both the hammer end and the cartridge end. The firing pin return spring seems to be dead, since the firing pin sticks in the forward position when the hammer is snapped. I suspect it is clogged with verdigris. This gun is in beautiful shape, and I have NO intention of trying to detail strip it. Is there anything good for dissolving verdigris without removing bluing?

Second, I have an H&R .38 Defender of about WWII vintage. It also has the "Rice" frame like the Sportsman, but it has the small cylinder release button on the left side of the frame. Nothing I do with make it release the cylinder. How is it meant to work? Mine does not seem to move in any direction.

I hope my information is useful to you, and thanks in advance for any help!

Re: H&R Sportsman RESEARCH
 

Lanrezac,
Welcome to the forum.
Let's break your question into two parts. First let's talk about your SINGLE ACTION SPORTSMAN (Model 199 after 1930): The information you provided is exactly what I need and from what I have in the data file - it appears your gun was made in mid 1934 to early 1935 - can't be sure at this time. It has all the standard features of the 3rd Variation.
I've noticed that the "frame mounted" firing pins appear to be "bronze" in color. That would account for the copper corrosion "verdigris" on both ends of your pin. As you stated - the frame mounted pins are "spring" buffered and should retract from the fired position (extending from the fp bushing) when the hammer rebounds or is pulled back. There is a cross pin perpendicular to and in line with the firing pin that holds the pin and spring in place - removing that pin will allow the fp and spring to exit the frame to the rear. Hammer down will hold it in place, if you chose to remove it slowly.
Hoppe's Bore Cleaner will dissolve copper fouling - without damaging bluing. You may try applying a drop or two of that directly onto both ends of the firing pin and letting it work for a couple hours or days to see if you can free it up.
It is also possible that the buffer spring is broken - ??????????
Let us know how you make out.