H & R Handy Gun - The Firearms Forum

justajimbo · 05-06-2011, 10:15 PM

Hi everyone, I'm new here so please excuse anything I may do wrong.

I found an H&R Handy Gun on the top shelf of a closet in a house that I bought. It is serial number 24xxx

It had a 12" .410 barrel on it -- I removed and discarded the barrel after searching the internet.

I'm wondering if anyone here may be able to help me find a new barell for it.

I'm also open to any other suggestions. It's a really cool gun.

gdmoody · 05-06-2011, 11:26 PM

Welcome to the forum.

This is not the proper forum for this question but I will attempt to answer it anyway, if you check out this website you might find what you are looking for: http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/default.asp

It is the H&R site and they MIGHT have the barrel. I looked at Numrich Arms in West Hurley, New York, which is probably the best place for old gun parts, but they don't have any barrels listed.

Bill DeShivs · 05-07-2011, 12:14 AM

I'm assuming you mean the real, original Handy Gun, which IS an NFA item.
I doubt you will find an original barrel, but you might find one of the old .410 shotguns that you could use the barrel from.
I'm also assuming you are going to register it as a SBS before you install said barrel.
There should be someone who buys Handy Gun barrels, and resells them! It might be a good business.

Jim Hauff · 05-07-2011, 09:00 AM

justjimbo,
The H&R "Handy Gun" was built on the H&R Model 1915 small frame shotgun platform, with some modifications for the grip attachment.
To bring your piece into legal length (>26" OAL and >18" barrel) you need to find a .410 bore barrel for the Model 1915. Factory length for this model in .410 was 26" (at least the majority) - installing that barrel should make your piece of legal OAL and Barrel length. The barrels are not commonly found or seen, but examples of complete shotguns show up pretty regularly on the on-line auction sites.

joelackey92 · 01-03-2012, 06:51 PM

I've been trying to do some research of my own on these guns. My grandpa has a .410 Handygun with a 12-inch original barrel, and he and I have been discussing it's value. He said he doesn't want to get rid of it, but still, we were just curious. It's in good-to-great condition and, unfortunately, is illegal. Just thought I'd join the conversation and see what everyone had to say.

Jim Hauff · 01-05-2012, 11:20 AM

joelackey92,
Welcome to the forum.
Not much else to say that hasn't already been said. Unless your grandpa has registration papers for that 12" smoothbore - he is in possesion of "contraband" and can be arrested and fined if caught. As it stands - it has no value - as parts it has value.

shhardyme · 01-06-2012, 12:54 PM

I did a Google search on the H&R Handy Gun and came upon this thread. My gun is the 28 ga. version with serial number 65. It is in decent shape and I've fired it a number of times.

Fortunately, I have the paperwork dated 1956 from the Director of A,T,F. This precedes the current body of BATF and was registered through US Treasury Dept.

The gun was willed to me by my father and I probably need to do something about re-registering it in my name.

Any thoughts on this? Any information would be appreciated.

medalguy · 01-06-2012, 01:11 PM

Transfers to legal heirs are accomplished through a Form 5 and there is no tax on the transfer:

http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5320-5.pdf

You need to get this done ASAP. Check your local/state laws. It is perfectly legal federally.

StoneChimney · 01-06-2012, 01:21 PM

Very gray area, unless the estate is still in probate and/or has an executor. Hopefully ATF will allow the transfer.

Jim K · 01-16-2012, 07:55 PM

BATFE has definite regulations about what has to happen when a person who owns a registered NFA item dies. It is not simple, but it must be followed for an heir to take clear title to the item.

At the risk of getting hit upside the head for mentioning another site, check

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=570018

for some good info and also see the BATFE web site www.atf.gov for the official word.

Jim

05-06-2011, 10:15 PM	#1
justajimbo Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1	H & R Handy Gun Hi everyone, I'm new here so please excuse anything I may do wrong. I found an H&R Handy Gun on the top shelf of a closet in a house that I bought. It is serial number 24xxx It had a 12" .410 barrel on it -- I removed and discarded the barrel after searching the internet. I'm wondering if anyone here may be able to help me find a new barell for it. I'm also open to any other suggestions. It's a really cool gun. -->

05-06-2011, 11:26 PM	#2
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,334	Re: H & R Handy Gun Welcome to the forum. This is not the proper forum for this question but I will attempt to answer it anyway, if you check out this website you might find what you are looking for: http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/default.asp It is the H&R site and they MIGHT have the barrel. I looked at Numrich Arms in West Hurley, New York, which is probably the best place for old gun parts, but they don't have any barrels listed. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

05-07-2011, 12:14 AM	#3
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,470	Re: H & R Handy Gun I'm assuming you mean the real, original Handy Gun, which IS an NFA item. I doubt you will find an original barrel, but you might find one of the old .410 shotguns that you could use the barrel from. I'm also assuming you are going to register it as a SBS before you install said barrel. There should be someone who buys Handy Gun barrels, and resells them! It might be a good business. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com Last edited by Bill DeShivs; 05-07-2011 at 12:15 AM..

05-07-2011, 09:00 AM	#4
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H & R Handy Gun justjimbo, The H&R "Handy Gun" was built on the H&R Model 1915 small frame shotgun platform, with some modifications for the grip attachment. To bring your piece into legal length (>26" OAL and >18" barrel) you need to find a .410 bore barrel for the Model 1915. Factory length for this model in .410 was 26" (at least the majority) - installing that barrel should make your piece of legal OAL and Barrel length. The barrels are not commonly found or seen, but examples of complete shotguns show up pretty regularly on the on-line auction sites. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie Last edited by Jim Hauff; 01-05-2012 at 11:18 AM.. Reason: Changed Model # - The 1908 is a large frame - I do know the difference WTH happened?

01-03-2012, 06:51 PM	#5
joelackey92 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1	Re: H & R Handy Gun I've been trying to do some research of my own on these guns. My grandpa has a .410 Handygun with a 12-inch original barrel, and he and I have been discussing it's value. He said he doesn't want to get rid of it, but still, we were just curious. It's in good-to-great condition and, unfortunately, is illegal. Just thought I'd join the conversation and see what everyone had to say.

01-05-2012, 11:20 AM	#6
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H & R Handy Gun joelackey92, Welcome to the forum. Not much else to say that hasn't already been said. Unless your grandpa has registration papers for that 12" smoothbore - he is in possesion of "contraband" and can be arrested and fined if caught. As it stands - it has no value - as parts it has value. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

01-06-2012, 12:54 PM	#7
shhardyme Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1	Re: H & R Handy Gun I did a Google search on the H&R Handy Gun and came upon this thread. My gun is the 28 ga. version with serial number 65. It is in decent shape and I've fired it a number of times. Fortunately, I have the paperwork dated 1956 from the Director of A,T,F. This precedes the current body of BATF and was registered through US Treasury Dept. The gun was willed to me by my father and I probably need to do something about re-registering it in my name. Any thoughts on this? Any information would be appreciated.

01-06-2012, 01:11 PM	#8
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 585	Re: H & R Handy Gun Transfers to legal heirs are accomplished through a Form 5 and there is no tax on the transfer: http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5320-5.pdf You need to get this done ASAP. Check your local/state laws. It is perfectly legal federally.

01-06-2012, 01:21 PM	#9
StoneChimney Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,087	Re: H & R Handy Gun Very gray area, unless the estate is still in probate and/or has an executor. Hopefully ATF will allow the transfer. __________________ Full service gunsmithing and firearm manufacturing shop. Licensed FFL 07/02 Manufacturer. Visit our website!

01-16-2012, 07:55 PM	#10
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: H & R Handy Gun BATFE has definite regulations about what has to happen when a person who owns a registered NFA item dies. It is not simple, but it must be followed for an heir to take clear title to the item. At the risk of getting hit upside the head for mentioning another site, check http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=570018 for some good info and also see the BATFE web site www.atf.gov for the official word. Jim