H&R plainsman 865 Age - The Firearms Forum

duck32man · 07-09-2011, 08:36 PM

Looking to find the age of a 865 plainsman with serial number A248xxxx. Thanks

RJay · 07-09-2011, 10:43 PM

H&R used the prefix A in 1940.

duck32man · 07-10-2011, 09:00 AM

Thanks RJay - is this info on the net somewhere?

Jim Hauff · 07-10-2011, 11:49 AM

Well, actually H&R didn't make bolt action rifles until after WW2 ended in 1945. The Plainsman Model 865 was produced from circa 1949 to 1983. The serial number should read 'AZ', which would make it a late version made in 1983.

duck32man · 07-10-2011, 06:03 PM

Jim - upon closer examine your are exactly right. The 2 is a Z. Thanks

Duck

RJay · 07-10-2011, 06:27 PM

In that case with the correct serial number, H&R used Az in 1983.

Correct information is always helpful to those from whom information is requested.

Jim Hauff · 07-10-2011, 07:52 PM

Duck,
You're welcome - thanks for thanking.

RJay,
Thanks for the back-up.

jsheehan · 03-03-2012, 11:11 PM

I have a 865 and it's has no serial number on it I was wondering how to tell how old the gun is the only marking on it is an "s" behind the rear sight

mcgyverit · 03-19-2012, 10:51 AM

Hate to jump a thread, but does anyone know if these 865 models were ever made without any letter before the SN? I have my Dad's rifle i am in the process of getting back to usability, and there are no letters before the 5 digit SN is the reason I ask.

Jim Hauff · 03-19-2012, 11:29 AM

mcgyverit -
Welcome to the forum.
H&R was pretty good about marking their guns with some sort of s/n (lot's of .22s were NOT serialed for a while before 1968) but almost all of the later long guns will have letter codes someplace on the left side of receiver. In the case of the 865 - the letter could be anywhere withing the side roll stamp or outside of it - look for two letters setting by themselves somewhere. It is possible to have missed some lettering at the factory - but the serial number will always be there, unless someone illegally removed it.

mcgyverit · 03-19-2012, 12:20 PM

thanks for the quick response. I went and looked with a second pair of eyes and we cannot find the letter code anywhere on the receiver, but it still has the 5 digit SN, I figure it was a 50's vintage just based on his tales of when he got it.

Jim Hauff · 03-20-2012, 12:18 PM

mcgyverit,
Can't do more than look twice - not there, then .........there's always exceptions. Gotta go with your instincts on this one.

07-09-2011, 08:36 PM	#1
duck32man V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Anti-Gun, Illinois Posts: 172	H&R plainsman 865 Age Looking to find the age of a 865 plainsman with serial number A248xxxx. Thanks -->

07-09-2011, 10:43 PM	#2
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age H&R used the prefix A in 1940. __________________ RonJames

07-10-2011, 09:00 AM	#3
duck32man V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Anti-Gun, Illinois Posts: 172	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age Thanks RJay - is this info on the net somewhere?

07-10-2011, 11:49 AM	#4
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age Well, actually H&R didn't make bolt action rifles until after WW2 ended in 1945. The Plainsman Model 865 was produced from circa 1949 to 1983. The serial number should read 'AZ', which would make it a late version made in 1983. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

07-10-2011, 06:03 PM	#5
duck32man V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Anti-Gun, Illinois Posts: 172	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age Jim - upon closer examine your are exactly right. The 2 is a Z. Thanks Duck

07-10-2011, 06:27 PM	#6
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age In that case with the correct serial number, H&R used Az in 1983. Correct information is always helpful to those from whom information is requested. __________________ RonJames

07-10-2011, 07:52 PM	#7
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age Duck, You're welcome - thanks for thanking. RJay, Thanks for the back-up. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

03-03-2012, 11:11 PM	#8
jsheehan Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age I have a 865 and it's has no serial number on it I was wondering how to tell how old the gun is the only marking on it is an "s" behind the rear sight

03-19-2012, 10:51 AM	#9
mcgyverit Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 6	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age Hate to jump a thread, but does anyone know if these 865 models were ever made without any letter before the SN? I have my Dad's rifle i am in the process of getting back to usability, and there are no letters before the 5 digit SN is the reason I ask.

03-19-2012, 11:29 AM	#10
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age mcgyverit - Welcome to the forum. H&R was pretty good about marking their guns with some sort of s/n (lot's of .22s were NOT serialed for a while before 1968) but almost all of the later long guns will have letter codes someplace on the left side of receiver. In the case of the 865 - the letter could be anywhere withing the side roll stamp or outside of it - look for two letters setting by themselves somewhere. It is possible to have missed some lettering at the factory - but the serial number will always be there, unless someone illegally removed it. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

03-19-2012, 12:20 PM	#11
mcgyverit Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 6	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age thanks for the quick response. I went and looked with a second pair of eyes and we cannot find the letter code anywhere on the receiver, but it still has the 5 digit SN, I figure it was a 50's vintage just based on his tales of when he got it.

03-20-2012, 12:18 PM	#12
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H&R plainsman 865 Age mcgyverit, Can't do more than look twice - not there, then .........there's always exceptions. Gotta go with your instincts on this one. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie