Harrington Richardson 5 shot 32 spur triger break top

[bob.arens37]

I'm hunting for photos (with intent to buy) of a Harrington Richardson 5 shot 32 single action spur trigger white pearl handle engraved nickel-plated hand gun with a 4-5 inch barrel that would have been manufactured prior to 1908.

[Jim Hauff]

bob.arens37,
Welcome to the forum. As a long time collector and researcher of H&R firearms, I've NEVER heard nor seen an H&R firearms that matches that description. There are/were some S&W top hinged, spur trigger revolvers that are similar.
Do you have a reference source or pictures of what you are describing? If so, I'm sure that I as well as others would enjoy seeing what you have in mind.

[bob.arens37]

I made a mistake, it was not hinged. You had to remove the cylinder pin and remove the cylinder in order to reload.

[Jim Hauff]

I'm finally stumped on this one.

[RJay]

Flayderman's shows the last spur trigger revolver made by H&R was the 1878 Saw handle Frame or H&R also called it the New Design Model of 1878, 5 shot .32 rim fire but with a 3 1/2 inch barrel. Nickle plating would be common, pearl and engraving ( more than likely the punch dot type ) would be factory special order. If Gentleman Jim doesn't have one in his collection or photos, then you might very well be SOL. Sorry about that.

[bob.arens37]

I found this link to the exact gun I'm talking about except the one I want is engraved and has a white handle. I assume this is rim fire.

http://collectorebooks.com/gregg01/a...n/Lot-2127.htm

[Jim Hauff]

bob.arens37,
Now I'm not stumped anymore - that certainly isn't a 4 or 5" barrel - that's what threw me for a loopy-de-loop.
Here's a pic of a 98% example with original box. No engraving and definitely not for sale in the 250 to 300 range.
Then there's a smattering of other H&R made spur trigger pieces - just so my friend RJay doesn't lose faith in me.

[RJay]

Good Golly, Miss Molly, The top three have cylinder ring marking , so they have been dry fired, but other wise they do look unfired and unhanded, Do you perhaps have a time machine???

[Jim Hauff]

RJay,
You mentioned "punch dot" engraving method (crude, yep.) Here's an example of one.



ALSO - just to prove how dedicated to TARGET shooting H&R was back in the 1870s, here a pic of what I believe to be one of their first DEDICATED target guns.

[bob.arens37]

How did you aquire the SN1044? Is it for sale? Do you know if it came from Illinois?

And, how can I set up my account so that I get email notice of these messages about this thread?

[RJay]

I bet there is a story behind your quest, want to share it with us?

[bob.arens37]

RJay and Jim,

You're dead on. I have yet to get permission to excavate the site, but, I believe that my grandfather's adoptive father killed my grandfather's birth father in about 1905 with this gun and buried his body in the grove of the farm where I was born and raised. This gun laid on an upper shelf in our kitchen until about 1953. (The same year that the killer died of natural causes) We had used it to kill pigs and cattle for butchering. It became difficult to get the rim fire cartridges so Dad traded it to an Illinoin State Trooper for a .32 center fire more modern gun. That trooper does not "remember" anything about this old gun. Our family sold that farm in 1956 to its current owners. If I ever do dig and find the slug, I'd like to do a 'cold case' balistics test.

[bob.arens37]

You guys have been great helping me with my 'gun hunt'. But, I'd rather communicate via email. Is that OK? My email is bob.arens37@gmail.com

[Jim Hauff]

bob,
s/n 1044 was acquired about 5 years ago from an on-line auction site. I do not remember where it came from - without digging through hundreds of purchase records - I'd be hard put to find it.
One thing to remember - at the time those guns were made, H&R (as well as other manufacturer's) "batch" number their handguns. That is they would run the "s/n" up to a certain number, maybe 9999, then start over at 01 or 1.
The story is certainly interesting. The piece is not for sale - it is an antique, officially. I don't really know where to go from here.?????