H&R Handy Gun - The Firearms Forum

DonnaClark · 09-24-2010, 06:36 AM

My father recently passed away and we found an old gun in his safe. We'd like to get rid of it but we don't know it's value. It is made by Harrington & Richardson Arms Company, Worchester, MA. It has H&R Handy Gun 28 guage written on it. That's all the information we have.

Alpo · 09-24-2010, 07:14 AM

Unfortunately, if you live in the United States, unless the gun is registered under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (and you have the registration paperwork) it is not only valueless, it is illegal to possess. It falls under the definition of a "smoothbore pistol" and to be legal would have to have a barrel at least 18 inches long, and be at least 26 inches in overall length. Possession of an unregistered NFA item is a federal felony punishable by 10 years in jail and a 250 thousand dollar fine.

If it's unregistered, the only legal way to get rid of it is to turn it in to the ATF for destruction. If it's registered, it's a nice collector piece, worth some money.

http://www.fourten.org.uk/mwhandygun.html

DonnaClark · 09-24-2010, 09:53 AM

Wow - that's scary. We will get rid of it asap. Thanks for the info.

Jim K · 09-24-2010, 10:17 AM

There is an object lesson here. I don't want to accuse or frighten anyone, but some of us may have items that are not legal for one reason or another. And we all will die, no "maybe" about it, only when.

So don't leave your widow or children or other heirs stuck with contraband. Legally, there is only one way to get rid of such things, and that is to do what Alpo advises.

But if one were to lose the item in a deep lake, who would know or care? Even if the item would be valuable if registered, if it is not, it is contraband, just like a kilo of heroin or stolen jewels. If you don't want your people, in a time of grief, to be confronted with legal problems, get rid of the contraband while you still can.

Jim

3/2 STA SS · 09-24-2010, 10:20 AM

Is it the pistol grip model as shown?

Jim Hauff · 09-24-2010, 12:20 PM

The only part of that piece that makes it "illegal" is the barrel. You can destroy the barrel and sell the receiver and the "furniture". There is a market for those parts. The receivers show up on the on-line auction sites from time to time and often sell up to $500+, depending upon condition.

Bill DeShivs · 09-24-2010, 02:39 PM

Without the barrel, the gun is not contraband. The barrel itself is not contraband, either.
Just the combination is contraband.
I caution the original poster to look for federal paperwork, with a tax stamp, where the gun was found.

Jim Hauff · 09-25-2010, 11:09 AM

Bill's right about the barrel - HOWEVER - possessing both the 10" barrel and the receiver in the same place, at the same time - COULD be construed as "constuctive" intent - and in the unlikely event of discovery by Gov't officials, could cause problems for the possessor.

09-24-2010, 06:36 AM	#1
DonnaClark Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 2	H&R Handy Gun My father recently passed away and we found an old gun in his safe. We'd like to get rid of it but we don't know it's value. It is made by Harrington & Richardson Arms Company, Worchester, MA. It has H&R Handy Gun 28 guage written on it. That's all the information we have. -->

09-24-2010, 07:14 AM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,772	Re: H&R Handy Gun Unfortunately, if you live in the United States, unless the gun is registered under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (and you have the registration paperwork) it is not only valueless, it is illegal to possess. It falls under the definition of a "smoothbore pistol" and to be legal would have to have a barrel at least 18 inches long, and be at least 26 inches in overall length. Possession of an unregistered NFA item is a federal felony punishable by 10 years in jail and a 250 thousand dollar fine. If it's unregistered, the only legal way to get rid of it is to turn it in to the ATF for destruction. If it's registered, it's a nice collector piece, worth some money. http://www.fourten.org.uk/mwhandygun.html __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

09-24-2010, 09:53 AM	#3
DonnaClark Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 2	Re: H&R Handy Gun Wow - that's scary. We will get rid of it asap. Thanks for the info.

09-24-2010, 10:17 AM	#4
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: H&R Handy Gun There is an object lesson here. I don't want to accuse or frighten anyone, but some of us may have items that are not legal for one reason or another. And we all will die, no "maybe" about it, only when. So don't leave your widow or children or other heirs stuck with contraband. Legally, there is only one way to get rid of such things, and that is to do what Alpo advises. But if one were to lose the item in a deep lake, who would know or care? Even if the item would be valuable if registered, if it is not, it is contraband, just like a kilo of heroin or stolen jewels. If you don't want your people, in a time of grief, to be confronted with legal problems, get rid of the contraband while you still can. Jim

09-24-2010, 10:20 AM	#5
3/2 STA SS Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Area, FL Posts: 1,454	Re: H&R Handy Gun Is it the pistol grip model as shown?

09-24-2010, 12:20 PM	#6
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H&R Handy Gun The only part of that piece that makes it "illegal" is the barrel. You can destroy the barrel and sell the receiver and the "furniture". There is a market for those parts. The receivers show up on the on-line auction sites from time to time and often sell up to $500+, depending upon condition.

09-24-2010, 02:39 PM	#7
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,478	Re: H&R Handy Gun Without the barrel, the gun is not contraband. The barrel itself is not contraband, either. Just the combination is contraband. I caution the original poster to look for federal paperwork, with a tax stamp, where the gun was found. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

09-25-2010, 11:09 AM	#8
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H&R Handy Gun Bill's right about the barrel - HOWEVER - possessing both the 10" barrel and the receiver in the same place, at the same time - COULD be construed as "constuctive" intent - and in the unlikely event of discovery by Gov't officials, could cause problems for the possessor.