Inherited firearms, need info

[antiquehunter]

Hi, I am very new to this site. I inherited 5 firearms and have no idea what value to put insurance on them. We didn't even know that the family had guns till we were cleaning the estate.

1. Hand gun, on the 5 1/2" barrel there is H & R Arms Company, Worcester, Mass. U.S.A., H & R 922. The number is 186786 with no letter in the front. Has the gold site, has the web look on the wooden part of the handle. It has worn or what looks like rust starting on about 5% of the metal parts. The wood has very little wear, but a few scuff marks. Has 9 spots for the bullets. I know it shoots 22's and it does work, has wonderful aim. I would like to know if this is from the 1939 time frame, looks very much like one that I read about on another posting. Also what do I do for care so that it stays in the condition it currently is in?

2. Hand gun, on the 5 1/8" barrel there is 32-20 Long Cartridge, on the bottom of the handle it has 9039 made Spain, there is a Trade Mark that looks something like a H over a B. It is a six shooter. It has rust starting on about 50% of the metal. Can I stop this and what do I do? Do I dare oil the wood to keep it looking good. This one needs work, will not fire.

3. Long arm gun, I have a U. S. Springfield Rifle Musket, probably a Civil War Model, has a single hammer, the bird on the side has open wings. This gun is very pitted and the wood has a lot of damage.

4. Then I have a Japanese (I think) rifle, has foreign writing on it, a 00621186, # 46 on the stock, there is also a JR72. I think the Bayonet goes with this gun but not sure.

5. The last one has a crown with Erfurt 1908 SP. 12, there is a 2878 by the site that has number and lines on both sides. This lifts up to different levels. Looks like a 41L at the end of the stock. This rifle has 50% dings on the wood parts, and maybe 20% wear on the metal. Does the 12 mean that it is a 12 guage gun?

As by now you must know I am a girl, but I do hunt, have shot many different guns, not well but I still go out hunting. I love antiques and the fact that these have probably been in my family since the day the were purchased is why I am keeping them. I just need to know how old, and if anything should be done to restore. Thanks, Linda

[Alpo]

1. H&R 922. 22 revolver made between 1950 and 1982. Came with a 2 1/2, 4 or 6 inch barrel. If you came up with 5 1/2, you probably measured from the front of the gun to the front of the frame. Revolver barrels continue through the frame, so that would explain the missing half an inch. The book says value of 40 bucks (poor), 60 (fair), 80 (good), 90 (Very Good) to 100 bucks (excellent).

2. Spanish made copy of (probably) a Smith and Wesson Hand Ejector. Cheap gun to begin with. It does not fire, you say. Will probably cost as much, if not more, to get it to be able to fire than the gun is worth. While a S&W HE would be worth 3 to 5 hundred, a Spanish copy is worth about a hundred, in the best of shape. Rusty and inoperative, it is not worth very much. You can stop the rust by soaking the area in light oil (WD40, 3-in-1 oil, Liquid Wrench, anything of that nature) and rubbing the oily rust, lightly, with a ball of 0000 steel wool (the number is a measure of the coarseness of the wire. Four-ought [as 0000 is called] is very fine). If you want to oil the grips to keep them looking nice, use boiled linseed oil. It is available at most hardware stores, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. It is made for use on wood.

3. A Springfield Armory US Military gun could be worth many thousands of dollars. But there are several different ones it could be. You need to take it to a reputable antigue dealer, preferably one that is experienced in guns. When you are talking about a gun that is that old, and potentially that valuable, it is hard to judge even from a good picture, let alone a description that basically just says the eagle has his wings spread.

4. A picture would be very helpful.

5. Erfurt is/was a gun maker in Germany. 1908 should be the year it was made. 2878 should be the serial number. From your description, "site that has number and lines on both sides. This lifts up to different levels", this is a ladder rear sight, common to most military rifles of that time frame. With a sight like this, it is very unlikely the gun is a 12 gauge. Taking a wild guess, with it made by that company, in that time frame, with that sight, it is a 98 Mauser (designed in 1898), chambered in 8mm. But, again - pictures.

[Xracer]

Hi antiquehunter.....welcome to TFF.

Hard to tell what you've got from just the descriptions you've given. Can you post some pictures of each of them?

Clear, sharp pictures.....full length, both left and right sides. Also, all of the writing on them, exactly as it appears. That will help us ID them for you and give you a ballpark estimate of their value.

[antiquehunter]

I am having a hard time downloading the pics I have. Thanks for your info, I will keep trying with the pictures and I will try to find a good dealer in this neck of the woods. Have a great weekend and again thanks for you knowledge. Linda

[b.goforth]

i hate to correct another forum member but the H&R model 922 was introduced in 1926 and was in continuous production until 1961. there was a break in production between 1962 and 1976. a new model was introduced in 1977. actually it was the third model and equipped with a transfer bar ignition system. this model 922 remained in production until 1979.

the three models of the 922 are
1926-1952=first
1953-1961=second
1977=1979=third

this model 922 serial number 186786 is most likely a first model 4th variation manufactured 1938-1939, but it could be a earlier 3 rd variation 1932-1937. only a good quality picture will tell for sure.
bill

[Alpo]

Originally Posted by b.goforth

i hate to correct another forum member but the H&R model 922 was introduced in 1926 and was in continuous production until 1961. bill

By all means, correct me when I'm wrong. You're the expert. I was quoting out of the 2007 Standard Catalog of Firearms. I thought they'd been around longer than that, but figgered Old Timer's Disease was kicking in again, and my memory was going.

[JohnK3]

antiquehunter, Mr. Goforth is the authority on your little H&R 922. If you can attach pictures to an email, feel free to email me the pictures and I will post on here for you.

PM with my email on its way.