Help Interpreting H&R Serial Number

[Jim Hauff]

Bob,
You're welcome....I agree! That's one of the few H&Rs that I NEVER owned. Semper Fi

[loggancross]

Hello:

I have the following shotgun I am trying to ID, appraise and possibly sell it. It is an H & R toploader shotgun .. that's about all I know. Thankyou in advance for your expertise and help.

Serial # A29078 (stamped behind trigger guard)
#29078 (no A) stamped on barrel (seen when top is open)

I can email pics if needed

[Jim Hauff]

loggancross,
Welcome to the forum.
You most likely have an H&R Model 1908 - but pics would certainly help with the ID.
If you wish to e-mail pics to me, I'll post them on this thread: bobell01@aol.com

[Faisca]

Hello all. I'm brand new to this forum, and I'll introduce myself in another thread because I know this isn't the place.

I have an H&R .22LR revolver, 9 rounds, made in Worcester, MA. Serial number S12510. This gun was one of my grandfather's, and as I'm trying to find out all I can about his guns, I figure I came to the right place!

Here are a few pictures:







Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Jim Hauff]

Faisca,
From the serial number, starting with a 'S' and the shape and position of the trigger - you have an H&R SPORTSMAN SINGLE ACTION (Model 199). It is a 3rd Variation (frame mounted firing pin, cylinder release on right side, manufacturer's name and address on top barrel rib, fully adjustable front and rear sights) and probably (or should have) a raised safety rim around the breech face of the cylinder and one patent number stamped into the side of the cylinder. These are/were very accurate shooters and in v.good to excellent condition are worth, at RETAIL, between $400 and $500, routinely. Since your piece shows signs of having been refinished - it has lost collector value, but should still be worth $250 to $300 as a accurate range/target shooter.

The left barrel flat should have "H. & R. SPORTSMAN" over "SINGLE ACTION" acid etched into it. I can't see any sign of that marking???? There appears to be quite a bit of "dishing" around the screw and pin holes. Both of those "effects" leads me to believe your gun was buffed and reblued at some point.
Compare the pics below. First and second are of piece less than 200 s/n from yours, 3rd is an "enhanced" copy of your picture.

[Faisca]

Thanks for the reply, Jim!

So yeah, that looks exactly like my gun. However, you must be right about it being refinished because there's no trace of the "H&R Sportsman" etching on the left side of the barrel.

That's fine though, because I don't plan on letting go of this guy. I'm just glad I now know more about it! Now that you've given me the model number, I was able to find another thread on this forum with some more information (http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=28371). Apparently these guns with serial number starting with S were built in the 30s or 40s. Any idea how to find out the exact year for this gun?

The gun is in great condition, and I actually did some shooting with it last night. I wonder though, if at this age it's too old to shoot targets with? It worked flawlessly last night, so my instinct is to say that shooting it is fine...

[Jim Hauff]

Faisca,
You're welcome - glad to help out - thanks for thanking!
As to year of manufacture - my bad, I forgot to enter: the 3rd Variation was made circa 1933-34 up to March 1936. I'm still collecting info on the two SPORTSMAN models and can't pin it down closer than that.
SHOOT AWAY, that's what it was made for and only a couple knuckleheads, such as I, collect and squirrel them away. Actually I've, recently, done some shooting with one of the SA 199s - which is just a bit older (at least the serial number is lower) than yours. It works great, love the single action which is very crisp with very little trigger travel. Accuracy is outstanding when I can hold still long enough to register the sights. Nice guns. I would avoid using a steady diet of modern HIGH VELOCITY and very few if any HYPER VELOCITY rounds in these guns. Modern standard velocity ammo is generally more inherently accurate anyway, and less expensive.
One note of interest: It appears that the Model 199 was produced in far lesser numbers than the Model 999 - perhaps on a ratio of 1:20 or higher.
BTW: Your reference post, goes back to the late Bill Goforth's research, which is the basis of my information - although I've been able to expand a bit with help from folks such as you, who have provided information. Thanks for that info.

[Sammie01]

I have acquired a couple of old H&R revolvers I'd like some help with the manufacture dates. The first is a .38 hammerless topbreak, 5 shot. Depending which way I point the barrel, the serial number is either 68999 or 66689. The second is a .32 topbreak w/hammer serial 142298. Both have caliber markings on the side and are nickel plated. Can someone tell me when they were made?

[Jim Hauff]

Sammie,
#1 LARGE FRAME HAMMERLESS 2nd Model, 1st Variation - indicated by cartridge marking on barrel. This serial number (either one) is a very LOW number in the range for this variation, indicating to me that it was made, most likely, in 1905.

#2 Need to know how many holes in the cylinder and exactly what is stamped in the barrel rib. Could be a large frame AUTO EJECTING or a PREMIER small frame. Either would have been made between 1905 and 1941.

[Sammie01]

Jim, thanks for the help!! I appreciate your knowledge...the second revolver is also a 5 shot, the barrel says Premier 32 S&W CTGE? Kind of worn.

On the first revolver, which way would the barrel point to read the serial number correctly?

Thanks!!

[Sammie01]

Jim I guess that last question was pretty dumb, the gun would point the same direction as any other to read the serial correctly. Duh...severe brain lapse.

[Jim Hauff]

Sammie01,
We all have those now and then - I'm a poster boy for that malady.
Working only with the serial number and the Barrel left side stamping - it appears your 5 shooter in .32 is a 2nd Model PREMIER small frame auto ejecting (probably) 2nd Variation (circa 1906 - '08). If so, it should have the top rib stamped as follows:
HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS COMPANY
WORCESTER, MASS.U.S.A. PAT. APR.2,'95 APR.7,'96
Note: PAT. may also be PAT'D which is a marking variation seen on some examples
If not marked in this manner, let me know, and let me know how your's IS marked.

[Sammie01]

Jim,

Thanks for the info. My .32 is marked exactly as you described, and is auto-ejecting. If its manu date is 1906-08 then I have a great old gun in excellent condition. Thanks again for your expertise!!

[Jim Hauff]

Sammie01,
You do have "a great old gun" - enjoy. You're welcome and thanks for thanking.

[colin.tucker90]

I am new to the forum. I Have a H&R Model 732 with a serial number AX74***. can anyone tell me the the year on this model?

[jamesjo]

colin,
AX = 1981

[Killer976]

I'm trying to help my dad figure out what year a gun is that his father had given to him. Its an H&R 16ga the serial number near the trigger starts with an A followed by six digits 831xxx but on the barrel there are only the numbers and no letter. Can someone please help? Thanks

[Jim Hauff]

Killer,
Welcome to the forum!
Your Dad's shotgun is most likely a model 1908. If so, it should have a fixed hinge pin and be a 3 piece takedown - splinter, snap off forend, barrel, receiver and butt stock.
If that's the case - the best guess of year or era of manufacture is in the mid 1920s to 1930. Currently don't have access to manufacturing records - so guestimates are based upon known serial number ranges.
BTW - what exactly is stamped into the left side of the receiver?

[Killer976]

Thank you so much for the response and yes it is a 3 piece breakdown. Stamped into the gun is Harrington & Richardson Arms Co, Bay State, Worcester,Mass USA

[Jim Hauff]

Killer,
Thanks for the follow-up.
The "BAY STATE" stamping on the receiver indicates that your shotgun was one of the "brand name" guns made by H&R for distribution/sales through wholesalers, cataloguers, hardware stores etc. Bill G. found the first reference to this "brand" in a June, 1932 price list, which indicates only a wholesale price and not a suggested retail - as found for all other firearms listed. The Bay State guns in this reference as well as later ones up to 1940 - are always listed at $1.75 less than the H&R STANDARD 08 Model from which it was modeled. Apparently, H&R put a bit less work or less expensive wood into the BAY STATE, which in 1932 wholesaled at $6.50.
That stamping also helps confirm my estimated year of manufacture range - but I'm now thinking it is more likely 1930 -'31.
Thanks!

[Killer976]

Thank you so much for your help. My dad is glad to know more about the gun his father passed on to him. That gun means a lot to him.

[Jim Hauff]

Killer976,
You're welcome - glad your Dad is happy with the info. I'm glad to have helped you fellers out. Enjoy it and pass it on down the heritage trail.
Thanks for thanking.

[bigstemz]

I picked up a nice little h&r and trying to identify what model it is. It shoots a .32 s&w and has a 2" in barrel with exposed hammer. It is has a top break and is auto ejecting and is also a 5 shot cylinder. The serial number has 6 digits and is on the underside of the grip. On the left side of the barrel it says "32 s&w ctge". And on the top of the barrel is says "h&r arms co worchester mass USA". I'm trying to find out the model it is so I can find parts for it. If anyone could help me that would b a great help! I think it's a small framed premiere, but I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance!

[Jim Hauff]

bigstemz,
Sounds like a 2nd Model PREMIER BICYCLE (if it truly has a 2" barrel) 7th Var. - which is analogous to the 4th Variation, except for the short barrel - made in 1914 -15. This would be a smokeless powder capable gun. The serial number would help to nail this down.
Check the pics:

[bigstemz]

339322 is the serial on it. It looks identical to the first pic except its a blued finish. If I was looking for a replacement cylinder and ejector would any odthe small frame premieres work for that? I will post some pics later on today.