H&R Top Break 22 - The Firearms Forum

ramblinbill · 12-11-2011, 12:19 PM

I need some help identifying an H&R 22. It's a small frame, 7 shot top break having black plastic grips with the target logo.

The lettering on top of the barrel reads:
HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS COMPANY
WORCHESTER,MASS. USA PAT OCT 8 1895

The left side of the barrel reads 22 RIM FIRE .

Serial number on the butt is 447172.
Beneath the top strap and on the rear of the cylinder is 172.

Will it be safe to shoot standard velocity 22RF ammunition in this revolver?

I appreciate any info I can get.

Jim Hauff · 12-11-2011, 01:14 PM

ramblinbill,
You have a 2nd Model PREMIER 3rd Variation made between 1909 and 1913. This gun was made to shoot the .22 lr cartridges of that era. If the gun is safe to shoot, it should be capable of handling modern standard, sub-sonic or match rounds.
A s/n in the 440K seems to be a bit higher than the known range for that variation. Sooo- you get the usual answer - it is a transitional piece between 3rd and 4th Variations (1914-15) and was most likely made in late 1913 or early 1914.

ramblinbill · 12-11-2011, 04:54 PM

Jim, thanks for your help.

The gun is in excellent shape mechanically and locks up tight. I felt safe when I put 14 modern 22LRs trhough it. No problems at all.

Per information gleaned from these forums I thought this model should lock the cylinder on half cock, but it doesn't.
There is a clicking sound if I manually turn the cylinder when the hammer is at half cock.
I took the cylinder off and worked the hammer and it appeared as though it has two cylinder stops, one active when the hammer is down and one when the hammer is at full cock.
The stop which is up when the hammer is full down drops very slightly at half cock position, just enough to allow the cylinder to free wheel.

Is this normal or is one of the cylinder stops worn?

Thanks again.

Bill

Jim Hauff · 12-12-2011, 10:39 AM

Bill,
If I understand - it is the normal operation for that model and variation. The PREMIER was fitted with a cylinder stop while the hammer is at rest for this mod. and var. Earlier PREMIERs - 1st Mod. - were "free wheeling" with no stop when the hammer was down.
I think the clicking noise you hear at half cock it a partial extension of the hand clicking on the ratchet or star.

12-11-2011, 12:19 PM	#1
ramblinbill Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12	H&R Top Break 22 I need some help identifying an H&R 22. It's a small frame, 7 shot top break having black plastic grips with the target logo. The lettering on top of the barrel reads: HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS COMPANY WORCHESTER,MASS. USA PAT OCT 8 1895 The left side of the barrel reads 22 RIM FIRE . Serial number on the butt is 447172. Beneath the top strap and on the rear of the cylinder is 172. Will it be safe to shoot standard velocity 22RF ammunition in this revolver? I appreciate any info I can get. -->

12-11-2011, 01:14 PM	#2
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H&R Top Break 22 ramblinbill, You have a 2nd Model PREMIER 3rd Variation made between 1909 and 1913. This gun was made to shoot the .22 lr cartridges of that era. If the gun is safe to shoot, it should be capable of handling modern standard, sub-sonic or match rounds. A s/n in the 440K seems to be a bit higher than the known range for that variation. Sooo- you get the usual answer - it is a transitional piece between 3rd and 4th Variations (1914-15) and was most likely made in late 1913 or early 1914. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

12-11-2011, 04:54 PM	#3
ramblinbill Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12	Re: H&R Top Break 22 Jim, thanks for your help. The gun is in excellent shape mechanically and locks up tight. I felt safe when I put 14 modern 22LRs trhough it. No problems at all. Per information gleaned from these forums I thought this model should lock the cylinder on half cock, but it doesn't. There is a clicking sound if I manually turn the cylinder when the hammer is at half cock. I took the cylinder off and worked the hammer and it appeared as though it has two cylinder stops, one active when the hammer is down and one when the hammer is at full cock. The stop which is up when the hammer is full down drops very slightly at half cock position, just enough to allow the cylinder to free wheel. Is this normal or is one of the cylinder stops worn? Thanks again. Bill

12-12-2011, 10:39 AM	#4
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: H&R Top Break 22 Bill, If I understand - it is the normal operation for that model and variation. The PREMIER was fitted with a cylinder stop while the hammer is at rest for this mod. and var. Earlier PREMIERs - 1st Mod. - were "free wheeling" with no stop when the hammer was down. I think the clicking noise you hear at half cock it a partial extension of the hand clicking on the ratchet or star. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie