Another "What is it" - The Firearms Forum

Charles Christensen · 01-01-2012, 01:20 PM

Had this around for years. I just gave it a cleaning and oiling. The finish (nickel, I guess) has the usual bit of rust rash but no big gaps. The cylinder looks pretty good but the barrel does have pitting even though the groves and lands are sharp. The grips seem to be perfect and, surprise, everything works.

Serial # is 104674
Left side of the barrel has - 32 CAL.S.&W.CTGE.
Top of the barrel has - HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS COMPANY
WORCHESTER,MASS.U.S.A.PAT.MAY14,89APR.2,95APR.7,96

Brisk44 · 01-01-2012, 01:26 PM

That looks to be in beautiful shape. These guns are fun to shoot. Mine just seems to hit where ever you point it.

Jim Hauff · 01-02-2012, 10:46 AM

Charles,
Welcome to the forum.

You have an H&R 2nd Model SMALL FRAME HAMMERLESS 1st Variation made 1905 -'06. The serial number is in the upper range for this variation, so, 1906 sounds about right for the year of manufacture. This gun was made to handle smokeless/Nitro powder loaded cartridges of the type .32 S&W (not .32 S&W LONG) and should be able to handle, if safe to fire, any of the modern, factory loaded .32 S&W cartridges. It appears to have the "standard" 3" barrel, hard rubber grip panels and Nickel finish.
You can "brighten-up" the Nickel plating by judicious use of FLITZ or METAL-GLO paste metal polish - I've used both and found METAL-GLO to be a bit softer on the metal. Don't over do the clean-up, although the Nickel plate on these older H&Rs seems to be pretty thick.
Nice gun.

Name: IMG_2044.jpg
Views: 212
Size: 236.1 KB

Name: IMG_2044.jpg
Views: 212
Size: 236.1 KB

Fullstock · 01-31-2013, 06:21 PM

A nice Saturday night special.

WHSmithIV · 01-31-2013, 07:42 PM

Hi Charles,

I'll add some info on this one for you. These small .32's were all the rage back in the 20's and 30's. They are neat little guns too. I own one from U.S. Revolver Co. and I love the little piece. I take it as my truck dashboard pistol all the time. Firing it is just a simple pleasure.

These were called bicycle guns. Back when the bicycle was invented, people would carry these to shoot at dogs who would chase them on their bicycle.

They don't have a great deal of value (I paid $38.00 for mine last fall). However, they are a nice addition to a collection. Your H&R is worth in the range of $45-75. Since they do have low value, I suggest you keep it. You can still buy .32 S&W cartridges. I bought an old mixed box from an auction and had a huge thrill that had me grinning insanely when the first 3 I fired turned out to be black powder cartridges. There was smoke and flame and gunpowder residue on my shirt. I kept smiling for no apparent reason that entire day.

01-01-2012, 01:20 PM	#1
Charles Christensen V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 208	Another "What is it" Had this around for years. I just gave it a cleaning and oiling. The finish (nickel, I guess) has the usual bit of rust rash but no big gaps. The cylinder looks pretty good but the barrel does have pitting even though the groves and lands are sharp. The grips seem to be perfect and, surprise, everything works. Serial # is 104674 Left side of the barrel has - 32 CAL.S.&W.CTGE. Top of the barrel has - HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS COMPANY WORCHESTER,MASS.U.S.A.PAT.MAY14,89APR.2,95APR.7,96 Attached Images -->

01-01-2012, 01:26 PM	#2
Brisk44 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,747	Re: Another "What is it" That looks to be in beautiful shape. These guns are fun to shoot. Mine just seems to hit where ever you point it.

01-02-2012, 10:46 AM	#3
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: Another "What is it" Charles, Welcome to the forum. You have an H&R 2nd Model SMALL FRAME HAMMERLESS 1st Variation made 1905 -'06. The serial number is in the upper range for this variation, so, 1906 sounds about right for the year of manufacture. This gun was made to handle smokeless/Nitro powder loaded cartridges of the type .32 S&W (not .32 S&W LONG) and should be able to handle, if safe to fire, any of the modern, factory loaded .32 S&W cartridges. It appears to have the "standard" 3" barrel, hard rubber grip panels and Nickel finish. You can "brighten-up" the Nickel plating by judicious use of FLITZ or METAL-GLO paste metal polish - I've used both and found METAL-GLO to be a bit softer on the metal. Don't over do the clean-up, although the Nickel plate on these older H&Rs seems to be pretty thick. Nice gun. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

01-31-2013, 06:21 PM	#4
Fullstock Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 15	Re: Another "What is it" A nice Saturday night special.

01-31-2013, 07:42 PM	#5
WHSmithIV Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Moore, Idaho contributor Posts: 2,615	Re: Another "What is it" Hi Charles, I'll add some info on this one for you. These small .32's were all the rage back in the 20's and 30's. They are neat little guns too. I own one from U.S. Revolver Co. and I love the little piece. I take it as my truck dashboard pistol all the time. Firing it is just a simple pleasure. These were called bicycle guns. Back when the bicycle was invented, people would carry these to shoot at dogs who would chase them on their bicycle. They don't have a great deal of value (I paid $38.00 for mine last fall). However, they are a nice addition to a collection. Your H&R is worth in the range of $45-75. Since they do have low value, I suggest you keep it. You can still buy .32 S&W cartridges. I bought an old mixed box from an auction and had a huge thrill that had me grinning insanely when the first 3 I fired turned out to be black powder cartridges. There was smoke and flame and gunpowder residue on my shirt. I kept smiling for no apparent reason that entire day. __________________ We are not sheeple, we will not fade quietly away. We will stand up for Freedom, for our rights, and, we will fight to protect the Constitution and our Freedom. We are the militia, we are the PEOPLE.