[vonfatman]

Gentlemen, I recently purchased an H&R Sportsman "999"
I shot the gun tonight. It brought back great memories of my very young days. My father taught me how to shoot a revolver with his 999 (now regrettably gone).

It's pretty clean. It's s/n is L6115

I'm curious as to the date of manufacture. Plus any other information I can glean from knowledgeable members.

Thank you.

Bob

On left side of barrel: H & R "SPORTSMAN"
DOUBLE ACTION

Top of barrel matte finish/non-glare

Right side of barrel: HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS CO.
WORCESTER, MASS., U.S.A.

22 LONG RIFLE CTG.



pinned front sight. Screw in front of sight above muzzle.

Single piece walnut stocks.

 

[GunHugger]

L is 1951.

SPORTSMAN DOUBLE ACTION MODEL 999 LARGE FRAME TOP BREAK

.22 LR or .22 WRF cal., 7 (.22 WRF cal.) or 9 shot, blue finish, 6 in. ribbed barrel, safety rim cylinder, automatic cylinder stop, adj. rear sight, three different front sights - fixed full blade, Partridge type, and Partridge type pinned to barrel top rib, finger rest trigger guard, one-piece oversized checkered walnut grips, birds-head grip frame (Rice frame), frame mounted firing pin, hammer face is flat, cylinder release is long pivoting lever on right side of frame (there are two different version of this), serial numbered in its own series from 01 up to at least 89761 by the end of 1939, starting in 1940 letter codes were used. Mfg. 1932-1952.

Early production until about 1933 the letter code "D" was used to denote double action.
First Variation; round heavy weight ribbed barrel with non-adjustable front sight blade - 1932- to before April 18,1933.
Second Variation; adjustable front sight - 1933 (after 4-18-1933).
Third Variation; firing pin moved to hammer - 1934.
Fourth Variation; three inch barrel was offered - 1935.
Fifth Variation; two patent dates marked on cylinder (before there was only one) - 1936 (after 3-17)-1937.
Sixth Variation; top of barrel markings moved to right side of barrel - 1937-1939.
Seventh Variation; .22 WFR caliber dropped, 3 inch barrel dropped - 1940-1941.
Eighth Variation; one piece over size plastic grips are standard, limited production during WWII years - 1942-1952.

 

[vonfatman]

Mr. GunHugger,
Thanks you for making time to post your lengthy and informative reply. Great stuff. I just bought a M199 single action and hope to see it soon. Bob

 

[sescadman]

"L" is 1951 from my research I've found today while researching "K" which was 1950

Could you post a picture of you "L" series Sportsman?

I ordered a book online today:

Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., A Short Illustrated History of
Joseph T. Vorisek

Item #1305: $22.45
How Many Would You Like?

194 pages, about 8 1/2" x 11" glossy soft-cover in full color. Newly reprinted with permission. Printed on high quality 20# 97 bright acid free paper. Fully Illustrated with photocopied images (some of the rarest guns are depicted with low quality images).

INCLUDES SERIAL NUMBERS AND DATES OF MANUFACTURE.

Also see:

Harrington & Richardson Catalogs we reprint
Gun history books by Joe Vorisek
Determine year of manufacture from your serial number

Here is the link:
http://www.cornellpubs.com/old-guns/item_desc.php?item_id=1305

Steve