Hello -I am trying to find the year of manufacture for a Harrington and Richardson 999 Sportsman. There is no prefix or suffix, and the serial number is a 5 digit number which is 223xx. The only thing I can find in reference books are starting prefix numbers, and this does not have any. The person who currently owns it thinks it was made sometime in the early 50's. Can anyone help? I appreciate it. Thanks
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Birth of H&R 999 Sportsman
- Thread starter emmett
- Start date
As Hawg said - many of the pre 1940 Sportsman pieces have NO prefix - however this only applies to those made between around 1935 and 1940. Prior to that the Double Action models had a 'D' prefix and the Single Action models had an 'S' prefix. My records indicate that serial number should be a 1st Model 2nd or 3rd Variation made between 1933 and 1936. It will be a 2nd Var. if firing pin is mounted in the frame (1933-34) or a 3rd if the firing pin is mounted on the hammer nose (1935-36). Both variations have a 1" long pivoting lever on the right side of the frame that unlatches the cylinder from the arbor.
Are you sure that the serial number (which will be found on the front grip strap) does not have a letter prefix?
Are you sure that the serial number (which will be found on the front grip strap) does not have a letter prefix?
Now I'm gonna have to go look up my first wife and check hers out. It has a hammer mounted firing pin but no pivoting lever on the frame. I can't honestly remember if the serial number had any kind of prefix but doesn't seem like it did. The barrel didn't have a rib per se but when viewed from the muzzle was kind of tear drop shaped. It has H&R Sportsman on the left side. It also has oversize checkered wood grips that look out of place on it but I've seen them on other H&R's.
This one is just like it. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=123330487
This one is just like it. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=123330487
H&R Sportsman revolvers
First year of production for the Sportsman Double Action was 1932.
Check out the 29th Edition of "The Blue Book of Gun Values" by S. Fjestad which contains a completely rewritten, up-to-date history and compilation of H&R Firearms. Current valuation of Post 1952 (4th Model and up) Sportsman pieces are closer to $400 for excellent condition pieces. Teddy, you have an older, outdated Blue Book - you need to update to get the full results of over 14 years of research on H&R's firearms - get a copy of the 29th Ed. or the 30th Ed. when it hits the shelves in late April/May 09.
Jim Hauff
First year of production for the Sportsman Double Action was 1932.
Check out the 29th Edition of "The Blue Book of Gun Values" by S. Fjestad which contains a completely rewritten, up-to-date history and compilation of H&R Firearms. Current valuation of Post 1952 (4th Model and up) Sportsman pieces are closer to $400 for excellent condition pieces. Teddy, you have an older, outdated Blue Book - you need to update to get the full results of over 14 years of research on H&R's firearms - get a copy of the 29th Ed. or the 30th Ed. when it hits the shelves in late April/May 09.
Jim Hauff
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Wrong serial #
Hello folks,
Thanks for all of the good responses. I live in an area where there is a 10 day waiting period, and that has expired so I just picked up the gun. It does have a letter before the serial # which is an L. I think that makes it of 1951 vintage. It is as new in the original box, with the original paperwork, and has never been fired. It is in pristine condition with no marks at all on the blueing. I would think in its condition it is worth a good amount.
Thanks - Emmett
Hello folks,
Thanks for all of the good responses. I live in an area where there is a 10 day waiting period, and that has expired so I just picked up the gun. It does have a letter before the serial # which is an L. I think that makes it of 1951 vintage. It is as new in the original box, with the original paperwork, and has never been fired. It is in pristine condition with no marks at all on the blueing. I would think in its condition it is worth a good amount.
Thanks - Emmett
pooch602000
Inactive
H & R 999 Sportsman Questions
When did H & R Inc. move their operation to Gardner, Mass.? The reason I ask is I picked up a Model 999 Sportsman today with Ser. # BA033446 and would like to know approximately when it was made. I would appreciate any and all help with this. Thanks.
When did H & R Inc. move their operation to Gardner, Mass.? The reason I ask is I picked up a Model 999 Sportsman today with Ser. # BA033446 and would like to know approximately when it was made. I would appreciate any and all help with this. Thanks.
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In my collection I have a revolver with the Worcester Mass address that is dated to 1972 (AJ prefix) and one with the Gardner Mass address that is dated to 1974 (AM prefix) - from that data, I would guess that the move occured probably in 1973 +/- a couple months.
Serial number prefix 'BA' indicates manufacture in 1984.
Serial number prefix 'BA' indicates manufacture in 1984.
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bassguitarbubba
Inactive
I have an H&R .22 LR Model 929 Nine shot revolver. The fireing pin is in the frame and the serial number is AU030XXX. It looks pretty old, but in what I've read on this site, it may have been made in the 70s? The pistol says it was made in Garner, Mass. Can anyone give me any insight as to shen it may have been made?