Help with old H&R revolver

K

KTOHIO

Inactive
I have received an old 32 caliber revolver in which I'm looking to get some information on. I don't collect guns but this was given to my by my Mom and it's been in the family I believe since my great grandfather. (not sure).

It's a:
H&R / Smith & Wesson
.32 Caliber
5 round
Top Break
3" barrel

SN# on bottom of handle and under the barrel (once removed to see) is:
385347

The top of the guns barrel says Harrington & Richardson with an address and PATENT date of 1895

Any help would be great.
 
Your revolver is a Harrington & Richardson product. As with numerous other older revolvers, it fires a cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson, but it is NOT a Smith & Wesson product.

FWIW the late 19th century S&W top-break line was immensely popular and spawned legions of similar knockoffs from companies like H&R, Iver Johnson, Meriden, Hopkins & Allen, and others. These guns would often feature deceptively large "SMITH & WESSON" rollmarks that were nominally there to denote the cartridge the gun fired, but were intentionally overemphasized to fool unwitting buyers into believing they were buying a genuine, well-renowned S&W product. These markings still work their magic today. :rolleyes:
 
The only marking on the gun that says S&W is on the side of the barrel.

.32 cal. S & W CTGE

Top of the barrel:

Harrington & Richardson Arms Company
Worcester, Mass. U.S.A. PAT OCT 8, 1895
SN# under barrel and on bottom of handle 385347

I know it's been in our family for a long time as I remember the gun when I was 10 and that's been 32yrs ago. My mother is 73 and has had this her entire life.

I'm just looking for some information on the gun and it's production date.

Thanks
 
I'm not looking to fire the gun. I'm just looking for information on it. AGE of the gun, the ACTUAL manufactoring date.
 
Hello Mleake,,,

So what are you saying Mleake?,,,
That I should probably clean my glasses?,,,
Are you saying that I should perhaps see an eye doctor? :eek:

It's all good my friend,,, :D
I did read .32 but thought .38,,,
Thanks for being so polite to my old self.

I'll chalk this one up as a Senior Moment.

Aarond is now officially embarrassed! :o

.
 
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Here are some pics..
Thanks
 

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OK a Harrington and Richardson .32 Caliber, 5 round, Top Break revolver. Pat. OCT. 8th, 1895. SN# 385347 , the SN# can be found on the bottom of the handle, on the inside of the handle cover on gun itself, and once the barrel is rotated off, under the Top Break area. :o

ONLY LOOKING FOR:

AGE
DATE OF MANUFACTURE
PRICE (worth anything)
WHO MIGHT HAVE OWNED IT (My Grandfather or Great Grandfather)

Thanks
 
Your gun is the second model Premier small frame auto ejecting. in the third variety that was made between 1908 and 13. It will handle modern smokeless loads in low quantity in .32 S&W only. It will be deemed the 'new' model by some since it was made after 1904.

One just sold for 190US , another for 140.
 
It will handle modern smokeless loads in low quantity in .32 S&W only.
Click to expand...
+1. I would like to add a mandatory warning statement that I should have mentioned earlier.

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT USING .32ACP (aka .32 Auto or 7.65mm Browning) AMMO IN THIS GUN!! IT IS NOT SAFE!! DO NOT LISTEN TO ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE!!

This cartridge is far more commonly available and generally less expensive than .32S&W, and it will usually chamber and function properly in these guns, albeit with occasional problems caused by the undersize case rim. However, it operates at substantially higher pressure than .32S&W. Older top-break revolvers categorically aren't very strong, and .32ACP may blow the gun apart, catastrophically damaging it and possibly causing serious, permanent injuries to the shooter's fingers and eyes. :eek:

Unfortunately, some people seem to believe that using .32ACP in these guns is OK, sometimes because they've tried it a handful of times and been lucky, or because their friend's cousin's auto mechanic's uncle's Army buddy did it. THIS DOES NOT MAKE IT SAFE. :rolleyes: DON'T DO IT.
 
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