H & R top breah 38 S&W

tjb3740

I just picked up an H & R top break pistol in 38 S&W. SN is 3928nn, Can anyone tell me about when it was made. This pistol is very nice, with black grips and possibly unfired.
Thanks, Ted

32 Magnum

tjb3740,
I can give you an approximate date, but will need a bit more information for it to be accurate:
What is the inscription on the barrel top rib?
Is there a caliber or cartridge marking on the left side of the barrel? Any model name there, also?
Are the grips black hard rubber and do they have the molded in target logo?
If the piece is nickel plated, is the trigger guard blued or nickeled?
There were several models and a couple variations within each model and the autoejector and they were made between 1885 and 1940s.

32 Magnum

tjb3740,
I can give you an approximate date, but will need a bit more information for it to be accurate:
What is the inscription on the barrel top rib?
Is there a caliber or cartridge marking on the left side of the barrel? Any model name there, also?
Are the grips black hard rubber and do they have the molded in target logo?
If the piece is nickel plated, is the trigger guard blued or nickeled?
There were several models and a couple variations within each model of the autoejector and they were made between 1885 and 1940s.

tjb3740

The gun is blued, on top it says Harrington & Richardson Arms Co. Worcester, Mass USA and on the left side 38 S&W CTGE. The grips are black, with the molded in target. Not as soft as rubber but not hard like plastic
Thanks, Ted

32 Magnum

tjb -
Your piece with a 300 thousand serial number is a 3rd Model 3rd Variation "Auto Ejector". This variation was made between circa 1913-25. Your piece probably dates to 1919 or 1920, again by the serial number. It was made to handle smokeless/Nitro powder loads, but if you plan to shoot it, I advise you have it checked and test fired by someone who is qualified (a gunsmith if you're not experienced in such matters) to ensure it is safe to fire. ALL factory loaded .38 S&W ammo, today, is loaded to low pressure to prevent blowing up these older guns - but you don't know what was shot through it previous to you acquiring it. FYI - the grips are made of molded vulcanized rubber. This composition is natural latex with a considerable amount of Sulfur added to provide strength through polymerization and carbon black for the color. Standard model in this variation had nickel finish and a 3.25" barrel. It was also available in 2.5" (very rare), 4", 5" and 6" barrel lengths and blued finish. Any attributes other than standard add value to the piece for collectors. (Note: dates and variations are courtesy of Bill Goforth's research - watch for his new book on H&R Firearms coming out around mid 2008. It will be THE book on H&Rs.)

tjb3740

Thanks for the info. This gun is in excellent condition, very clean and 95 to 99% of blue. I believe it to be unfired, and it will probably remain that way. No powder marks on the front of the cylinder and no shell base mark around the firing pin. It is a nice piece. Thanks for the help, and i will look for the book
TB

32 Magnum

tjb,
You're welcome and THANKS FOR THANKING!

cotti005

32 Magnum,

I also have a 38 S&W CTGE made in Worcester, it is nickle plated with a blued trigger guard. The serial number on it is 4232XX, do a general idea on when this gun was made? It was given to my father a while back and hasn't been shot in a while, I was thinking of having it restored so as to be able to fire it again.

32 Magnum

Cotti,
From dated pieces in my collection, your piece with that serial number was made circa 1921 - 22, and is a 3rd Model 3rd Variation.
What exactly do you need to have "restored" to bring it back to firing condition? It would be easy to spend more money on parts and smith fees than these guns are worth. Current pricing for Winchester Super-X ammo in .38 S&W, 146 gr. LRN (which is a safe load for the older hinged frame revolvers chambered for .38 S&W, as it duplicates the early smokeless loads) is somewhere between $18 and $24 for a box of 50, depending upon where you buy it. If you have the gun checked out by a competent gunsmith and he says it is safe to fire - IMHO - clean it up, polish the finish and shoot it a little to get the feel for how this old cartridge feels. With a muzzle velocity of around 650 fps out of a 4" barrel, if you fire at a nice big rock or clump of dirt out beyond the 100 yard line, you will have time to take a puff on your stogie and/or sip your ice tea before noting impact. LOL! A bit expensive, but FUN shooting.

ireland

Can someone tell me about this gun and how much it is worth?

The photos should be attached below:

b.goforth

this is a "auto-ejecting police model" (spurless hammer) variant of the second or third model H&R auto-ejecting revolver. pictures do not shot enough details. this revolver could have been mande anywhere between 1890 and 1941 and could be either a second model 1890-1904 (black powder) or a third model 1905-1941 (smokeless powder).

fron the position of the trigger (with hammer down) it most likely as a broken trigger return spring.
bill