H&R SPORTSMAN Research

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tightgroup,
Thanks for the update, nice pics. You have a 1st Variation 22 SPECIAL made late in that variational period, probably mid 1928. We're not sure when the change to the 2nd Variation occurred, but, probably, as with most other H&R models there is not a "clear cut" line of demarcation - rather a gradual blending of earlier with later until all the earlier were gone.
Thanks again.
 
WAID,
Your SPORTSMAN was made in 1994 - last examples seem to come from 1999, just before
Marlin purchased the H&R 1871 LLC assets.
When H&R 1871 reissued the SPORTSMAN models they made some changes - the most noticeable one being a shortening of the grip frame. Don't know why, but it probably had to do with production cost savings - just a guess on my parts. See pic. I own/have owned only a few of the post 1990 SPORTSMAN revolvers and have never taken any to the range - so I can't comment on the actions - but I do know that the grip panels were stained "hardwood" (looks to be birch to me) in the later years. Gunstock Birch is actually denser and heavier than Walnut - US DoD used tons of it to restock M1 Garands during the 1950's refitment programs. Thanks for your information - the most recent serial number I now have has a 'HL' prefix - 1997.
IMG_0226.jpg
 
Waid,
You think the wood on yours is ugly, did you see the pics of mine right above your first posting.
We are talking butt ugly. We found it in my wifes great grandmother's falling down house when she passed. The holster fell apart when I picked it off the coat hook it was hanging on. It still shoots fairly decent but one chamber in the cylinder is not exactly in time so I marked it and don't load that chamber.
I don't shoot it any more, it just hangs in my gun safe now. It pains me just to look at it.
 
32 Magnum,

I've got an "old" H&R revolver thats been in my family almost forever. Its a 9 shot .22, on left side of barrel it says" H&R 922", course no serial #. It has a 1/2 circle that pushes in, in front of cylinder on frame, after pushing this 1/2 circle in, one can pull out the cylinder rod, which allows the cylinder to be removed to unload and reload the cylinder. Any ideas as to age? It has the typical H&R grip style. It still shoots good, I can't hit anything with it, believe the barrel is shot out. Thanks
 
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788Ham,
Your Model 922 is a 1st Model and either a 1st, 2nd or 3rd Variation - with the octagonal barrel - so it was made some time between 1926-27 and 1937. If you provide a little more information I can nail it down to which variation it is and closer on the year of manufacture.
Easiest way would be to provide the serial number or post a pic. The serial number should be on the front strap of the grip frame - if not there it can be found on the left side of the grip frame under the grip panel - if not there, someone removed it. All H&R handguns were numbered from the 1870s until 1999.
IMG_1236.jpg

IMG_1241_2.jpg

IMG_1233.jpg
 
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788Ham said:
303tom,

No, its even older than the bottom revolver Tom. Mine has an octagonal barrel, something I forgot to mention previously.
Click to expand...
NO, Those are two of the three 922`s that I own, I should wrote something, trying to do too many things at one time.
 
H & R Research

Hi Jim:

Sorry in my slow response to your questions on my post of 8/16/11 concerning my H & R revolver.

1. The Serial # should be "AP 73847" not the one I posted previously.
(My eyes are not what they used to be.)

2. The revolver has the firing pin on the frame and a transfer bar safety.

Hope this helps.

If you have any questions let me know.

Dan
 
32 Magnum,
Thanks for getting back, you've got me really excited now. Its the same revolver you have marked 136 335.

Number on grip frame: 121 562
Cylinder stamp: 62
Humped top strap, but worn almost off

I haven't anyway to post pic, sorry! Hope to hear back soon!!
 
788Ham,
Thanks for the follow-up.
You have a 1st Model 1st Variation Model 922 with the original grip panels (humped at top). Your piece was made sometime between 1927 and 1929. The Model 922 grew out of the Model 1904, large solid frame - and apparently the serial numbers of both Models were intertwined during the production spans (1904 - circa 1905 to 1942; 922 - circa 1927 - 1952 for 1st Model, 2nd Model 1953 - 1986.) After 1940, H&R began adding a letter prefix indicating year of manufacture. At that time, the numerical part of the s/n was merely a "place holder" indicating the sequence of production of all handguns during that year.
Your gun has a fairly high in the observed range serial number - so I'd ESTIMATE it was made in 1928. It was made to handle ONLY standard velocity cartridges. The change over to handle the, then, High Speed cartridges didn't occur until 1932-33 time period. If your gun is in safe condition to shoot, I recommend using only standard, sub-sonic or no powder loads to preserve it and you.
Hope this helps, any other questions please ask.
 
32 Magnum,
Thanks for your help! My Pop had gotten it from someone years ago, had used it until the hammer spring broke, then went into a drawer. It was tossed into the trash, which I found and rescued, Pop took it to a smithy and had a new spring made, it was shot some, back in the 60's no high pressure loads available. It now sits in my safe, have a few other .22 pistol/revolvers to take its place. I just saw your thread and was interested, truly appreciate your help! Glad to know I rescued an old timer.
 
1. Serial Number 986 (STAMPED ON GRIP, CYLINDER AND EJECTOR)
2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame? MOUNTED IN FRAME
3. Safety rim on cylinder? NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS...IF IT MEANS THAT THERE IS A CYLINDRICAL RIM ON THE FACE OF THE CYLINDER SO THE CARTRIDGE BASE IS PROTECTED BY THE RIM...MINE HAS THIS RIM.
PATENT APPLIED FOR; ONLY THAT STATEMENT...NO ACTUAL PATENT # CITED.
4. Cylinder release: 1" LONG LEVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel "WORCESTER, MASS U.S.A."
6. DA
7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? FIXED, PINNED IN SLOT

My son and I very much enjoyed shooting this gun, but then found out it is a pretty early model and one day when shooting it, the firing pin broke. I am a mechanical engineer, so I machined a new one to match the old one, but I have since decided to stop shooting it. I do not want to destroy an early model...and I am seriously thinking of selling it to someone who is looking for an early model and get a different .22 revolver that I won't be afraid to shoot for fear of damaging a "special" gun.
 
love22s,
Thanks for the info - but - I already have a s/n 986 listed?????? Did you respond to my request on another site? What's a bit strange is that the "other" 986 has a smooth faced (non safety rimmed cylinder) and is not marked as patent applied for - and that is the way it should be based upon the s/n's clustered around it.
What I think you need to do is remove the cylinder and check under the top strap - the REAL serial number will be found there. Let me know what you find. I'll bet there's a 2 in front of the 936????
 
My Sportsman

Hello 32 Magnum,
I did reply to a similar question on a different site. I figured it was the same person requesting information here, but all it took was a cut/paste to get the identical response from me...so I did it.

However, on both responses, I said that I have the "safety rim" but, I am assuming that this is the rim on the outer face of the cylinder where cartridges are inserted/ejected...~2.5mm wide and ~1mm deep. If you look at vanagon40's post (#22 on this thread) he has a few pictures...the last one is a face shot of the cylinder where cartridges are inserted/ejected. Is that outer metal ring on the cylinder the "safety rim" you are asking about...because mine definitely has it.

My cylinder does say "Patent applied for" and cites no patent #.

There are 5 markings of SNs on the gun...one under the top strap (as you said), one on the cylinder, one on the ejector, one on the front face of the grip and one on the left side of grip (if the wood grip is removed). All of these state 986.

It is interesting that you said 986 twice in the top of your response, then 936 in the bottom...but I assure you, mine is 986, as if you turn it upside down, it still says 986.

So, a bit of a mystery here...

But, mysterys can be solved!!

Todd
 
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Todd,
Thanks for the clarification - if you provided the answers to the same questions on another site, it was I who posted them.
For some reason I had your 986 (936 was a WA typo) with a smooth, non-rimmed cylinder face, the manufacturer's address on the right side of the barrel, no patent # nor applied for and a non-pinned sight. The brain is an awful thing to waste - so I'm assuming I got your serial number mixed with another's and put the wrong info in my data base. ??????
You have proven the serial number from those 5 locations - no doubt about that.
I have corrected my records.

Here's pics of the early front sight arrangements:

IMG_4635_3.jpg

IMG_0162_3.jpg
 
Another example

I don't know if you're still collecting these are not. But I picked one up yesterday for a good price as it is non funtional presently. In looking for the part that I need I ran across this trhead. I still need the part if anyone knows where to obtain, Numrich lists ity but is out of stock. The part I need is the ejector star/ring. The cylinder will not advance in either single or double action mode. The hand does appear to be working, with good tension. Anyway, to the questions

1) K381
2) Hammer
3) Rimmed Cylinder ( don't see any patent info on cylinder)
4) Small push button
5) Right side of barrel
6) Double Action
7) Front sight pinned, adjustable?
 
Goody,
Yep, I'm still collecting data. Your gun was made in 1950, it's a 2nd Model and all the info indicates it is the "standard" model with adjustable front sight (height adjustment screw in front of barrel rib). Thanks for the info.
See your question in the other forum - I provided a couple potential sources for parts.
 
Jim, here are 2 more 999's:
1) R55555 6" barrel
2) Hammer
3) Yes
4) Small button on left of frame
5) None
6) DA
7) Adjustable

1) HJ008535 4" barrel
2) Frame
3) Yes
4) Small button on left of frame
5) Left side of frame
6) DA
7) Adjustable

Hope this helps,
Charlie
 
Charlie,
Thanks for the into - logged it into my data base.
1. R = 1955. It is a 2nd Model 1st Variation - all attributes are standard.

2. HJ = 1995. This is one of the "resurrected" H&R 1871, Inc. SPORTSMAN
revolvers. I'm guessing that we should call this the 4th Model
since the length of the grip frame was changed/shortened.
Compare your 'R' with your 'HJ' - the grip frame should be
about 3/4" shorter - taking different grip panels. 4" barrels
are much more prevalent in these later examples.

IMG_0226_2.jpg
 
Jim,
Thank you for pointing out the differences in the frames. Handling the two I noticed that the R felt larger in my hand. Comparing them side by side highlights the frame difference. I bought the R a week ago in a private sale. It's an excellent shooter. The HJ is my brother's. He got it at a LGS two or three years ago. It looked like it had been fired very little if at all. However, he told me that it would not cock on single action reliably. I flushed the trigger and hammer out with CLP and now it works as it should. I suspect there was dried oil or grease interfering with the cocking notches. These really are nice guns.
Charlie
 
1. 89606
2. Hammer
3. Safety rim PAT 1904, PAT 2034
4. small button
5. right side
6. DA
7. Adjustable.

Barrel solid and marked, "H&R SPORTSMAN" DOUBLE ACTION.
Grips are wood grain plastic.
 

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.45 Guy,
Thanks for the info, logged and saved.
Your SPORTSMAN is a 1st Model, 6th Variation and has one of the highest non-letter prefixed serial numbers that I have recorded. I've learned that H&R often carried serial numbers from one year into the next due to fiscal year changes and also carry over of previously serialed frames - SO - I'm of the opinion that your gun was made in very late 1939 or very early 1940 before the 'A' letter code year indicator was in common use. It has all the characteristics of the 6th Variation which carried over into the 7th Var. which in essence was demarked by the use of those year indicating letter prefixes. The plastic/Nylon monogrips begin to be seen in the early 1940 marked pieces - so that leads me to believe what I wrote concerning the "carry over" may be correct for your gun. There is also the possibility that your gun was assembled up to a year or two latter than that, from a 1939 made frame.
Thanks again for the data point.
 
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