Harrington and Richardson revolvers

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Hillbilly Hydrographics

Hillbilly Hydrographics

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Im sure this has been covered on this forum probably several times but i have 2 Harrington and Richardson revolvers i just got one is a young america that my research shows it being a early one from 1887 to 1987 it has nickle plated trigger guard and no writing on barrel. It only has young america double action on top of gun above cylinder and the only number i can find is under the grip and its 3 numbers 322. Any info thanks guys i beleave it can only be shot with 32 s&w short black powder rounds? And my second is a top break 32 s&w 6 shot and i dont know how to tell if its made for black powder loads or will shoot smokeless powder. The serial number on the top break is 2536xxAgain thank you for any info. Ill try get some pics of both on here tomorrow.
 
Post pictures if you can. There are features of the guns that changed over time and certain folks here can identify rough age based upon the features... age will give determination on whether it was made to shoot smokeless or black powder. Either way, if you want to shoot the guns they need to be shot with black powder level loads. Either load your own or pay a premium for them. The young American guns are/were harder to clean due to the design, and if they were ever shot with corrosive ammo and not cleaned well then it may have some internal issues that are not easily seen without careful examination with a flashlight and a tongueache from holding your mouth juuuuuuuuuusssssst right.
 
Most of the old top break 32 and 38 H&R guns would be best served with black. I've had lots of folks bring in them along with other contemporary makes and want ammo. I dig out the reference, show them what model they have and point out the "black powder" designation. I load some up for my old top break S&W 38 and use a hollow base wadcutter as I don't have a mould that throws anything near .360" dia.
I had one guy, last year, bring in an H&R with 32 acp rounds jammed in the cylinder. I punched them out and told them they were totally wrong for the gun. He said the dealer who sold him the gun sold him the ammo also. Pawn shop special.
 
I read that they made those young america pistols in 32 s&w black powder of course but also in a 32 rimfire how can i tell. What is the difference besides one being rimfire and one being centerfire
 
The hammer face.
It’ll either have a point in the middle(center fire cartridge) or a slim face at the top of the hammer to strike the rim of the cartridge.
Your top break is a .32 S&W long cartridge (smokeless) manufactured around 1910.
It’s a 3rd model auto ejector.
 
Steel Hayes said:
The hammer face.
It’ll either have a point in the middle(center fire cartridge) or a slim face at the top of the hammer to strike the rim of the cartridge.
Your top break is a .32 S&W long cartridge (smokeless) manufactured around 1910.
It’s a 3rd model auto ejector.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for all your help i seen on the top break it says 32s&w but i thought the cylinder looked a little longer but figured it would have said 32s&w long instead of just 32s&w. Both guns are in good shape the young america is in great shape for its age and the top break has some light rust and most of nickle is gone but everything locks tight and bore and cylinder is good. Would the top break be ok with smokless rounds or would you suggest still to use black powder rounds for it because of age.
 
I have one just like the 32. It does indeed shoot 32 S&W long ammunition. The later model ones like that have a slightly longer cylinder than the regular 32 S&W kind.
 
Steel Hayes said:
It does, it says ".32s&w ctge(ctge means cartridge_extented(S&W long).
Click to expand...
They couldn't just call it .32 S&W Long? Like, say it's 1915 and someone went into the general store to buy ammo for their H&R top break, if they tell the shopkeeper they want some .32 S&W Long, he'll know what it is, if they said .32 S&W Cartridge Extended the shopkeep is gonna think they're a brain damaged alcoholic.
 
indy1919a4 said:
View attachment 902137

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Click to expand...
That first picture was actually informative because now I know that there was a difference in the Young America and American H&R's. Young America was a smaller frame that shot .32 S&W, while the American was larger and probably is chambered for .32 S&W Long.

While not likely rated for smokeless, I'll bet due to the solid frame and non-swing out cylinder that those .32's could shoot light smokeless loads just fine.

Also, I can't imagine a modern gun ad in something like Guns & Ammo featuring a child shooting a pistol into the air would go over very well.
 
Update on the 2 Harrington and Richardson pistols i started this chat over. I have refinished the top break 32 long instead of nickle plating whole thing like it was i stripped it all and blued the frame and barrel and all the other parts and only nickle plated the cylinder just to be a little different and make it mine. All i did to the young america was buff and polish the nickle plating it was in such good shape for its age still has a few scuff marks but i didnt want to strip it. I did add some new old stock imitation pearl grips. Ive shot the 32 long she works great and is such a fun gun to shoot. 20200330_180122.jpg 20200402_154701.jpg
 
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