Need help identifying date of manufacture of H&R Victor

[A34]

Gents,

I was at the LGS today and this gentleman walked in with a pistol to sell. The LGS passed on it at $60 stating that was the going price for one in this condition and advising the seller to put it online. I told him I'd give $60 for it, and I brought it home, complete with holster. I can't find much info on it online. The butt says H&R, Worcester, MA. and the top of the frame says .32 S&W. Near as I can tell, it's a H&R, Victor Model, 4" barrel with owner added loading gate and cylinder pin. Also, looks like the front sight has been filed on.

This has a 53,xxx serial number. Anyone have any manufacturing timeline data? I'm curious as to when it was made.

 

[ontarget]

No idea but for 60.00 I would have added it to my accumulation too.

 

[Tall]

That was made by H&R, Worcester, MA like it says on it. I would own it too given the circumstances. I would guess those were made in the 1920 - 40 era. Maybe someone would have records but it's not a very high end piece, just a good old tool.

 

[wcwhitey]

All your info seems good, it’s a Victor Model with a round barrel and no flutes on the cylinder. Same as the American model that had an octagon barrel and fluted cylinder. 32 S&W factory ammo should be no issue.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I'll go with Tall's end-date estimate, since H&R started using date letter prefixes in 1940.

https://gun-data.com/harringtonrichardson2_modern.html

I could be all wet, but that loading gate/safety thing looks home-made. That front sight has also been 'customized'. Somebody cared about this gun.

The old Iver Johnson/H&R/Hopkins&Allen/Etc. aren't exactly collectible, but they have a certain presence and charm. I think you did OK.

 

[A34]

I'll go with Tall's end-date estimate, since H&R started using date letter prefixes in 1940.

https://gun-data.com/harringtonrichardson2_modern.html

I could be all wet, but that loading gate/safety thing looks home-made. That front sight has also been 'customized'. Somebody cared about this gun.

The old Iver Johnson/H&R/Hopkins&Allen/Etc. aren't exactly collectible, but they have a certain presence and charm. I think you did OK.

Thanks! Yes, I think the loading gate is homemade. Someone spent some money on it. I hope to shoot it over the holidays. I bought some 98 grain wadcutters. For $60, a working pistol? I couldn't pass it up.

 

[wcwhitey]

Thanks! Yes, I think the loading gate is homemade. Someone spent some money on it. I hope to shoot it over the holidays. I bought some 98 grain wadcutters. For $60, a working pistol? I couldn't pass it up.

They did not have a loading gate at all. It was added. I would assume the screw that holds it is not original either. For $60 why not. 98 Grain Wadcutters? You need .32 S&W (short) not .32 S&W Long, might want to double check.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32_S&W

 

[A34]

They did not have a loading gate at all. It was added. I would assume the screw that holds it is not original either. For $60 why not. 98 Grain Wadcutters? You need .32 S&W (short) not .32 S&W Long, might want to double check.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32_S&W

The Longs fit the cylinder fine. How do I determine the correct ammo for it? Looks like it could have been either.

 

[wcwhitey]

It’s .32 S&W not .32 S&W Long, short is new nomenclature. Don’t shoot the longs it would say Long if it was intended

 

[A34]

It’s .32 S&W not .32 S&W Long, short is new nomenclature. Don’t shoot the longs it would say Long if it was intended

Unfortunately, it's mostly missing where it says the caliber.

 

[wcwhitey]

Unfortunately, it's mostly missing where it says the caliber.

I wasn’t guessing, it’s .32 S&W NOT .32 S&W Long. I warned ya!

 

[A34]

I wasn’t guessing, it’s .32 S&W NOT .32 S&W Long. I warned ya!

Thanks for the clarification! .32 S&W it is! Know where I can get some??

 

[wcwhitey]

Thanks for the clarification! .32 S&W it is! Know where I can get some??

I don’t see any listed on my usual website sources. I have seen some dusty boxes on shelves at a LGS on occasion, Gun Shows too. It’s hit or miss. Someone else may have a good source. That caliber blank is always around it’s still popular as a starter pistol cartridge.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Thanks for the clarification! .32 S&W it is! Know where I can get some??

If you've got a case trimmer and a set of .32 ACP dies (plus the correct shellholder), you can make .32 S&W ammo from cases of any member of this rimmed revolver cartridge family: .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R, .327 Federal. My Lee .32 ACP carbide sizing die will work with any of the above -- Marshall Williams wrote an article about this in the 17th edition of Handloader's Digest (pp. 71-73).

Handload hint for this type of revolver: Trail Boss.

BTW, the semi-rimmed .32 ACP case will work just fine in a revolver and is only slightly longer than .32 S&W, so it is probably the easiest case to alter. This is what I shoot out of my little reproduction 1858 Remington Pocket's .32 S&W conversion cylinder.

 

[Tallball]

I have two H&R 32's that are made for shorts, but the cylinders were drilled through by the factory and longs will fit just fine.

I'll leave it to the OP to research this online and come to their own conclusion about the safety of shooting longs through their revolver.

I found good information after some searching.

 

[A34]

12/31/22 - Update on my little H&R. I shot a box of 50 through it the other day. It shoots high, or at least I shoot high with it. It’s very pleasant to shoot with no recoil. A little loud, you definitely need ear plugs, but not too bad without them. It was hard to see the front sight and I had to keep pointing it to the side at my white target to reacquire the front sight and then back on target. That’s due to my old eyes, not the pistol, a little bit of white paint on the front sight would help me. After a couple of cylinders, I was able to get rounds on target at 7 and 15 yards shooting offhand, left, right and both hands. At 25 yards, I missed completely. The grips are a little small for my liking. I think if I lived in the 1920’s or 30’s and wanted an EDC, I’d carry something else. 1911 Maybe?

I noticed after the first couple of cylinders that it didn’t want to work in SA mode. I had to shoot in DA mode. And at some point, one of the frame pins almost worked itself out. I noticed it towards the end of shooting and was able to push it back in. All in all, still happy I bought it. It’s a nice addition to the collection.

Thanks for all the help! Happy New Year!

 

[Jim Watson]

if I lived in the 1920’s or 30’s and wanted an EDC, I’d carry something else. 1911 Maybe?

Assumes you had the $50.00 for the Colt and didn't have to save up $7.45 for a H&R. (1939 prices)

Recalls a series of detective stories about a kind of informal private investigator in old New Orleans who was glad to be able to afford an IJ .32.

 

[A34]

Assumes you had the $50.00 for the Colt and didn't have to save up $7.45 for a H&R. (1939 prices)

Recalls a series of detective stories about a kind of informal private investigator in old New Orleans who was glad to be able to afford an IJ .32.

Good point! I think 1911's were more like $15, but that's still twice the price.

 

[Jim Watson]

Oops, I was looking at a higher end Colt. A standard GM .45 was "only" $41.50. Over 5 times as expensive as H&R.
Maybe you are thinking about stolen government property for $15.

I don't have a 1920s catalog, but in 1902 a Colt .38 Automatic was $18.50 and a H&R $2.65. Nearly seven times the cost