Quality differences between New England Firearms and Harrington & Richardson

WVGunman · Apr 19, 2019

It's always been my understanding that NEF was a sub-brand of H&R. I've also heard it was a different company that picked up the designs when H&R shut down in 1986 and kept making them. I don't really know, but I've owned enough guns by both companies now to wonder if they WERE different corporations entirely.
This is mostly about handguns. I've owned a number of H&R and NEF guns, including NEF R73s (.32 Mag) and R92 (.22). THe H&R guns were the 732 Guardsman (.32) and model 929 (.22). Except for the R92 I've owned more than one of each, and by now I can't help but notice the NEF guns seem to be just a little higher in quality. The actions seem a little tighter, the finish a little better. Has anyone else noticed this, or am I dreaming? If it's true, what accounts for it? I always heard NEF was H&R's "cheap" brand!

alexander45 · Apr 20, 2019

Well I mean they share one thing in common neither really exist at this time. any more h&r is just a sticker remington slaps on a Chinese 870

WVGunman · Apr 20, 2019

alexander45 said:
Well I mean they share one thing in common neither really exist at this time. any more h&r is just a sticker remington slaps on a Chinese 870

Yeah, H&R was an American brand with a distinct style and market niche. Gone forever. It's sad.

Alte Schule · Apr 20, 2019

I've had a NEF single shot 12 ga for several years and have bagged many a dove with it. Pawn shop special for $60.

Also have a Chinese clone 12 ga HR Pardner Pump. Bought it at a gun show four or five years ago for less than $200. Came with a 18 1/2 inch barrel, heat shield, sling and butt stock shell holder. A bit heavier than my Remington 870 Express but every bit as reliable.

rocirish · Apr 20, 2019

My 949 is still going strong after all these years. It's still fun to shoot too.

Bbear · Apr 20, 2019

Used to rep them way back when they were still H&R 1871. The H&R was functionally the same gun only nicer finish on the wood and a slightly better wood. NEF was just the 'price' leader of sorts for them.

rule303 · Apr 20, 2019

The original H&R company went out of business in 1986. In 1991 former employees bought the original patterns and tooling and formed a new company calling it H&R 1871 after the founding date of the original company. They started out with single shot shotguns, and revolvers. All the firearms were originally branded as NEF at that point. The revolver line was discontinued sometime before 2000. Later on models with nice wood were branded as H&R again. It was all good until they were bought up by the Cerberus Group, and were trying to compete with Turkish and Chinese pump guns (including their own)selling at the same price as their American built single shots.

Quality differences between New England Firearms and Harrington & Richardson

WVGunman

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alexander45

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WVGunman

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Alte Schule

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rocirish

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