H&R American Bulldog

[collateral]

my girlfriend's dad has an old nickel plated H&R American Bulldog, I'm not sure what the caliber is, it has a hexagonal or octogonal barrel, I'm not sure which. No serial number, no date of manufacture.

Well the problem is, the cylinder is quite loose in the frame. So much so that when you pull the trigger, it won't spin unless you pull it back against the frame. Sorry if that doesn't make much sense.

Any ideas for a fix? Or info on the revolver.

 

[metrotps]

This might help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H_&_R_Firearms
Try to post some pictures also so we can tell you more.
There should be a patent date on the revolver, on the top of the barrel or on the bottom of the grip strap. Please post it also.

 

[cannonballmount]

Rather interesting.

My grandmother said that her three older brothers had acquired three "Reddog" revolvers around 1901 or so, because of the "Hole-in-the-wall" gang which was not that far away and had a reputation of capturing a ranch house with a full cellar and a full smoke house of good food.

That had been years ago, and I have never been able to find a "Red Dog" pistol, and thought it might have been, "Bull Dog". Money was scarce back then and I suspect the H&R bull dog sold for less than $10, or less than $5 and rimfire .32 ammo was inexpensive as well.

Of course, their main battery was Winchester rifles, and long barreled break action 12 gauge shotguns.

 

[weregunner]

These are sources for H&R gun parts. Not sure how much help they can be, but here goes:

www.gun-parts.com
www.marstar.ca/
www.e-gunparts.com
www.dixiegunworks.com

 

[buttrap]

There where a billion trade names on the cheep 1.25 cent revolvers back then. Just about every word you could stick behind Red was used. Red Dog, Red Jacket and on and on.

 

[DRWARD3]

American BullDog

It's a 32 caliber but a larger caliber was made too, .45, I think. It was manufactured from 1895 to 1910 but the nicle plated models were made only the later 10 or 11 years. The serial numbers are suppose to be under the grip, not sure which side. A friend of mine told me about this gun so the information I give here is hearsay.

Good luck and great shooting!
DW

 

[bannockburn]

cannonballmount:

Buttrap is absolutely correct in stating that there were an incredible number of trade names for those inexpensive revolvers made back in the mid to late 1800's. An estimated 600,000 were made in the peak production year of 1885. Brand names were varied, with one manufacturer, Hopkins and Allen, having well over 100 of their own. I couldn't find any "Red Dog" name either, but that's not to say it didn't exist somewhere. I did find H&A Bloodhound, British Bulldog, and Western Bulldog; along with Lee Arms Red Jacket revolvers. Certainly an imaginative time in handgun marketing in those days.