H&R SPORTSMAN Research

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32 Magnum

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It has become apparent, recently, that there are some holes in the H&R SPORTSMAN history and development both in the Double Action 999 and the Single Action 199. More research is warranted to fill in those holes. IF you own any H&R SPORTSMAN and would like to contribute to the research, I would appreciate the following information (pics would be a great asset):
1. Serial Number (partials are welcome, but entire numbers will help more)?
2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame?
3. Safety rim on cylinder? PATENT APPLIED FOR; one patent number; two patent numbers?
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side -or- small push button on left side of frame right in front of cylinder.
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel -or- on right side?
6. DA or SA?
7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? If fixed - soldered in slot or pinned in slot?

Thanks in advance. I'll provide era of manufacture and Model and Variation determination for your SPORTSMAN.
 
What are your opinions of these guns? Are they good shooters? A 999 Double Action .22LR is for sale on a local classifieds site for $250 or trade. It is a beautiful gun but I don't know anything about them.

Sorry if this is inappropriate. Just looking for some info.
 
ACmax - in general, the vast majority are excellent shooters and exhibit better than average accuracy. RETAIL values have doubled over the past 4 years or so - $250 for one in good shape is a good buy. My experience shows the pre WW2 pieces to have better fit and finish, smoother actions and better overall accuracy. Give me the serial number of the offered piece and I'll tell you the year of production. Then when you buy it you can provide the info I'm looking for in the research project.:D
 
Let me see if I can help some. Here's mine.

1. Serial Number (partials are welcome, but entire numbers will help more)?
Click to expand...
R56175 Which I believe indicates 1955

2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame?
Click to expand...
Hammer

3. Safety rim on cylinder? PATENT APPLIED FOR; one patent number; two patent numbers?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what this means? There is a lip around the cylinder, sort of a recess for the entire cylinder. No patent numbers I can see.

4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side -or- small push button on left side of frame right in front of cylinder.
Click to expand...
Small push button, left side of frame.

5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel -or- on right side?
Click to expand...

No address. Just the words "H&R Sportsman" "Double Action" on the left side of the barrel. The only other markings at all, are the words "22 Long Rifle" on the right side, forward of the cylinder.

6. DA or SA?
Click to expand...
Double

7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? If fixed - soldered in slot or pinned in slot?
Click to expand...

Adjustable, pinned.

100_0140.gif

I got it last summer. I paid $138.00 out the door for it. The rear sight is missing. One of these days I gotta get one, but I can hit cans at plinking range without it.
 
Cajun,
Thanks for the info. As you posted - your piece was made in 1955 and is a 2nd Model, 1st Variation. You got your's at a fantastic price. Try www.wisnersinc.com
They are making or have supply from someone who is making replacement rear sight blades - originals are damn near impossible to find. Measure the slot in the sight base - there are two sizes .070" and .090" - I'm pretty sure yours will be the .090" version????
Again, thanks for the info - already posted to the file/data base.
 
Not really what you're looking for, but this Iver Johnson is part of the same family tree I guess:

supershot8.jpg

I'm happy to provide details if you want them.
 
CajunBass.......

.......try here for that rear sight, it's where I got mine ( although it was a few years ago ):

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/

Hmmm, I've run into your posts over on the Rimfire Forum. Sportsman, FS22...it seems are tastes are the same. Great minds really do think alike!:)

32Magnum, you already dated mine on the GunBroker Forum (Thank you very much! ). One day I have to get to Hellertown. Would love to see that H&R collection. Unfortunately, I only have the Sportsman and a NEF R92. One of these days I'd like to get one of the SAA clones. Preferably a '49er.
 
I saw one locally for $450 used in online ads the other day and thought the seller must have been smoking pot! I remember back in the day when the MSRP on them was $279 new.
 
32magnum, I had a 777 ultra sportsman (single action). According to some expert it was the highest serial no. which was 897U, yes that's correct. The U was part of the serial no.
Hope that helps.
 
1. Serial Number (partials are welcome, but entire numbers will help more)?
- AXxxxxxx
2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame?
- Frame mounted
3. Safety rim on cylinder? PATENT APPLIED FOR; one patent number; two patent numbers?
- Safety Rim but no patent numbers
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side -or- small push button on left side of frame right in front of cylinder.
- Small push button
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel -or- on right side?
- on left side of frame
6. DA or SA?
- DA
7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? If fixed - soldered in slot or pinned in slot?
- Adjustable

999-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
1. Serial Number (partials are welcome, but entire numbers will help more)?
- AL54059 (Is that 1976?)
2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame?
- Hammer
3. Safety rim on cylinder? PATENT APPLIED FOR; one patent number; two patent numbers?
- Safety Rim but no patent numbers
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side -or- small push button on left side of frame right in front of cylinder.
- Small push button
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel -or- on right side?
- on left side of frame
6. DA or SA?
- DA
7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? If fixed - soldered in slot or pinned in slot?
- Adjustable pinned


Unfortunately mine has been sitting locked up in the attic for 20+ years as does not look as nice as those already posted.

CajunBass - I just replaced my back site yesterday with a replica from Numrich. It was right at $11 shipped. Part Number 1287670 for the .090"
 
Last edited:
I inherited mine from my father, who purchased it while in the Navy on a cruise. It has the ugliest grips one has ever put on a handgun, but, it shoots like a dream.

1. Serial Number (partials are welcome, but entire numbers will help more)?
- 4844X (When was it made? Late 40's? Early 50's?)
2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame?
- Hammer mounted
3. Safety rim on cylinder? PATENT APPLIED FOR; one patent number; two patent numbers?
- Safety Rim but no patent numbers
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side -or- small push button on left side of frame right in front of cylinder.
- Small push button
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel -or- on right side?
- right side of barrel
6. DA or SA?
- DA
7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? If fixed - soldered in slot or pinned in slot?
- Adjustable
 
chicharrones - thanks for contributing! Your piece was made in 1981 and is the 3rd Model with the transfer bar safety/ignition system. Nice looking gun - great pic. Thanks again.
 
1madss,
Thanks for contributing. Your piece was made in 1973. With the hammer mounted firing pin, it is a 2nd Model. This, to me is an important piece of information - the "conventional wisdom" has been that the transfer bar system is the defining difference between the 2nd and 3rd models and that this change occured in 1973. Your piece with a 1973 serial number helps to confirm that the change did occur sometime in 1973. All other s/ns with 'AL' prefix, that I have received so far, have the transfer bar system. GOOD INFO and just what I'm looking for - definition to the data base.
Thanks again.
 
OldCavSoldier,
Thanks for your info. Looks, at least right now, as though your piece was made late 1936, early '37 - that's the best I can do - but data is coming in and with more numbers in that pre-1940 era - better definition should be available. It is a 1st Model, probably early 7th Variation (no patent dates on cylinder). Thanks, this one fits into another hole and helps fill it in.
 
351 Winchester,
Thanks. All the 5 or 6 Model 777s that I've seen or been told about have the 'U' for ULTRA-SPORTSMAN. This model was only made for a short time (maybe 12 - 13 months) from early 1938 into '39, when it was replaced by an even more 'advanced' Single Action Target revolver - the Model 196 EUREKA. Walter Roper worked for H&R at the time and was instrumental in developing the designs of the Single Shot Target Model 195 USRA and both of the SA Revolvers. The 196 EUREKA is considered by many experts to be the quintessential target revolver ever made. I've not shot either my 777 or 196 - to dang valuable to risk breaking something or messing up the finish. There appears to have only been something less than 500 196s made - mostly on special order. I've seen serial numbers on the 777s go a bit over 1K - production of these seems to be less than 1100 to 1200??? Can't really tell without more s/n data and that's hard to come by.
IMG_0278.jpg
IMG_0434-2.jpg
 
Don't know all the info but mine was an excellent shooter, super accurate and very reliable. The firing pin was on the hammer and the sights weren't adjustable I don't believe.
 
1. Serial Number (partials are welcome, but entire numbers will help more)? D29011
2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame? Hammer
3. Safety rim on cylinder? PATENT APPLIED FOR; one patent number; two patent numbers? Two: PAT.1904730 and PAT.2034632
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side -or- small push button on left side of frame right in front of cylinder. 1" long lever on right side
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel -or- on right side? The top of the revolver is finished in a much duller finish than the rest of the revolver and is engraved as follows:
HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS CO.
WORCESTER, MASS. U.S.A.
6. DA or SA? DA
7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? If fixed - soldered in slot or pinned in slot? There is a screw at the end of the barrel, presumably to adjust the front sight.

Purchased two years ago from a pawn shop on line.

If fired VERY rapidly, the timing will be off and the revolver will misfire. Slower firing presents no problems. I think the defect is in the cylinder notches.

HR002.jpg

HR005.jpg

Gator010.jpg

(Also, are you interested in information regarding my 1972 999?)
 
32 Magnum,

Glad I could contribute.

Y'all have motivated me to put up a pic. The glare seems to hide the pitting well :)
101_0075-1.jpg
 
1. Serial Number (partials are welcome, but entire numbers will help more)?
70520 any idea on the year?
2. Firing pin on hammer or mounted in frame?
Hammer
3. Safety rim on cylinder? PATENT APPLIED FOR; one patent number; two patent numbers?
Safety Rim but no Patent markings
4. Cylinder release: 1" long lever on right side -or- small push button on left side of frame right in front of cylinder.
small push button
5. Location of Manufacturer's address - on top of barrel -or- on right side?
Right Side
6. DA or SA?
DA
7. Adjustable or fixed front sight? If fixed - soldered in slot or pinned in slot?
Fixed by pin
 
Vanagon40,
Thanks for your contribution - your SPORTSMAN 1st Model, 3rd Variation was made most likely in late 1934, based upon current info. It is one of those that is filling in one of the holes in the research. Thanks again.
Great pics - nice condition piece.
YES, I am interested in info on the 1972 piece, also. Does it have the "ventilated rib" w/cut throughs, or the "fluted" - milled grooves on the barrel?
 
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