Help identify this pistol.

[Guns and more]

My neighbor inherited a gun from his father.
It is a pistol shaped like a Sig 232 but smaller. It has a shiney black finish except on the slide there is a gold insert on each side, and the trigger is gold color.
On the gold insert on the slide are the words, "Harrington * Rich & Sons.
Wooster, Mass. Made in Germany. 1871 - 1971."
On the rear of the slide is inscribed "Mod HK 4" (and the HK looks like the H&K logo)
The magazine release is the European style, on the bottom of the grip.
The barrel showing through the ejection port has the term 9 K (9mm Kurtz?)
There is no slide release that I saw, except that at the front of the trigger guard, inside front top is a catch that can be activated by your fingernail, but the slide didn't come off. I didn't force it, maybe I was missing something.
The slide locks back when empty, and releases when a magazine is inserted.
I know this site is a wealth of information, any ideas?
The gun is in nice shape except for a tiny rust spot on the slide. He'd like to know the history of the gun.
Gunbroker returned no results for "Harrington * Rich"

An addition: A little detective work revealed it is Harrington & Richardson. By HK model 4
Gunbroker has an identical gun, but in .22

Still, heap information on me.

 

[HammerBite]

First, see this, then see this (the second entry under "Pistols".)

I suspect that your neighbor's gun was a commemorative H&R centennial issue. H&R was founded in 1871. It is interesting to contemplate that H&R would celebrate this event by importing a gun from another manufacturer.

 

[jsbethel]

The HK4 was the first pistol produced by Heckler & Koch. It had interchangeable barrels in .380, .32, .25 and .22lr and was imported by Harrington and Richardson at one time. If you would like a pdf copy of the manual, let me know and I will email it to you.

 

[bannockburn]

Guns and more

Pretty much as jsbethel noted, the HK-4 was first offered here sometime in the late '60's/early '70's. Initially imported by Harrington and Richardson, the gun was available as a .380ACP for around $110, while a .22LR conversion kit could be had for an additional $35. I think when H&K later set up there own U.S. distribution operations, the HK-4 was also offered with two additional caliber conversions, the .25ACP and the .32 ACP. The gun itself was about 6" long with a 3 1/2" barrel and weighed 24 oz.

 

[Guns and more]

jsbethel. I'll try to send you a PM with my e-mail. thanks.

 

[Guns and more]

I suspect that your neighbor's gun was a commemorative H&R centennial issue. H&R was founded in 1871.

That makes sense. it says 1871-1971 and would explain the gold trim.

By the way, I do think the latch inside the trigger guard is a take down release. In reading a Google search tonight, it mentions pressing that part, sliding the slide forward 1/2' then lifting up. I did everything but lift up. I expected it to slide off like any modern pistol.
Nothing mentions the HK ever being made in 9mm kurtz, but the barrel clearly says, "9 K"

 

[HammerBite]

There is more information on the HK4 here, including a picture of the cased H&R Centennial Pistol.

By the way, I do think the latch inside the trigger guard is a take down release. In reading a Google search tonight, it mentions pressing that part, sliding the slide forward 1/2' then lifting up. I did everything but lift up.

You should have lifted up!

Nothing mentions the HK ever being made in 9mm kurtz, but the barrel clearly says, "9 K"

9mm kurz is the European designation for .380 ACP.

 

[jsbethel]

Around 10 years ago, there was an ad in either Shotgun News or Gun List for NIB HK4s - a "warehouse find". I remeber it so vividly because it pains me that I did not act on it at the time.

 

[Guns and more]

9mm kurz is the European designation for .380 ACP.

So he could shoot .380 acp in it?

I saw 9 X 19 (we all know that)
9 X 18 (Makarov)
9 X 17 ( 9mm. short or Kurtz OR .380 ACP)?

Cool. This has been fun so far. I feel like a detective, or at least a researcher. Thanks for all the help.
And it's not even mine.
We may shoot it on Thursday, now that we don't need to get some ammo from a country we don't have diplomatic relations with. (just kidding)

 

[HammerBite]

Cool. This has been fun so far. I feel like a detective, or at least a researcher.

I feel the same way. This has been an interesting thread!

We may shoot it on Thursday, ...

Before you do that, check out the note on the buffer, which appears at the bottom of the page linked to in post #7. That may be a problem.