How to Maintain this Classic pistol?

[orygunmike]

As mentioned in this thread.....
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=141975&page=2&pp=25

I was recently given a a Harrington & Richardson Sportsman .22 revolver (9 shot, top breaking)purchased in approx 1933. The box is the original box and still contains the original cleaning rod that came with the gun.

Not being a revolver guy, does anyone have any recommendations on what I should do for maintenance on the gun before I shoot it? I doubt it has been fired in 30-40 years.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Take it apart. Clean it within a sixteenth of an inch of its life. Oil lightly. Reassemble. Take to range. Shoot. Enjoy.

If it were a center fire revolver, you might want to have a gunsmith look it over, but a .22 rim fire ought to be fine even with a little rust here and there, if it has any.

 

[caz223]

I'm still looking for one just exactly like that.
*sigh*
I have fond memories of shooting a cap gun made to look like one of those, break-top and all.
One day I *will* own one.
If you can, take some pics and post 'em once you give her a bath.

 

[BluesBear]

FIRST OFF call Numrich (e-gunparts.com) and order at least TWO part number 272280C Cylinder Catch, blue.

This is the little spring-like dealie that holds the cylinder in place when you break it open to eject the empties. They tend to get brittle with age and fracture quite easily. They take about 10 seconds to replace.
Mine gun is only about 20 years old and the tip just snapped off recently. Luckily I had three in my stash. Now I have two. They were about $3 each when I bought mine ten years ago.

I have owned about a dozen 999 revolvers in the past 30 years and have had to replace about a dozen catches. Mostly because I have purchased about half of them with the catch already broken. That $3 piece will often cut the sale price by about a third!

Also it's wise t get a couple of extra rear sight screws. There is a separate screw on each side. You loosen one and tighten the other to adjust windage. It extermely common for them to work loose and dissapear.
The last couple of guns I bought were missing the cylinder catch, rear sight blade and one sight screw. That made them VERY good deals!

I still shoot my 999 weekly. In single action it is wickedly accurate. Double action however is...

well it IS an H&R after all.

 

[orygunmike]

Terrific info......

Hey Blues

thanks for the great info on e-gunparts.....a great sight!

After so many years I'm thinking I need to give it a good cleaning and lube job....

I have never disassembled a revolver....is it pretty straightforward...anything I should know...any sequence to follow?

Thanks again.

CAZ223......I will indeed try to get a pic and post it....

 

[BluesBear]

Do NOT attempt to dismantle a 999! They are a nightmare at best! It's all pinned topgether and it takes about seven hands, five of them very tiny to get it all back together. And you'll bugger the bluing trying it. (Don't ask, just take my word for it.)

The only thing you need to do is remove the cylinder. After it is off you can unscrew the center rod and remove the star and spring for cleaning.

Remove the grips and only clean what you can reach through the frame opening.

If you should decide to remove the mainspring I hop yours is one of the models with a small hole in the lower end of the strut. Cock the hammer, insert a paper clip into that hole to contain the mainspring, mainspring seat and strut as a single assembly.