Need help identifying an old H&R .32

[Conall]

My brother wanted me to clean up his H&R .32 revolver for him, and I thought I'd also try and find out more about it.
Unfortunately I don't have any way of taking a photo, so mostly all I can do is describe it. I did find a photo of another, very similar H&R revolver, if it's of any help.


It's a five-shot hammerless with a 3" barrel, and is nickel plated with a blued trigger guard.

Printed on the barrel rib is:
Harrington & Richardson Arms Co.
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Printed on the left side of the barrel is:
32 S&W CTGE

Serial number: 267xxx

He wants to be able to shoot it, so I hope someone can say whether or not this is a blackpowder gun.
It needs a new cylinder and extractor spring as well, but I believe I've already found these at Numrich, just need to know if this gun is considered new model or old model.

Thanks for any info.

 

[RaceM]

I took a look in Flayderman's and can't find what you describe exactly. Because of that I'd say it's likely "relatively" modern, say early half of the 20th century. Closest I got is a Model 2 automatic ejection D/A made from 1889 to 1940.

 

[Conall]

I managed to not only find a good photo but also a post from Bill Goforth that has all the info I need.

H&R HAMMERLESS SECOND MODEL SMALL FRAME TOP BREAK
(SMOKELESS POWDER)---------------------------------1905-1941
Small Frame Double Action Hammerless Top Break revolver with double top post barrel latch; caliber and cylinder capacity, 32 S&W (5 rounds), 22 Rimfire (7 rounds); finish is nickel or blue (optional); grips are hard rubber with a target logo at the top; standard barrel length is 3 ¼ inch, with 4, 5 and 6 inch optional; rebounding hammer; automatic cylinder stop, caliber marking on left side of barrel.
CALIBER MARKINGS ON LEFT SIDE OF BARREL DESIGNED FOR SMOKELESS POWDER CARTRIDGE PRESSURES ONLY
First Variation, patent dates 5-14-89, 4-2-95, 4-7-96, serial number range 90000*-100000* (estimate)---1905-1906
Second Variation, patent dates 4-2-95, 4-7-96 serial number range 100000*-120000* (estimate)-------1907-1909
Third Variation, patent date 10-8-95, serial number range 120000*-180000* (estimate)--1910-1913
Fourth Variation no patent dates small font use for company name. serial number range 180000*-190000*(estimate)--1914-only
Fifth variation, large font used in company name and state not spelled out (MASS), serial number range 190000*-200000* (estimate)----1915-only
Sixth Variation, state name in address spelled out (MASSACHUSETTS) serial number range 200000*-220000* (estimate)-1916-1924
Seventh Variation, new grip frame it is now same width as rest of frame no step down for grips, serial number range unknown------1925-1942
After 1930 listed in catalogs as: HAMMERLESS No. 40 TOP BREAK 22 Rimfire7 shot and as: HAMMERLESS No. 45 TOP BREAK 32 S&W 5 shot
VALUE: 100%=$265 60%=$75

The gun in the photo is a second model first variation, and is almost an exact match for my brothers gun with the only difference being the markings on the barrel rib.
Looks like his is a second model, seventh variation, maybe sixth.