Unknown Revolver

[CelticArmory]

I know this is probably just a shot in the dark, but I have received for our auction a revolver that appears to be a copy of an H&R First Model. It's a nickle or chrome plated (with lots of wear and corrosion) top break revolver of possible .32 or .38 caliber. While it does have a clear SN stamped on the bottom of the frame and on the left side of the frame at the bottom under the grip as well as under the top above the cylinder, it does not have any manufacturer or caliber marks. The top of the barrel only has a stamping "Manufactured in U.S." and the "U.S." is of a different font type and size than the "Manufactured in".

I can get some pics up but it really doesn't matter as anyone can find pictures of the H&R and S&W revolvers of that style. The grips have no markings either.

Does anyone know of any manufacturers that made copies but didn't put on manufacturer markings? I thought all S&W and H&R revolvers had all those markings on them.

ETA: This revolver also only works in DA mode. It has an external hammer, but it does not cock back for a SA mode. Also the cylinder spins freely until you pull the trigger and then it is cycled, locked and the hammer cocks back and drops.

 

[Jim K]

It may be a Spanish-made copy, in spite of the marking, but several American makers did not put their names on their product, since it cost money and there was no legal requirement to do so until 1968. The inability to cock the hammer indicates something is broken in the gun.

All in all, the gun would seem to have little value, though it might bring $50 "as is".

Jim

 

[LC '92]

I know a goodly amount about early H&R revolvers, but have never heard of a first model. Do you mean the first model Auto Ejector or maybe the first model Shell Extractor? A picture or three would answer tons of questions.

I have more than one H&R in my collection that is not marked as such.

 

[CelticArmory]

I know a goodly amount about early H&R revolvers, but have never heard of a first model. Do you mean the first model Auto Ejector or maybe the first model Shell Extractor? A picture or three would answer tons of questions.

I have more than one H&R in my collection that is not marked as such.

Sorry, the H&R top break auto ejectors are often referred to by first, second, third model and so on.

I would also think something was broken for the single action to not function, but I'm not at liberty to inspect them in depth.

ETA: Here are some pictures I took. These are just thumbnails that will take you to my Photobucket page. You can see more images in the For Sale folder. http://s561.photobucket.com/albums/ss56/celticarmory/For Sale/

 

[CelticArmory]

Oh, and after a bit of testing I figure it's most likely a .38 S&W

 

[LC '92]

It is chambered for .38 S&W. It is not an H&R, even though the grips are a pretty close copy. No Auto Ejector ever had a frame mounted firing pin and the front sight is wrong, not to mention the latch features.

I do not, however know who did make it. It is American in my opinion.