doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com H&R handy gun

A friend of mine is selling one of these guns. he has no idea of what it's worth. Are there any fans of this unusual pistol on this board who can fill me in with some of the history of this unusual piece? Incidently a H&R single barrel hammer gun was the first gun I ever fired. It was my grandfathers, I remember it fondly.


Derek
York UK

You don,t see enough of them sell to establish a price. Make sure he has the proper ATF paperwork for the transfer.. MDC

Derek,

If it is the one in the picture, it looks to be in fine condition. I have seen them with original factory box in excellent condition sell for $1,500 here in the USA. On the low end for a gun in poor condition it could bring $150.

Very technically, the gun is a Harrington and Richardson. H&R is a later company. There were 3 Models, each has 3 Types and came in a variety of gauges and calibers. Serial numbers have been observed from 1 to 54,000. Value will depend on Model, Type, gauge/caliber and condition. Some were smooth bore, others were rifled. The smooth bores were made from 1921 to 1934.

In the USA, the smooth bore guns were placed into a special category by the NFA (National Firearms Act) of 1934. Each gun had to be registered with the federal government and was issued it's own tax stamp. The transfer can only take place using the services of a FFL III licensee. It makes collecting / owning these guns a bit trouble some. Any smooth bore gun that was not registered is illegal and illegal to possess.

Pete

Derek;
The first shotgun I ever fired was also an H&R single. A small frame 28ga weighing just over 4lb. It belonged to an uncle, by marriage, & he saved it for his grandson, so never had opportunity to acquire it. When I was still fairly young he carried me on a rabbit hunt & let me use the gun. Fired it twice & killed two rabbits, was really "Walking Tall" that day. Many years later I had opportunity to fire it again & we carried it to the store & weighed it. Didn't write it down but memory says was 4lb 2oz. I know it was extremely light. Incidently Burrard opined that 28ga was the ideal gauge for a shot pistol, though I believe over the years more were made as .410's, mores the pity.