H and R top break 22

[tokguy]

Was in contact with an older relative over the holidays. He has inherited antique prohib's... old S & W 32's, a few H & R's...nothing remarkable.
I was asked to help with one. An DA only H & R top break in 22 lr... 7 shot ( short bbl 2.5" or so). Whether the actually part is there is in question, but apparently there are about 2 Quart jars full of parts to comb through. Which is more fun than it should be..
Lots of H & R models, but the 'Top break DA only 22 lr 7 shot cylinder' has to narrow it down somewhat. The owner is convinced it's pre-1900. He's going to get a picture sent my way today.
Anyone have an unusual amount of Knowledge with H & R antiques whom can sound off.
And the 'Google it' is a bit vague...mostly it regurgitates 32 caliber 5 shots.
Get a picture up ASAP of course
Regards
Tokguy

 

[Milspectacles]

The gun in question is either a Premier 1st Model (1895-1904), Premier 2nd Model (1905-1941) OR a Hammerless Small Frame 2nd Model (1905-1941).

If it has an external hammer then it is a Premier model and the double action only "Feature" indicates a broken or missing internal part as it should be SA/DA. Possible factory barrel lengths are either 3" (most common) or 2" being a special order 'Bicycle Model' which will have explicitly unique barrel stampings due to the small amount of real estate on the barrel rib.

Goforth's research indicates that there was never any advertising for a 1st Model hammerless to have been chambered in .22 and that 2nd Model Hammerless variants are incredibly uncommon in the .22 chambering. Of course, it is always possible someone could've mated a Hammerless frame with a Premier barrel and cylinder.

Will wait until pictures are up before making any more judgements on what this gun may be

 

[tokguy]

A grandson sent these my way.

That trigger doesn't look like the rest that Google images throws out.
This 'Should be' a US parts gun ( I know it can't be shipped or purchased to / in Canada)

It has similaritiesbut lots of little differences too

It is sorta OK that it's in 22 LR...because it's pretty far to go to get functioning again. Smelter or welder most likely
Be an even bigger shame if it was in an antique cartridge. Little favours...bizarre but true ...only in Canada

 

[appleorangefish]

The owner is convinced it's pre-1900. He's going to get a picture sent my way today.

There's a couple clues suggesting that it is post-1900

1) H&R started marking the cartridge calibers on the side of the barrel in the smokeless era. So this would likely post ~1900
2) H&R removed patent date markings on later guns. Earlier top-breaks made pre-1905 definitely had patent dates, and at some point they removed them for the (relatively) newer guns.

The gun in question is either a Premier 1st Model (1895-1904), Premier 2nd Model (1905-1941) OR a Hammerless Small Frame 2nd Model (1905-1941).

Good assessment, I would go with the premier 2nd model (1905-1941) from the pictures

check against this diagram

 

[tokguy]

Thanks AOF... I lucked into the diagram to... the 'Bucket 'o parts came my way... obviously the 'rona means I can't go to it... and it's prohib...so the H & R can't come to me.
I found the hand...we'll see what else comes my way.
Still wondering about the trigger differences... we'll see.