Most gun nuts seem familiar with the "sawed-off shotguns" Harrington & Richardson made back in the 1920s on a handgun frame in .410 and .28ga, which they called their "Handy-Gun."
Ithaca, another large manufacturer, came out with a similar "Home Defense" weapon in 20ga. called the "Auto & Burglar Gun." And, back in high school I had a 12.5" barreled Stevens tip-up in .410ga called their "Off-Hand Shot Gun."
All of those guns are deemed Class III weapons, along with machineguns and the like, which require a lot of extra Federal paperwork, licensing, tax, etc., when transferred to a new owner.
Last week I found a guy selling a Handy-Gun in .22rf! Wow! An old, exotic, single-shot .22, which is right down my alley! Thinking it might be a converted smoothbore, I started checking on its originality and discovered H&R did indeed make both a .22rf and also a 32-20 version Handy-Gun. Guide books say only a mere 223 made in .22rf! At near 80 years old I'd never seen or even heard of one.
A 30 cal. was reported in Canada, but the owner later said it was a well-done gunsmith's conversion, not factory.
I bought the gun and am now awaiting its delivery to me. The seller has warned that it no longer has its original rear sight, but is wearing an aftermarket.
Does anyone own one of these rare birds who could furnish me with a good clear detailed photo of the proper sight? With a good pic, I have a 'smith who can reproduce what I need for my pistol.
Only photo I have of an original is this one which appeared in a 1989 Gun Collector's Digest article on single-shot .22s. My 'smith took one look at this photo and said even when enlarged it was still not clear enough to work from.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser
Ithaca, another large manufacturer, came out with a similar "Home Defense" weapon in 20ga. called the "Auto & Burglar Gun." And, back in high school I had a 12.5" barreled Stevens tip-up in .410ga called their "Off-Hand Shot Gun."
All of those guns are deemed Class III weapons, along with machineguns and the like, which require a lot of extra Federal paperwork, licensing, tax, etc., when transferred to a new owner.
Last week I found a guy selling a Handy-Gun in .22rf! Wow! An old, exotic, single-shot .22, which is right down my alley! Thinking it might be a converted smoothbore, I started checking on its originality and discovered H&R did indeed make both a .22rf and also a 32-20 version Handy-Gun. Guide books say only a mere 223 made in .22rf! At near 80 years old I'd never seen or even heard of one.
A 30 cal. was reported in Canada, but the owner later said it was a well-done gunsmith's conversion, not factory.
I bought the gun and am now awaiting its delivery to me. The seller has warned that it no longer has its original rear sight, but is wearing an aftermarket.
Does anyone own one of these rare birds who could furnish me with a good clear detailed photo of the proper sight? With a good pic, I have a 'smith who can reproduce what I need for my pistol.
Only photo I have of an original is this one which appeared in a 1989 Gun Collector's Digest article on single-shot .22s. My 'smith took one look at this photo and said even when enlarged it was still not clear enough to work from.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser
