Harrington and Richardson Firearms
History
The original H&R firm was in business for over a century from 1871 to 1986.[Frank Wesson started a firearms manufacturing firm in 1859, sharing an early patent with Nathan Harrington. Wesson produced two trigger rifles and spur trigger pistols and pocket rifles/shotguns popular for short length holster models such as the discontinued topper compact pocket shotguns. He started a brief partnership in 1871 with his nephew Gilbert Henderson Harrington, as Wesson & Harrington, until Harrington bought him out in 1874.
In 1875 Harrington and another former Wesson employee, William Augustus Richardson, formed the new Harrington & Richardson Company. In 1888 the firm was incorporated as The Harrington & Richardson Arms Company. Their original capital investment was $75,000. Harrington was president, Richardson was treasurer, and George F. Brooks was secretary. After the deaths of Harrington and Richardson in 1897, Brooks became the manager and the company was held by heirs Edwin C. Harrington (Gilbert Harrington's son) and Mary A. Richardson (William Richardson's sister).
In 1894 the company opened a new facility on Park Avenue in Worcester, Massachusetts. The factory was expanded again after a few years. The firearms produced through this time to 1911 carry extreme value as original antiquities. Original rifles and shotguns from these dates are scarce because of their limited production and discontinued parts. In the 1960s H&R was acquired by the Rowe family, and warranty cards were sent to 'Industrial Rowe', Gardner, Massachusetts. The original H&R company went out of business in 1986, and the building was demolished.
A new company, H&R 1871, Inc., was formed in 1991 and started production of revolvers, single shot rifles and shotguns using original H&R designs. H&R 1871, Inc. assets were subsequently sold to H&R 1871, LLC., a Connecticut LLC owned by Marlin Firearms Company in November 2000. H&R 1871, LLC. did not extend their product warranty to H&R guns made prior to the LLC's takeover.Marlin, including all its H&R assets, was later acquired by Remington Arms Company in December, 2007. H&R 1871, LLC production was moved to Ilion, N.Y. (the site of Remington's original manufacturing plant) in late 2008, while their corporate offices are co-located with Remington Arms in Madison, N.C. (HR1871.com and Remington.com).Remington, along with its Marlin and H&R subsidiaries, are now part of the Freedom Group.
Military contributions
H&R built flare guns during World War I, and a variety of firearms, including the Reising submachine gun during World War II. H&R was granted a contract to produce the M1 Garand rifle during the Korean War, although the first deliveries of the rifles were not made until after the Armistice. H&R manufactured of the M14 rifle during that rifle's production cycle (1959–1964). H&R also manufactured M16A1 rifles during the Vietnam War, and is one of only four manufacturers (along with Colt, Fabrique National, & GM Hydramatic Division) to have ever made an official M16 variant for the U.S. Military. Due to their relative scarcity, all H&R military weapons are considered collectable.
Revolvers
Solid Frame (All models discontinued)
• Model 1 .32 or .38 Caliber, spur trigger single action revolver, 3" octagonal barrel, 5 or 7 shot fluted cylinder, flat frame, saw-handle square butt plain walnut or black checkered rubber grips, marked HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON, WORCESTER, MASS. PAT. MAY 23, 1876. Approximately 3,000 were manufactured in 1877 and 1878.
• Model 1½ .32 Caliber spur trigger, single action revolver, 5-shot cylinder (10,000 were manufactured between 1878 and 1883)
• Model 2½ same as model 1½ but 3.25" barrel and 7-shot cylinder (5,000 were manufactured between 1878 and 1883)
• Model 3½ .38 rimfire Caliber 3.5" barrel, 5-shot cylinder (1,000 were manufactured)
• Model 1880 .32 or .38 S&W centerfire double action revolver, 3" round barrel, 5- or 6-shot cylinder (4,000 were manufactured between 1880 and 1883)
• Young America Double Action (small solid frame centerfire revolver) Manufactured 1884–1941 Calibers: .22 rimfire and .32 Standard barrel length was 2½ with 4½ and 5½ inch extra cost options (1,500,000 were manufactured). First model manufactured 1884–1904 designed for black powder cartridge. Second model manufactured 1905–1941 designed for modern smokeless powder cartridge.
• Young America Bulldog (small solid frame rimfire revolver) Caliber: .32 rimfire
• Young America Safety Hammer (small solid frame centerfire revolver with bobbed hammer) Safety hammer patented 1887 Calibers: .22 and .32
• Vest-Pocket Self-Cocker (same as Vest Pocket Safety Hammer but without half / full cocking sear) NOTE: Some trigger guards installed on this model had cutouts which would allow the installation of the half / full cocking sear. Early models had an 2½ inch octagonal barrel with front sight, later models incorporated a short 1 inch round barrel, no front sight.
• Vest Pocket Safety Hammer (small solid frame centerfire revolver with bobbed hammer and shortened round barrel) Safety hammer patented 1887 Calibers: .22 and .32
• Victor (Unfluted cylinder, round barrel) Available in both small and large frame. Calibers: .22, .32 and .38
• The American Double Action (large solid frame centerfire revolver) Manufactured 1883–1941. Calibers: .32, .38 & .44 (850,000 were manufactured).
• H&R Bulldog (large solid frame rimfire revolver) Caliber: .32 rimfire
• Safety Hammer Double Action (large solid frame centerfire revolver with bobbed hammer) Safety hammer patented 1887 Calibers: .32, .38 & .44 (manufactured between 1890 and 1941).
• NEF Model R92 (.22 LR 9 shot revolver, .22 WMR 6 shot, .32 H&R Mag 5 shot)
• H&R model 532
• H&R model 622 (.22 LR six shot revolver)
• H&R model 632 (.32 cal)
• H&R model 642
• H&R model 649 (.22 LR & .22 WMR six shot, double or single action revolver)
• H&R Model 660 Gunfighter ( .22LR Revolver, Made in the 1960s)
• H&R Model 666 (.22 LR or .22 WMR, double action with 6" barrel and 6-shot cylinder. Blued w/plastic grips. Manufactured from 1976 to 1982. Value from US$25.00 to US$100.00, depending on condition.
• H&R Model 676
• H&R model 686 (.22 LR & .22 MAG)
• H&R model 700
• H&R model 732 (.32 long six shot swing cylinder)
• H&R model 733 ( same as model 732 but in brushed nickel)
• H&R model 829 (.22 LR nine shot revolver) Swingout 9-shot cylinder, double or single action)
• H&R model 922 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
• H&R model 923 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
• H&R model 926 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
• H&R model 929 (.22 LR nine shot revolver, blued finish)
• H&R model 930 (.22 LR & nine shot revolver, nickel finish)
• H&R model 933 (.22 LR nine shot revolver, manufactured 1930–1939. Formally known as the "Hunter" model)
• H&R model 939 Ultra Sidekick (.22 LR double-action revolver) Introduced in 1956.[9]
• H&R model 949 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
• H&R model 999 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
• H&R model Hunter (.22 LR nine shot revolver, Manufactured in 1929. From 1930–1939 this model was listed as Model 933)
Note not all the models they made are listed here , if you want more info send me a pm with your email address for additional info and manufacturing dates
