Restoration - H&R Premier 32

[thepiperofseville]

I just picked up this little guy in a backwoods shop for $25 in hopes of restoring it to working order and reasonable appearance. It's not fancy, but I think it would make a reliable carry. I have a good idea of what it is, but I was looking for some insight by anyone who knows about the old H&Rs.
I also found something called the Smith & Wesson Shop Manual; would I use something like that to help identify parts and problems or should I seek out an actual schematic? Thanks.

[DCWilson]

There are general similarities between the S&W top breaks and the top breaks made by other companies, including H&R, but you shouldn't expect a S&W manual to tell you what you need to know about another company's guns. Search for books that have exploded drawings of several different guns, including H&Rs.

What's wrong with that one? What is it that needs repair?

[thepiperofseville]

The chambers do not spin when cocked and fired, and if I believe correctly that is a single/double, it does not reset after trigger pull. The piece itself is in good shape, original grips; and again, this would be my first piece I would be restoring so I'm not looking to make money from it, but more or less use it as experience. What do you think?

[DCWilson]

If the cylinder doesn't turn when you pull the trigger, the gun probably needs a new hand. That may be what H&R call a lifter. If the trigger doesn't return, it probably needs a new return spring.

Check out this parts shop: Numrich Gun Parts Corp. - The World's Largest Supplier of Firearms Parts and Accessories

That link takes you to the H&R page. I don't know how a Premier differs from a small frame break-top .32, but maybe the illustrations and parts photos there will give you some ideas.

That's about the limit of my research ability for non S&W guns. Good luck with your project. If the gun is generally in good shape, I think it may not need much to put it right.