Since this seems to be the most detailed info available on pre-war Sportsmans, does anyone know any more about the "gold dot" front sights that show up on some......almost looks blued over but is designed to reflect light for night shooting.....a friend has one Serial # D27028 made 1934-35 but I have no photos. Were they special order, limited to only a few years or ?

As far as I know it was a standard feature on the 299 New Defender. The advertisements for the New Defender talk about them. I can't recall ever seeing one on a regular 6" Sportsman although I assume they're interchangeable with the regular front sight. Might have been put on as a special order thing or to use up parts after the New Defender was discontinued. My 3" New Defender (with the gold bead front sight) is D25014 so not too far off from your friend's gun. Is his an otherwise normal Sportsman?


Bill Goforth's book claims the 3" New Defender was offered only in 1937 so that would make your friend's gun 1937-38 if it was made a little after mine. Assuming the book is correct of course. The book is definitely not always correct but it's by far the best we've got so far.

Yes, BRING_GUNS....My friends revolver is an otherwise normal 6" Sportsman...........Thanks for the info.

One of two revolvers that I managed to break in my lifetime, I was twelve at the time which could very likely have something to do with it.

A likely spurious H&R auctioned off just this past autumn that nonetheless fetched a high price: Gilt Harrington & Richardson Premier Revolver with Holster | Rock Island Auction

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Here's another of those 199s with the grip serrations we were talking about recently. Pretty good condition although the seller wants a little too much for it in my opinion! SN S10095 I think? Or maybe S10096.
Single Action Sportsman

There nice looking guns ,but they go out of time fast. Actions are not made well.

What type of bluing did these have, especially the early ones? Photos look like they could be rust blued, but I'm not sure how to identify some of the other methods like carbonia bluing that Colt used.

So far as I can determine, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Colt utilized charcoal bluing, switching to the carbonia method for a relatively brief period before WWII. Other high volume manufacturers mostly employed hot caustic processes (as did Colt postwar), and I'd expect H&R to be in this camp.

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SWCA #590
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Several years back, somebody bought this lot of H&R revolvers: Ten Harrington & Richardson Sporting Revolvers | Rock Island Auction

Three of these stand out as especially interesting. First, the Hunter, a 10" barreled version of the Trapper Model. These aren't common. Also note that there's a 777 Ultra Sportsman in there. Finally, the 923, which from its serial number was made in 1977. I wasn't aware that H&R ever made any more of these after the early 1950's.

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I think the buyer of this one got a pretty good deal: Lot Detail - (M) H&R SPORTSMAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER

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I am now the owner of a 1939 era, Sportsman. It is a bit rough on the outside, but nice on the inside where it counts. Everything seems to be in very good working order. I would like to take it apart and perhaps rust blue the barrel and certainly the cylinder, but there are an amazing number of small parts to this thing. This is well outside my comfort zone of falling block rifles and muzzleloaders. Does anyone know of a good parts diagram for these early guns?

I did find a Youtube video that is helpful, but a diagram would certainly be nice too.

H&R 999 Parts for Sale | Numrich Gun Parts

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I've still got it made.

A recent auction of a prewar SA Sportsman where the hammer price was way below what you might expect nowadays: Harrington & Richardson "Sportsman" Single-Action 9-Shot Revolver, Top Break, .22 LR - Albrecht Auction Service

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VERY nice at that price. There is value in getting off the beaten track.

Here's an interesting pair that sold a year ago: Two Harrington & Richardson Double Action Revolvers | Rock Island Auction

The 999 Sportsman in this case would've been manufactured by New England Firearms in 1994. The 660 Gunfighter was made only for a couple years. I've never seen one. This example dating to 1959 would have to be very early production.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Back in post #95, I shared a Model 929. Here's its less common, satin nickeled sibling, the 930. This example was made in 1975.

Attached Images

930.jpg (89.7 KB, 12 views)

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Here's a rather intriguing Eureka that was sold a few years back: Harrington & Richardson Factory Unfinished Eureka Model 196 Revolver & Frame Casting

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That ended up sitting on Gunbroker for quite some time until selling six months ago or so. I think it went for $300 or so so the seller probably broke even or took a small loss. I kind of regret not buying it but $300 is a little steep for a half finished gun with no finish and no hope of ever being completed.


I think it's probably safe to assume that #288 is about where production stopped for the Eureka. I've seen pictures of #262 ("R262" to be specific) so they made completed ones at least that far.


My big question is did they start at 1 or 100? I own #102 but I have never seen a picture or even a reference to one with a serial below that. They show up so rarely I would not at all be surprised if there were less than 200 of them made.


One just sold on Gunbroker a few days ago though, I hope someone here snagged it! The seller told me it was serial 16x.

This Single Action Sportsman brought a rather astonishingly high price at auction a few years ago (it's unusual to find the box still accompanying the gun, though): Excellent Harrington & Richardson Sportsman Single Action Revolver with Original Box

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

A prewar Double Action Sportsman, also with its box, that didn't get quite up to the price level of the Single Action in the preceding post, but still brought some serious money for a relatively common H&R: Harrington & Richardson Model 999 Sportsman Double Action Revolver with Original Box (amoskeagauction.com)

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I’ve always thought the H&R 999 was over priced for what it was. IJ had similar model that was same quality. I’ve had dozens of them and always make out selling them. They are one of those firearms that is in the sentimental bracket of, my grandfather - uncle- dad- etc had one when I was a kid. Boomers by them.
My old man shot some informal .25 a shot 22 pistol with friends. He had been using a Single-6 which was a contender against what most guys had in early 60s. There was never any big winners, they were all WW2 Vets and about equal in skill with a handgun. I got a K22 and told OM to take it to the shoot. He came home with pockets sagging with quarters and a H&R
999 in a sack. With orders for me to sell it off and get his buddy a K22.

While in nice enough condition and accompanied by its box, I can't fathom why this otherwise rather run of the mill postwar Sportsman ought to have fetched the outrageously high price it did a couple of years ago: Harrington & Richardson Model 999 Sportsman Double Action Revolver with Rare Hinged-Lid Box (amoskeagauction.com)

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I hear this about so many different types of guns from so many different places. That gun looked a lot more collectable than the one I bought. So, it costs a bunch more. These things ain't dime store items, anymore.

For whatever reason an original box makes some people value a gun significantly more. I don’t really get it myself. I would say the K prefix guns are somewhat uncommon relatively speaking and that gun looks like it has very good finish, both of which help. I’m guessing two collectors valued the gun a good bit higher than your average Sportsman and then got carried away in a bidding war.

This is by far the most stratospheric price I've ever seen obtained for an H&R .22 revolver: Excellent Harrington & Richardson Model 299 New Defender Double Action Revolver with Original Box (amoskeagauction.com)

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A Model 777 Ultra Sportsman that sold back in 2017: Auction Item (amoskeagauction.com)

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"