H&R 6 shot .32 top break

jbj · Feb 5, 2022

i just purchased this pistol ,the top rib has only pat'd oct 4 ,87 with the name,
serial number 1072 under top latch and grips, 1 3/16 long cylinder and bobbed hammer.
full nickel including the trigger and guard
no caliber markings anywhere
i cant post pics right now but will monday
looks in very good condition.
im looking for any info as to cartridge, age , value..etc

thank you very much....jb

elm_creek_smith · Feb 6, 2022

Knife + handgun photo thread

Deleted post accidentally.

Gene L · Feb 6, 2022

Sounds like either a .32 S&W Long or a Short. Should be obvious from the length of the cylinder. No idea how old but you can look it up and find out more about it. H&R made revolvers for a pretty long time. H&R revolvers have gained more of a following now than previously. Not especially expensive just good, solid working man's revolvers.

CZU · Feb 6, 2022

If it's a 2 digit '87 date only, it would be a first variation made 1890-1892. No caliber marking left side of barrel=black powder only.

Info is from Bill Goforth, he wrote the book on H&R firearms.

This one is a later variation..

desi2358 · Feb 6, 2022

All of the 6 shot 32 caliber top break H&R revolvers I have owned were chambered for the long cartridge. Every 5 shot would only chamber the shorter round.

jbj · Feb 7, 2022

h&r 32 top break

any info would be appreciated this is the pistol mentioned at start of this thread

Old_Cop · Feb 7, 2022

Nice example!

Drm50 · Feb 7, 2022

It’s a 32 S&W not the long. I have never seen a S&W 32 long in H&R or IJ in the time period of this one. Early 1900s there were 32 revolvers like snowflakes. A lot of companies and house brands. Collector books lump these as Saturday Night Specials. The saying “ hotter than a $3 dollar pistol comes from them. Thousands sold as night stand guns. Back before the war on drugs they were the #1 weapon taken off punks. Since there is big money in dope they have upgraded to Hi-Points.

alanfir · Feb 7, 2022

I think you have an H&R Police Auto-Ejecting First Model. The caliber should be 32 S&W long. The patent date is sometimes found on the side of the hammer on this model with the spurless hammer. This is a black powder only revolver.

BubbaShakers · Feb 7, 2022

If the only patent date on the barrel is marked Oct 4, '87, then you have an Auto Ejecting Second Model, either 1st (year marked '87) or 2nd (full year marked - 1887) variation. Mfr'd 1890-92.

Note that a 32 S&W Long cartridge may chamber, but this gun predates that cartridge (introduced in 1896 with the 1st model hand ejector). As others have noted above, this model is for black power only (models safe for smokeless will have the caliber marked on the barrel).

alanfir · Feb 8, 2022

The Police Auto-Ejecting First Model is the same as the Auto Ejecting Second Model except for the spurless hammer. The caliber may be the 32 H&R also known as 32 Merwin & Hulbert.

Boulder350 · Feb 10, 2022

In the late 1880's Harrington and Richardson designed the 32 H&R round. It as longer than the 32 S&W short and was made long before the 32 S&W long came out. The case was about .890 long.

Here is a Merwin Hulbert that is designed on the medium size frame that shoots the 32 H&R round. Merwin and Hulbert put their own name on the cartridge and called it the 32 M&H Long.

I just bought a reloading tool that is marked 32 H&R. it is the first model first variation with the primer seater located out by the bullet mold. Based on my research this style was only made in 1886 and 1887.

This 1880's 32 H&R black powder cartridge is very different from the 32 H&R Magnum we see today

H&R 6 shot .32 top break

jbj

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