larryofcc
SWCA Member
Just got a letter back on my K-38 Heavy Masterpiece. Shipped 3-19-1951, with a target hammer, to H.H. Harris Co. in a shipment of 25 like guns. I heard Harris is one of the biggie S&W distributors. Big Larry
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H. H. Harris Co.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Was
He distributed from the late 1940s until the 1970s. There have been several threads about Harris-shipped guns here over the years. If you'd like to read more, a search will likely provide some material.
S&WIowegan
US Veteran
It would be more precise to say Harris 'WAS' a biggie distributor of S&W but is no longer in existence. Harris would order revolvers with non-standard barrel lengths as an example.
I expect people such as Doc44 will be able to add detail to my post.
I expect people such as Doc44 will be able to add detail to my post.
I don't know "big" he may have been (comparatively speaking), but he certainly carved a niche for himself in the world of what I'll call weird guns. Weird translates to not in the catalog.
Chiefs Special Targets come to mind, as does the "Post-war/pre-war" .32 Regulation Police Targets as does pretty much any other model with odd-ball configuration------barrel lengths/presentation grips---which was pretty much everything on display in his retail store---aside from engraved guns which he pretty much always had on hand----no special order---no waiting.
AND he was a hustler! I knew of him (via St. Louis area retailers of his odd-ball stuff), but had never met him. Then one day the phone rang. The voice said, "This is Herbie Harris in Chicago. You call yourself a collector of Smith & Wesson target guns---I've got one you've got to have!" So---my new bride and I subsequently drove 600 miles out of our way on our honeymoon to pick up my shiny new .32 Regulation Police Target. Thus was her up close and personal introduction to the world of lunatic fringe gun collectors----in June, 1959. He continued to call for the next 10-12 years---still hustling.
Sitting here now, and not being quite sure when target hammers made their appearance, I'm inclined to suspect yours was one of the early ones; and I'm surprised he didn't order more than 25. If he was still here, you can bet he'd tell us target hammers were his idea. He was all mouth, and a lot of fun; and it didn't make any difference if you were just buying one gun or a truck load.
Ralph Tremaine
Chiefs Special Targets come to mind, as does the "Post-war/pre-war" .32 Regulation Police Targets as does pretty much any other model with odd-ball configuration------barrel lengths/presentation grips---which was pretty much everything on display in his retail store---aside from engraved guns which he pretty much always had on hand----no special order---no waiting.
AND he was a hustler! I knew of him (via St. Louis area retailers of his odd-ball stuff), but had never met him. Then one day the phone rang. The voice said, "This is Herbie Harris in Chicago. You call yourself a collector of Smith & Wesson target guns---I've got one you've got to have!" So---my new bride and I subsequently drove 600 miles out of our way on our honeymoon to pick up my shiny new .32 Regulation Police Target. Thus was her up close and personal introduction to the world of lunatic fringe gun collectors----in June, 1959. He continued to call for the next 10-12 years---still hustling.
Sitting here now, and not being quite sure when target hammers made their appearance, I'm inclined to suspect yours was one of the early ones; and I'm surprised he didn't order more than 25. If he was still here, you can bet he'd tell us target hammers were his idea. He was all mouth, and a lot of fun; and it didn't make any difference if you were just buying one gun or a truck load.
Ralph Tremaine
Last edited:
H. H. Harris specialized in guns with 5-inch barrels. Particularly, the 44 Magnum in 1958 and earlier, the 1950 44 Target revolver.
Bill
Bill
John Fugate
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H.H. Harris was kinda like the Lew Horton of back in the day. Kinda sorta.
J.F.
J.F.
Harris also ordered quite a few engraved S&Ws...
opoefc
US Veteran
The late Alan Dash, long time S&WCA member, was a favorite customer of Herbie's, as both liked 5 inch S&Ws, of which Alan had many one of a kind J,K & N frame S&Ws. Anybody know what happened to Alan's collection after he passed? Ed.
Valmet
Member
First heard about these 5” 29s in Unintended Consequences in the late-90s and have always thought that they were particularly cool guns.
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