Old S&W with H&R Inc on frame

[Cowgirl2311]

My husband has an old 32 Smith & Wesson given to him by his mother years ago. We know nothing about it and would appreciate any information. It has MODEL 733 stamped on the barrel then 32 S&W L, Made in USA. It has a 4" barrel with adjustable sights. Serial Number is AP36xxx. It has H&R INC GARDNER MASS U.S.A. on the frame above the trigger. What is that?

 

[bigggbbruce]

It's an H&R 733 in 32 S & W

 

[handejector]

H&R = Harrington & Richardson

 

[italiansport]

You have a Harrington & Richardson revolver. Due to the caliber marking many confuse these with actual Smith &Wesson pistols. These were very inexpensive pistols when made so have it checked over by a gunsmith should you decide to actually shoot it.
Jim

 

[Cowgirl2311]

You have a Harrington & Richardson revolver. Due to the caliber marking many confuse these with actual Smith &Wesson pistols. These were very inexpensive pistols when made so have it checked over by a gunsmith should you decide to actually shoot it.
Jim

Yeah, the gun overall makes the impression of a cheap gun. I told him by glancing at it that it was not a Smith & Wesson; it has plastic grips, something that Smith & Wesson doesn't do. When he showed me the S&W caliber marking, I was unsure. Thanks for educating us.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

In my area there is some interest in H&R revolvers and they sell fairly quickly when listed, although they're never listed for much.

 

[30-30remchester]

As others have stated this is an inexpensive revolver. However the caliber is 32 S& W Long which is a more powerful round than the 32 S & W if the "L" designation refers to Long. There are scads of these "bureau drawer" guns out there. So many were purchased new for grandma or auntie as protection. These can often be found with a box of original ammo minus 5 rounds that grandma or auntie used when she stepped out the back porch and shot a couple rounds at the old water bucket to make sure she knew how to use it. It was then put in her underwear drawer where it lived for the next 75 years, to never be fired again.