The Harrington & Richardson Sportsman

[VaTom]

This is a late example of H&R's premier target revolver, made in 1981. Note that the barrel rib isn't ventilated, but merely fluted. For at least a few years prior, some such had been observed, but by this time all 999 production was sporting these faux vents. Still. the gun is nicely finished, and its quality couldn't be cited as a presage to H&R's filing for bankruptcy as 1984 drew to a close. The print advertisement dates to an earlier and more happily prosperous era in the company's history.

Yesterday my retired neighbor stopped by to show me his latest acquisition. It was a late model H&R Sportsman with 4" barrel that was a trade in at local dealer. It was very nice. I had never seen one. I was very impressed with the fit and finish and especially the heftiness for a .22 revolver.

 

[James K]

I picked up a 1981 version and experienced the same issue with the rear sight blade- was cock-eyed in the slot and would not stay straight because it was too thin for the screws to grab.
Fortunately, Numrich carries a wide reproduction, and it fits much better. Agree that the screw setting is finicky and tends to come loose. Needs some Loctite after you get it where you want it. Numrich also carries the screws.

 

[Goony]

I'm 99.9% sure it's a factory serial number rollmark due to both its uniform font appearance compared to other Sportsman I've compared it with, and that the bluing in that area matches the rest of the gun, which hasn't been refinished. Additionally, the serrations are deep and uniform and it would be odd for an aftermarket gunsmith to produce the necessary jigs for a "one off".

Since Bill Goforth didn't mention any such variation in his comprehensive and authoritative book on H&R's, if this is factory work (and you've given solid reasons to believe it's so), I'd have to think it done pursuant to a special order, perhaps at the behest of an upper echelon competitor who the company wanted to accommodate.

 

[Goony]

And Goony, I think I can speak for many here that we'd love to see a pic or two of your SA Sportsman.

Here it is, "S" prefixed serial number, circa 1935.

 

[Goony]

Yesterday my retired neighbor stopped by to show me his latest acquisition. It was a late model H&R Sportsman with 4" barrel that was a trade in at local dealer. It was very nice. I had never seen one. I was very impressed with the fit and finish and especially the heftiness for a .22 revolver.

The 4" version seems to be not nearly so common as the 6", so I think your neighbor has a bit of a prize there. Here's a relevant article: Classic Test: H&R's Model 999 - American Handgunner

 

[Goony]

Those things seem to be a little pricey these days.

I spotted a couple of Sportsman 999's online this morning, one made in 1965 and the other from 1969, neither anything special insofar as condition, no boxes or anything like that, either, priced at $525 and $799 respectively. Now for what they are I like these H&R's just fine but even relatively recently I've seen decent S&W K-22's offered in that price range.

 

[Rpg]

Back in the 1950s a friend and I fell upon a H&R 22 revolver. It looked a bit like OP's revolver but I have no idea what model it was.

It had problems. My friend and I (we were about 8) under took its repair. Disassembly kept us busy for several afternoons. Once we had it apart, we commenced its reassembly. We spent a lot of afternoons working to reassemble it.

We each reassembled the revolver several times, but we couldn't get it to work. Truth is, I think we added to it's problems.

We didn't know anyone to help us AND let us keep the revolver. Our parents wouldn't dream of turning us loose with a functional 22 revolver.

Over time, we lost interest in fixing it. I'm not sure where it landed. I think my friend ended up with it. No way my parents would let me keep it!

 

[Gamecock]

The rear sight blade is held in place with a double set screw. You have to loosen one, then tighten the other to make adjustments. Make sure you keep an eye on those screws.

One thing I had the gunsmith work on to get it running again was that the hammer wouldn't drop hard on the primer. He found that the sight blade had slipped down to where the hammer was glancing off the blade, slowing it down.

(Aside to CB) I used to live down on Qualla Rd. Moved back to Carolina in 1987.

 

[Goony]

My "Grail" H&R's

I've mentioned in passing the Model 777 Ultra Sportsman and the Model 196 Eureka Sportsman. These deserve a little more space in this thread.

The Ultra Sportsman was offered in 1938-39 as an improvement on the standard Sportsman single action. Its most notable feature was a cylinder shortened to precisely the length of a .22 LR cartridge. Very much intended for the most serious and discerning competitive target shooter, the action was hand honed so that the trigger pull would come in within the narrow range of 2½ to 3 pounds. The Eureka Sportsman was produced only in 1940 and was very much along the same lines as the Ultra Sportsman but having an action wholly redesigned with the sole goal of even further reducing lock time. Both of these models are very scarce.

Below is an example of an Ultra Sportsman, serial number U146. Note the adjusting screw installed in the trigger guard for the purpose of limiting the trigger's rearward movement. This wasn't a standard feature.

 

[Gamecock]

Thx for sharing, Goony.

 

[Onomea]

I seem to recall that only something like 1000 of the 777 Ultra Sportsman were made. Now that would be a prize to come across indeed.

 

[Goony]

I seem to recall that only something like 1000 of the 777 Ultra Sportsman were made. Now that would be a prize to come across indeed.

Yes, that's the accepted figure. For the 196 Eureka Sportsman, it's on the order of only a little more than 250.

 

[Goony]

Here's an advertisement for the Eureka, showing that at the time it retailed for $2.95 more than the standard Sportsman.

 

[Goony]

The 1955 Silverplated Gubernatorial Presentation Sportsman 999's

[FONT=&quot]Here's a couple that've come up for sale. There ought to be at least 46 others (I don't know if the territorial governors received one).[/FONT]

Harrington & Richardson Model 999 Sportsman, #R517730, .22LR cal., 6" barrel, factory silver plate

SILVER PLATED HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON 999 SPORTSMAN PRESENTED TO GOVERNOR GEORGE N. CRAIG.

 

[Gamecock]

I hope he shot it.

 

[Goony]

The 1 of 999 Engraved Commemorative

I mentioned these in passing earlier in this thread. Here's one such that sold nearly a decade ago: Harrington & Richardson Inc 999 Revolver 22 LR | Rock Island Auction

 

[glenncal1]

Check the prices of completed auctions on GB, the 999's have definitely become collectable.

 

[Ruger 13]

I picked one up a few months back in a LGS that I frequent. Had it out of the safe yesterday and tightened up the loose rear sight! Didn't Ed McGivern practice with the Sportsman?

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

Have a 10 shot NEF R92 with plain 5.5"bbl, Gardner, MA with a NS or N8 sn on the butt and a small wood grip and non-adjustable frame cut sight. The basic frame and cylinder look like an H&R frame.

How does this fit in?

 

[Gamecock]

Without pix . . . .