H & R Firearms

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H & R Firearms is a Marlin Firearms-owned manufacturer of firearms, especially single-shot shotguns . They manufacture Firearms under the New England Firearms and Harrington & Richardson trademarks. Their factory is in Gardner, Massachusetts.

[edit] History

The first Harrington & Richardson company was founded in 1871 as Wesson & Harrington. In the 1960's it was owned by the Rowe family, and warranty cards were sent to 'Industrial Rowe'. The old H&R company went out of business in 1986, and the building, which was located at the corner of Park Avenue and Chandler Street, was demolished. A Walgreens pharmacy now stands at this location. A new company, H&R 1871, Inc., was formed in 1991 and started production revolvers and single shot rifles and shotguns using old H&R designs. H&R 1871, Inc. was sold to Marlin Firearms in 2000.

H&R Factory Postcard

H&R Factory Ruin. Picture taken from Park Avenue, facing North. (1986)

H&R The American Double Action

H&R The American Safety Hammer

Some of the factory addresses that H&R used:

Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 243 Park Ave Worcester, Mass
Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 320 Park Ave Worcester, Mass
Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 439 Park Ave Worcester, Mass
Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 484 Park Ave Worcester, Mass

The current production of H&R 1871 LLC includes single shot shotguns and rifles, pump shotguns, double barrel shotguns, and dog training blank revolvers. They also import self-loading 12-gauge shotguns sold under their name.

[edit] Products

Young America Double Action (small solid frame centerfire revolver) Manufactured 1884-1941 Calibers: .22 and .32
Young America Bulldog (small solid frame rimfire revolver) Caliber: .32 rimfire
Young America Safety Hammer (small solid frame centerfire revolver with bobbed hammer) Safety hammer patented 1887 Calibers: .22 and .32
Vest Pocket Safety Hammer (small solid frame centerfire revolver with bobbed hammer and shortened barrel) Safety hammer patented 1887 Calibers: .22 and .32
Vest Pocket Self Cocker (same as Vest Pocket Safety Hammer but without half / full cocking sear)
Victor (Unfluted cylinder) Available in both small and large frame. Calibers: .22, .32 and .38
Premier Auto Ejecting (small frame centerfire revolver, break-top design) calibers: .22, .32, .38
The American Double Action (large solid frame centerfire revolver) Manufactured 1883-1940 Calibers: .32, .38 & .44
H&R Bulldog (large solid frame rimfire revolver) Caliber: .32 rimfire
Safety Hammer Douible Action (large solid frame centerfire revolver with bobbed hammer) Safety hammer patented 1887 Calibers: .32, .38 & .44
Pardner (single shot shotgun)
Pinnacle (double barrel shotgun)
Handi-Rifle (single shot rifle)
Pardner Pump shotgun (manufactured by Hawk Industries Co. Ltd. in China)
Excell Auto 5 shotgun
M1 Garand rifle (1953-1956)
M14 rifle (1959-1964; one of four manufacturers)
M16 rifle(under US military contract)
T223 rifle (license built copy of the Heckler & Koch Heckler & Koch HK33 Assault Rifle)
Reising submachine gun
H&R Ultra Varmint (.22 WMR single shot rifle)