H & R Firearms
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| H & R Firearms | |
|---|---|
| Type | Subsidiary of Marlin Firearms |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Headquarters | Gardner, MA, USA |
| Industry | Firearms |
| Products | Shotguns, Rifles, Pistols |
| Website | H&R Website |
H & R Firearms (Harrington & Richardson) is a Marlin Firearms-owned manufacturer of firearms, especially single-shot shotguns. They manufacture firearms under the New England Firearms and Harrington & Richardson trademarks. Currently they do business as H&R 1871 at their factory in Gardner, Massachusetts.
Contents |
[edit] History
The original H&R firm was in business for over a century from 1871 to 1986.[1] Its roots are deep in the mid-19th Century Connecticut Valley firearms industry where the Wesson brothers loom large in the history of American firearms innovation. Edward Wesson was a noted maker of fine percussion rifles. Daniel B. Wesson was the co founder of Smith & Wesson, and design genius behind many of their break-through innovations.
Baby brother Frank Wesson started his own firearms manufacturing firm in 1859, sharing an early patent with Nathan Harrington. Wesson produced his famous two trigger rifles and spur trigger pistols and pocket rifles. He shared a brief partnership with his nephew Gilbert Harrington, as Wesson and Harrington. In 1875 Harrington and another former Wesson employee, William Richardson formed the new H&R company. Both Richardson and Harrington died in 1897.
In 1893 the company opened a new facility in Massachusetts to respond to customer demand for their products.[1] H&R was enjoying such success that the factory was expanded again after only a few years.
In the 1960s it was owned by the Rowe family, and warranty cards were sent to 'Industrial Rowe'.[citation needed] 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 in Worcester, Massachusetts, was demolished. A Walgreens pharmacy now stands at this location.[2]
A new company, H&R 1871, Inc., was formed in 1991 and started production of revolvers, single shot rifles and shotguns using old H&R designs. H&R 1871, Inc. assets were sold to H&R 1871, LLC, a Connecticut LLC owned by Marlin Firearms in 2000.[1] Unfortunately for owners of old H&R firearms, neither Marlin nor H&R 1871 will have anything to do with the older H&R guns as regards to parts and information.[citation needed]
Some of the factory addresses that H&R used:
- Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 243 Park Ave Worcester, Mass[3]
- Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 320 Park Ave Worcester, Mass[4]
- Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 439 Park Ave Worcester, Mass[5]
- Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 484 Park Ave Worcester, Mass[6]
- H&R was located on Hermon Street from 1877 until 1894.[citation needed]
The current production of H&R 1871 LLC includes single shot shotguns and rifles, pump shotguns, double barrel shotguns, and dog training blank revolvers.[1] They also import self-loading 12-gauge shotguns sold under their name. According to noted web firearms author Chuck Hawks they are "These are simple, accurate, and reasonably reliable rifles."[7] They have some of the least expensive rifles and shotguns available.[8]
[edit] Military contributions
H&R built flare guns during World War I, and a variety of firearms including the M1 Garand After World War II during the Korean Conflict, from early 1953 to early 1956. Later they went on to be the largest producer of M14 rifles as well as a large number of M16A1 rifles.[1]
[edit] Miscellanea
- During WW2 there were searchlights on the roof of the factory.[citation needed]
- After WW2, returning GIs could bring captured weapons to the H&R factory to test fire them.[citation needed]
- In the early 1980s, Thermoplastics Co., Inc. occupied a section of the factory.[citation needed]
- Before being demolished in 1986, the bottom floor was being renovated for use as retail space (clothing store, etc).[citation needed]
- Bartolomeo Vanzetti (see Sacco and Vanzetti) owned a break-top revolver made by H&R.[citation needed]
- H&R also made handcuffs: Patented in 1934 (patent # 1984677) by Harrington and Richardson, H&R Super handcuffs were given by the USA to the Chinese government to assist in its civil war with communist forces. When the communists won and they ran out of handcuffs, it is believed that they simply made copies of the H&R handcuffs, improving the lock design in the process.[citation needed]
[edit] Products
[edit] Solid Frame Revolvers
- Model 1 .32 or .38 Caliber, spur trigger single action revolver, 3" octagonal barrel, 5 or 7 shot fluted cylinder, flat frame, saw-handle square butt plain walnut or black checkered rubber grips, marked HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON, WORCESTER, MASS. PAT. MAY 23, 1876. Approximately 3,000 were manufactured in 1877 and 1878.
- Model 1-1/2 .32 Cal spur trigger, single action revolver, 5-shot cylinder (10,000 were manufactured between 1878 and 1883)
- Model 2-1/2 same as model 1-1/2 but 3.25" barrel and 7-shot cylinder (5,000 were manufactured between 1878 and 1883)
- Model 3-1/2 .38 rf Cal. 3.5" barrel, 5-shot cylinder (1,000 were manufactured)
- Model 1880 .32 od .38 S&W centerfire double action revolver, 3" round barrel, 5- or 6-shot cylinder (4,000 were manufactured between 1880 and 1883)
- Young America Double Action (small solid frame centerfire revolver) Manufactured 1884-1941 Calibers: .22 and .32 Standard barrel length was 2 1/2 with 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 inch extra cost options(1,500,000 were manufactured).
- 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) NOTE: Some trigger guards installed on this model had cutouts which would allow the installation of the half / full cocking sear.
- Victor (Unfluted cylinder, round barrel) Available in both small and large frame. Calibers: .22, .32 and .38
- The American Double Action (large solid frame centerfire revolver) Manufactured 1883-1941 Calibers: .32, .38 & .44 (850,000 were manufactured).
- H&R Bulldog (large solid frame rimfire revolver) Caliber: .32 rimfire
- Safety Hammer Double Action (large solid frame centerfire revolver with bobbed hammer) Safety hammer patented 1887 Calibers: .32, .38 & .44 (manufactured between 1890 and 1941).
- H&R model 929 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
NOTE: Pre-1898 solid frame revolvers were designed for use with black powder loads. Using smokeless powder rounds with these revolvers may cause damage and/or injury.
[edit] Top-Break (Also called Break-Top and Tip-Up) Revolvers
- Premier Auto Ejecting (small frame centerfire revolver, break-top design) calibers: .22 (rimfire), .32, .38
[edit] Pistols
- Self-Loading (Automatic) Pistol Caliber: .32 and Caliber .25(When Harrington & Richardson decided to manufacture an automatic pistol, they sought the skills of William Whiting, Webley & Scott's chief designer. H&R had a licensed agreement with Webley & Scott to manufacture this firearm).
- HK 4 Made in Germany by Heckler & Koch. From 1968-1973 HK 4 was made and sold in US under the name of Harrington & Richardson model HK4.
[edit] Shotguns
- Pardner (single shot shotgun)
- Pinnacle (double barrel shotgun)
- Pardner Pump shotgun (manufactured by Hawk Industries Co. Ltd. in China)
- Excel Auto 5 shotgun
- H&R model 176 10 ga (break open single shot shotgun)
- Handy-Gun (H&R made approximately 54,000 Handy-Guns from 1921 until the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) outlawed shotguns with barrels less than 18 inches long and an overall length of 26 inches. The guns will be found in both .410 bore and 28 gauge. Some .410 bore barrels are choked, some are not, and no 28 gauge barrels are choked. All of the .410s had 2 ½ inch chambers except for the final 2000 which have three inch chambers.)
[edit] Rifles
- Handi-Rifle (single shot rifle) Calibers: 22LR 444 Marlin 22-250 Rem. 223 Rem. 243 Win. 25-06 Rem. 270 Win. 280 Rem. 30/06 Sprg. 308 Win. 35 Whelen 7mm/08 Rem.22 Hornet 30/30 Win. 44 Rem. Mag. 45/70 Gov't. 500 S&W 204 Ruger
- M1 Garand rifle (1953-1956) (Harrington & Richardson received its first contract on 3 April 1952 and began delivery in early 1953, ceasing M1 production in early 1956. Ordnance Department records indicate Harrington & Richardson delivered 428,600 M1 rifles. Harrington & Richardson, as a long time manufacturer of firearms, encountered few of the difficulties experienced by other companies contracted to produce the rifle. Rifles produced by Harrington & Richardson were exceptionally well finished in appearance. In addition to their name on the receiver heel, M1s manufactured by Harrington & Richardson may also be identified by serial number. Harrington & Richardson was assigned serial number ranges 4660001 through 4800000, 5488247 through 5793847, and 400 rifles numbered from 6034330 through 6034729. The major components, such as the barrel, bolt, hammer, operating rod, safety, and trigger housing were stamped with a numeric drawing number and the manufacturer's initials. Harrington & Richardson were marked "HRA.) [9].
- M14 rifle from 1959-1964; H&R was the largest manufacturer and one of four(4) manufacturers (H&R, Winchester, The Springfield Armory, and Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge (TRW).
- M16A1 rifle under US military contract during the Vietnam War. H&R is one of the four companies to make M16 variants for the US Military (Colt, Fabrique National, General Motors Hydramatic Division, and H&R).
- T223 rifle (Built copy of the Heckler & Koch HK33 Assault Rifle under license)
- Reising submachine gun
- H&R Ultra Varmint (.22 WMR single shot rifle)
[edit] Collectability
To date, Firearms collectors have not shown much interest in collecting H&R firearms except the military weapons. A number of transferable M14s and M16A1s from the H&R auction in 1986 are in private collectors' hands.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "About Us" by Harrington & Richardson at the H&R 1871 web site
- ^ Walgreens Store locator
- ^ "243 Park Avenue"Advertisement showing 243 Park Ave as the address for H&R
- ^ "320 Park Avenue"Letter from H&R showing 320 Park Ave as the address for H&R
- ^ "439 Park Avenue"Advertisement showing 439 Park Ave as the address for H&R
- ^ "484 Park Avenue"Advertisement showing 484 Park Ave as the address for H&R
- ^ "Harrington & Richardson 1871 Single Shot Rifles" by Chuck Hawks
- ^ "The New England Firearms Handi-Rifle" by Chuck Hawks NOTE: Username and password needed to access this site
- ^ "Excerpted from The M1 Garand: Owner’s Guide copyright 1994 by Scott A. Duff"
