the american double action
I just receved a gun from a family member it is old and the top of the of the cylinder housing it says the american double action. Under the hand grip the serieral # 698. The gun does not brake like the others that i have seen. I would love to know what caliber and what year it was made. It holds a 38 bullet.
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Can You Post a few Photo's of this little pistol....Best.... 0 -
Harrington & Richardson made them during the early years of the 20th Century. Here is a photo of one I got off the net. 
Bill Goforth will be along shortly to fill you in on it, he's writing a book on them.0 -
That one looks like mine but mine is steel looking. is it supose to be gold brass or silver or stainless steel? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by buttersbabby
That one looks like mine but mine is steel looking. is it supose to be gold brass or silver or stainless steel?
H & R sold them with different finishes. Either nickel plated like the one in the photo, or blued were the most common. The one pictured appears to have been sprayed to cut the reflection/glare caused by the lighting. This gives it a mat appearance.0 -
the H&R American Double Action was in production between 1884 and 1941 (57 years). below is information on the two different models and their variation. you did not furnish enough infor for me to tell just what you have. as there were several serial number series serial number alone can not be used to date this revolver.
AMERICAN DOUBLE ACTION FIRST MODEL
(BLACK POWDER MODEL):
1884-1904
32 S&W caliber 6 shot, 38 S&W caliber 5 shot, 44 webley caliber 5 shot, pull pin cylinder release, barrel length 2?, 4? & 6 inches nickel finish standard, blue considered rare. Marked on top strap "AMERICAN DOUBLE ACTION",
first variation will have a round barrel & nickel trigger guard
1884-1887
second variation will have a octagon barrel & nickel trigger guard----1888-1897
third variation will have a octagon barrel , blue trigger guard and company name and address on left side of barrel
1898-1904
100%=$225 60%=$95, 1st Variation rarely seen, add 50% premium., for all American Double Actions variations and variants: add 15% premium for blue finish, add 10% premium for 4 ? " or 6" barrel, add 5%-10% premium for nickel trigger guard (pre 1898)
BULLDOG FIRST MODEL LARGE FRAME Rimfire Calibers)
1888-1904
32 Rimfire 6 shot, 38 Rimfire 5 shot (Variation of American Double Action First Model Marked on top strap "H&R BULL DOG"
100%=$235 60%=$95
SAFETY HAMMER DOUBLE ACTION FIRST MODEL
1888-1904
Same as American Double Action First Model except has patented Spurless Hammer, patent date will be marked on Hammer Marked on top strap "SAFETY HAMMER DOUBLE ACTION"
100%=$235 60%=$95
AMERICAN DOUBLE ACTION SECOND MODEL
(SMOKELESS POWDER)
1905-1941
32 S&W or 32 S&W Long caliber 6 shot, 38 S&W caliber 5 shot, 44 Webley caliber 5 shot, pull pin cylinder release, calibers and barrel lengths are the same as first model, 44 Webley caliber discontinued in 1921, nickel finish, blue optional. Difference between First Model and Second Model is the caliber Markings on the left side of the barrel. After 1930 this model was listed in catalogs as; AMERICAN DOUBLE ACTION No. 60 .32 Caliber 6 shot and AMERICAN DOUBLE ACTION No. 65 .38 Caliber 5 shot
100%=$225 60%= $75 For all American Double Action Second Models add 15% premium for blue finish and 10% for 4 ?" or 6" barrel
BULLDOG SECOND MODEL LARGE FRAME
1905-1923
32 Rimfire 6 shot, 38 Rimfire 5 shot (Variation of American Double Action Second Model Marked on top strap "H&R BULL DOG"
VALUE: 100%=$235 60%=$85
SAFETY HAMMER DOUBLE ACTION SECOND MODEL
1904-1940
Same as American Double Action Second Model except has patented Spurless Hammer, patent date may be marked on hammer Marked on top strap "SAFETY HAMMER DOUBLE ACTION"
VALUE: 100%=$235 60%=$75
bill0 -
Many of the older nickel plated pieces are slightly or grossly oxided. They usually polish up pretty nicely with a little Flitz (or equivalent) and gently polishing. I've done a few hundred of them for my collection. The ones that look "steel" colored are the ones Bill mentioned as "blue" finish. The early ones that I have acquired in blue (few and far between, that's why they're considered rare, at least today)usually show up with quite a bit of the finish gone, but they too will respond to a gentle polishing. I have a couple 2nd Models in blue that are like new or in excellent condition (including several 1904/04 models, and the bluing on those is deep black-blue.
Several other characteristics of the 1st Model 1st and 2nd Variations - the recoil shield will be "flat" on the back side and the hammer screw will be a flat head, flush with the frame. On latter pieces the recoil shield is "rounded" on the back side and the trigger screw has a round head. There are other minor characteristic changes between the variations - but you need to have pieces from the several variations to compare and note these. Much of this info will be in Bill's book, for those interested.0 -
here is a pic of it0 -
Buttersbabby- you need to vacuum. What kind of dog do you have? 0 -
this is a first model first variation (1884-1887) with about 10% of original finish value with be less than the 60% quoted above. the new 30th edition of the blued book list their antique models between 10 and 100% but i don't have my copy yet. it just came out tuesday 4-7-09 0 -
Hopefully somebody can help me with my gun.
I need a cylinder.
What do I have, and where can I get a cylinder?
Is this little gun considered the "large frame" model?
Is this the right part?:
http://www.e-gunparts.com/product.asp?chrProductSKU=270450-02&MC=0 -
i consider this a large frame model. but other my not know what to call it. just be sure and tell them what caliber it is. there were actually four different frames for this series of handguns until about 1921 the the 44 webley caliber was discontinued.
small frame called young america and 22 rimfire caliber 7 shot
medium frame called young america and 32 S&W caliber and 5 shot
large frame called american double action. 6 shot 32S&W, 5 shot 38 S&W
extra large frame american double action 5 shot 44 webley caliber
without knowing if this one has the caliber markings on the left side of the barrel this revolver is a first model manufactured between 1898 and 1904 or a second model manufactured after 1905. the blue trigger guard tell me that much.
the part your referenced in your post is NOT the correct part.
bill0
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