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38 H&R Defender Top Break question

nug
Hello everyone! I am new to this site so please forgive me if I ask silly questions as I am new to pistols also. Guess that makes me a double newbie lol.

I got my fist Pistol a week ago and it was left to me by my grandfather. I think the gun is fairly old and I do have an FAC. At the moment I am not sure I am even allowed to keep it. but for what its worth I would like to know some info on it like age and such before I might have to get rid of it. It is in almost perfect condition as I do not even think my GF used it ever. At least that is what family members say. It came with 30 or so .38 s&w rounds.

The gun is top break and holds 5 rounds. It reads Harrington & Richardson arms company on the side of the barrel. The other side reads Defender 38. The handle of the gun seems to be some sort of black plastic with a circular H&R logo. It is double action and has an auto eject feature when you open to reload. The serial number is on the inside of the handle which is metal. it reads A632, but is hard to read, but not due to wear, just it looks as though it was stamped on an angle.

So if anyone here can give me a date of manufacture or other info It would be greatly appreciated. Also, can you still purchase .38 lead s&w ammo and would it be safe to use if the gun turns out to be really old.

Thanks again!
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • 32 Magnum
    Starting around 1937-38, H&R began producing a 5 shot .38 S&W chambered break action, auto ejecting revolver based upon the Sportsman frame. Earliest examples have non-adjustable front and rear sights. The series evolved through several modifications during the war years (1939-45)- being variously stamped as "DEFENDER", "DEFENDER SPECIAL" and "DEFENDER 38". The Defender 38 will have adjustable for height front sight with a brass bead in the sight blade; adjustable for windage rear sight blade - these sights seem to have followed through out the series. The series eventually became the Model 25 and became a MANUAL ejecting revolver. This model was modified after 1953 to become the Models 925 and 926. Your piece with a 'A' serial prefix was, more than likely, made in 1940. I have about a dozen variations of this model in my collection - and in some cases it seems that the serial numbers were "batched" rather than serialized. The .38S&W cartridge as used in this model was a 146 gr round/flat nosed lead projectile of around .362 caliber, with a muzzle velocity of around 750-800 fps. It is NOT interchangeable with the .38 S&W SPECIAL cartridge. This model was used during the War years as a secondary arm for civilian security and plant guards.
    info added: The Defender series was built on the "Rice" frame - with a 'bird's head' shaped grip frame which was equipped with a one piece grip, attached to frame by one screw through the back into the back strap. Earliest grip was checkered Walnut, later Brown or Black nylon/plastic formulation.
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  • 5mmgunguy
    Welcome to the forum...yes you can still purchase 38 S&W. Its a great little round. I shoot it in my S&W Model 33...great backpacking gun. As for whether yours can be shot...ask a gunsmith to take a look at it.
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  • nug
    Thanks a lot for the info. So you think the gun was made aroumd 1940? I described it as best I can, but I don,t have a copper ball near the barrel sight. Both front and rear sights are adjustable.

    A friend of the family told me they made these guns up until the 80s, but he knows nothing about guns so I can.t say I trust his judgement.

    One other question I had was, why would the bullet tips be flat and lead? There also seems to be a black piece of rubber really thin around the lead. What would this be needed for? Seems to me this would only slow the bullet down and prevent penatration, being cylindrical like that.

    Sorry, I thought of one last question, are these a good round for home defense? Thanks again!
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  • Fatstrat
    H&R has used the "Defender" moniker several times over the years. On pistols that most of which were of similar top break design. Which creates some confusion. Based on your description, IMO 32Mag is correct that yours was of the 1940's mfg type.
    I owned one for awhile. Bought it from a friend who needed some fast cash on a kind pawn type deal. He later bought it back. I considered it a very nice, accurate and well built pistol and was reluctant to let it go. But a deals a deal.
    The .38 S&W round is rather anemic by today's standards.Actually it was even by 1940's standards. Which is the reason is now considered obsolete. But it is certainly better than nothing.
    Considering the short MFG timespan of your model, and the WW-2 civil defense connection, I would consider the pistol more of possible future historical collectible over a shooter. However they are good shooters. I can't answer your ammo question. I've never seen any .38S&W round w/rubber on them.
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  • 32 Magnum
    nug,
    Your family friend is correct, to a point. The Model 925, as I stated before - was derived from the earlier Defender 38, and in it's 2.5" barreled, with bird's head grip incarnation it was called the "Defender". As Fatstrat pointed out, H&R used the Defender name on several models. Another use was on the 2" barreled DA Sportsman which was called the "New Defender" and was issued in 9 shot .22 and 5 shot .38S&W. This series was made in the late 1930's. All of the Defender's have the Sportsmand frame of their era, in common.
    I have s/n A966, it is stamped "Defender Special" and it doesn't have the brass/gold bead in the front sight blade. The next one I have is s/n 3963 and it has the gold bead. All the remaining examples have a gold bead up to the first manual ejector (model 25?) which again doesn't. The Defender 38 series is a bit confusing at this time, probably because of use of various parts with limited availability during wartime - H&R used what they had on hand to meet the demand.
    Jim Hauff
    H&R Collector
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  • captnawesome
    Hey H&R experts, do y'all know where I can find parts for a defender 38 top break? Need a new hammer.
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  • perry shooter
    As a FAMILY connection Try by all means to keep this Pistol once sold it will never be able to be replaced. A great reminder of your grandfather.
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  • 5mmgunguy
    captnawesome to answer your question about parts..try e-gunparts.com.
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