Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

H&R American Double Action

Comments

6 comments

  • Ridge Rider
    I have come across an H&R pistol wsith the inscription The American Double Action on the top strap. From research I understand that these were made from 1891 to about 1941. Any info on where to get parts and diagrams to repair this would be helpfull, also approx value?
    0
  • rufe-snow
    We just had a recent post on the H & R American. It's was one of their older models made prior to W W II. It's chambered for the .38 Smith & Wesson Cartridge NOT the .38 S & W Special.

    The .38 Smith & Wesson was originally a 19th Century Black Powder Cartridge. It's shorter in overall length yhen the .38 S & W Special. Normal .38 S & W Special ammo is to long to chamber in revolvers made for the .38 Smith & wesson.

    luger_4.jpg
    0
  • b.goforth
    ridge rider,
    the H&R american double action revolvers were manufactured between 1884 and 1941 covering both black powder and smokeless powder eras.

    PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIRE A 38 SPECIAL CARTRIDGE IN THIS REVOLVER. the caliber is .38 S&W (aka 38 short).

    if you can furnish the exact marking on the top of the frame and the left side of the barrel as well as the serial number (found either on the bottom of the grip frame or under the grips on the left side) i will try to give you a better determination of date of manufacture.

    the lever under the cylinder pin is a locking lever for the pin and if working properly it must be depressed to remove the cylinder pin.
    b.goforth
    0
  • Ridge Rider
    Thanks for both answers. No, I won't try to fire a .38 Special in it! It is obviously to long, and most likely to powerful. (I said that about a .38 Special?) What I wanted was someone that had a starting load for some common bullets, using the .38 Special case, and knowing that the bullet would have to be sunk rather deep, like a wadcutter, if I didn't trim the case. The gun seems to be in good shape, but I don't know where to begin on reloading a .38 Special, and no one around here has the proper cartridge.

    The top of the frame has: THE AMERICAN (next line) DOUBLE ACTION

    The left side of the barrel, which has six sides, has: H. & R.COMPANY (next line) WORCESTER, MASS. U.S.A.

    The number underneath the left grip, lower part of the frame, is: 2063, with the "6" lower than the other three numbers.

    Thanks for any more knowledge. Wade
    0
  • allechalley
    www.midwayusa.com has both empty brass (starline 12.95/100) and loaded ammo for the .38 S&W , both Magtech and Winchester.
    0
  • b.goforth
    ridge rider'
    your h&r american double action is a second model manufactured 1905 to 1941. as the second models were serial number in one continous series starting at 101 and going to over 500,000, your revolver was manufactured in 1905. the second models were manufactured for smokeless powder cartridges of the time. if you want to reload for it i would load very light because of age. metal quality of 1905 not the same as today.

    serial numbers on these early second models were hand stamped.
    bill
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity