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H&R 38sp "The American"

RugerNiner
I just bought one of these for $25 in poor shape.
Anybody know approx. what its worth and when it was made?
The serial number is 623xx.
It looks like this one on GB, but needs to be cleaned very badly and is a 38sp.
Also, how do you clean nickle?
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=27165110

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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Box Maker
    First thing...how is the bore? If it's bad you can replace the
    barrel. I use Flitz and a dremel tool and polish the heck out of it
    and then re-nickle with a elecro plating kit from Caswell.
    It's most likely chambered in 38 S&W. If every thing works and
    it's just cosmetic it's worth what you paid for it.
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  • b.goforth
    it is 'not' a 38 special. the caliber is 38 s&W. the h&r american double action was manufactured between 1880 and 1941. if the company name and address is on the left side of the barrel it was manufactured after 1905, if not it is a black powder cartridge model "do not fire modern ammo in it". there were several serial number series in this model and the age can only be given in a general era. 1880-1884 round barrel (black powder), 1885-1904 octagon barrel (black powder). company name on left side of barrel 1905-1941 smokeless powder (age of this model can be narrowed down with more information).

    usually the ones in the condition you describe are black powder models that were not well cared for and should be cleaned up and retired.
    b.goforth
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  • RugerNiner
    Company name and address is on the left side of the octagonal barrel.
    Also it is chambered for the 38 S&W.

    sniper1.gif Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    [img][/img]
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  • AdamsQuailHunter
    Hello "RugerNiner"[:)]

    I maybe way off base, but based on previous replies, I believe you to be a Floridian as am I. Maybe not a "Native" Floridian as I am BUT a Floridian none the less.

    I have a S&W "Safety-Hammerless" in .38 S&W that was my maternal grandmother's "house-gun", given to her on her wedding day. I also have about 1/2 box of "ammo" that came with it. .38 S&W is still available, at large gun shows like the one at the fair-grounds or the shrine-temple in Jacksonville. If not, after having the owner of "Bob's Ammo" look at it, then I will give you my loading for the one I have, which now has hollow point heads.

    My Best Regards To You And Your's During the "Christmas" and "New-Year's" Season ---- Please Notice I Am NOT P.C..
    AdamsQuailHunter
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  • RugerNiner
    AdamsQuailHunter,
    I was in Jacksonville for 5 years and just moved back to Pa 2 months ago.
    Thank you for your offer, but I think I'm just goig to use the gun as a paperweight after I clean it up. [:D] [:D] [8D]


    sniper1.gif Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    [img][/img]
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  • b.goforth
    i have been researching h&r revolvers for a while and although the black powder models (1880-1904) have several serial number series i have come to believe that the smokeless powder model (1905-1941) are in one series up over 500,000. i do not have a serial number listing yet (not enough data collected) but an educated guess would be that your 5 digit serial number would be around 1910.
    b.goforth
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