H & R Firearms

H & R 1871, LLC

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Firearms
Founded	1871
Headquarters	Ilion, N.Y. (manuf.) & Madison, NC, (admin.) USA
Key people	Nathan Harrington, William Augustus Richardson, George F. Brooks
Products	Single-shot, pump-action, and semi-auto shotguns. Single-shot rifles.
Website	H&R Website

H & R 1871, LLC (Harrington & Richardson) is a manufacturer of firearms under the Harrington & Richardson and New England Firearms trademarks. H&R is a subsidiary of the Freedom Group.

History

H&R Factory Postcard

H&R Factory Ruin. Picture taken from Park Avenue, facing North, toward Chandler Street. (1986)

The original H&R firm was in business for over a century from 1871 to 1986.^[1]

Frank Wesson started a firearms manufacturing firm in 1859, sharing an early patent with Nathan Harrington. Wesson produced two trigger rifles and spur trigger pistols and pocket rifles/shotguns popular for short length holster models such as the discontinued topper compact pocket shotguns. He started a brief partnership in 1871 with his nephew Gilbert Henderson Harrington, as Wesson & Harrington, until Harrington bought him out in 1874.

In 1875 Harrington and another former Wesson employee, William Augustus Richardson, formed the new Harrington & Richardson Company. In 1888 the firm was incorporated as The Harrington & Richardson Arms Company. Their original capital investment was $75,000. Harrington was president, Richardson was treasurer, and George F. Brooks was secretary. After the deaths of Harrington and Richardson in 1897, Brooks became the manager and the company was held by heirs Edwin C. Harrington (Gilbert Harrington's son) and Mary A. Richardson (William Richardson's sister).

In 1894 the company opened a new facility on Park Avenue in Worcester, Massachusetts. The factory was expanded again after a few years. The firearms produced through this time to 1911 carry extreme value as original antiquities. Original rifles and shotguns from these dates are scarce because of their limited production and discontinued parts.

In the 1960s H&R was acquired by the Rowe family, and warranty cards were sent to 'Industrial Rowe', Gardner, Massachusetts.^{[citation needed]} The original H&R company went out of business in 1986, and the building was demolished.^[2]

A new company, H&R 1871, Inc., was formed in 1991 and started production of revolvers, single shot rifles and shotguns using original H&R designs. H&R 1871, Inc. assets were subsequently sold to H&R 1871, LLC., a Connecticut LLC owned by Marlin Firearms Company in November 2000. H&R 1871, LLC. did not extend their product warranty to H&R guns made prior to the LLC's takeover.

Marlin, including all its H&R assets, was later acquired by Remington Arms Company in December, 2007. H&R 1871, LLC production was moved to Ilion, N.Y. (the site of Remington's original manufacturing plant) in late 2008, while their corporate offices are co-located with Remington Arms in Madison, N.C. (HR1871.com and Remington.com).^{[citation needed]} Remington, along with its Marlin and H&R subsidiaries, are now part of the Freedom Group.

Locations

• The Wesson & Harrington company was at 18 Manchester Street Worcester, MA. from 1871 until 1877.
• The Harrington & Richardson company was located at 31 Hermon Street Worcester, MA. from 1877 until 1894.
• William Richardson lived at 921 Main Street in Worcester.

Some of the other factory addresses that Harrington & Richardson has used:

• Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 243 Park Ave Worcester, MA.^[3]
• Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 320 Park Ave Worcester, MA.^[4]
• Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 439 Park Ave Worcester, MA.^[5]
• Harrington & Richardson Arms Co., 484 Park Ave Worcester, MA.^[6]

and

• H&R 1871, Inc., Industrial Rowe, Gardner, MA.

and

• H&R 1871, LLC., P.O. Box 1871, Madison, N.C. 27025 (corporate offices)
• H&R 1871, LLC. 14 Hoefler Ave, Ilion, NY 13357 (production facilities)

Military contributions

H&R built flare guns during World War I, and a variety of firearms, including the Reising submachine gun during World War II. H&R was granted a contract to produce the M1 rifle during the Korean War, although the first deliveries of the rifles were not made until after the Armistice. H&R manufactured of the M14 rifle during that rifle's production cycle (1959–1964). H&R also manufactured M16A1 rifles during the Vietnam War, and is one of only four manufacturers (along with Colt, Fabrique National, & GM Hydramatic Division) to have ever made an official M16 variant for the U.S. Military.^[1] Due to their relative scarcity, all H&R military weapons are considered collectable.

Miscellaneous

H&R Vest-Pocket Self-Cocker(Early model)

H&R Vest-Pocket Self-Cocker(Later model)

H&R The American Double Action

• In 1880 through World War I, H&R compact shotguns doubled as flare guns valued for their compact size and thick durable barrel.^{[citation needed]}
• The firm was named sole North American licensee for England's Anson & Deely double-barrel hammerless shotgun.^{[citation needed]}
• In 1932, an H&R pistol was used to set a new U.S. pistol record, and would go on to become the most famous firearm of its kind—the U.S.R.A. single-shot target pistol. This pistol was so accurate that it was adopted by the U.S. Army Pistol Team.^{[citation needed]}

Patents

• Patent # 1984677: H&R also made handcuffs. Patented in 1934 by Harrington and Richardson.
• Patent # 1572262 (02/09/1926) issued to H&R.
• Patent # 2388766 (11/13/1945) issued to H&R.

Products

Revolvers

Solid Frame (All models discontinued)

• 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 1½ .32 Caliber spur trigger, single action revolver, 5-shot cylinder (10,000 were manufactured between 1878 and 1883)
• Model 2½ same as model 1½ but 3.25" barrel and 7-shot cylinder (5,000 were manufactured between 1878 and 1883)
• Model 3½ .38 rimfire Caliber 3.5" barrel, 5-shot cylinder (1,000 were manufactured)
• Model 1880 .32 or .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 rimfire and .32 Standard barrel length was 2½ with 4½ and 5½ inch extra cost options (1,500,000 were manufactured). First model manufactured 1884–1904 designed for black powder cartridge. Second model manufactured 1905–1941 designed for modern smokeless powder cartridge.
• 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 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. Early models had an 2½ inch octagonal barrel with front sight, later models incorporated a short 1 inch round barrel, no front sight.
• Vest Pocket Safety Hammer (small solid frame centerfire revolver with bobbed hammer and shortened round barrel) Safety hammer patented 1887 Calibers: .22 and .32
• 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).
• NEF Model R92 (.22 LR 9 shot revolver, .22 WMR 6 shot, .32 H&R Mag 5 shot)^[7]
• H&R model 532
• H&R model 603 (.22 WMRF six shot pull pin revolver, Blued, Slab side barrel)
• H&R model 604 (.22 WMRF six shot pull pin revolver, Blued, Round barrel)
• H&R model 622 (.22 LR six shot pull pin revolver)
• H&R model 623 (.22 LR six shot pull pin revolver, same as 622 but in brushed nickel)
• H&R model 632 (.32 cal)
• H&R model 642
• H&R model 649 (.22 LR & .22 WMR six shot, double or single action revolver)
• H&R Model 660 Gunfighter ( .22LR Revolver, Made in the 1960s)
• H&R Model 666 (.22 LR or .22 WMR, double action with 6" barrel and 6-shot cylinder. Blued w/plastic grips. Manufactured from 1976 to 1982.
• H&R Model 676
• H&R model 686 (.22 LR & .22 MAG)
• H&R model 700
• H&R model 732 (.32 long six shot swing cylinder)
• H&R model 733 ( same as model 732 but in brushed nickel)
• H&R model 829 (.22 LR nine shot revolver) Swingout 9-shot cylinder, double or single action)
• H&R model 922 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
• H&R model 923 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
• H&R model 925 (.32 cal. revolver)
• H&R model 926 (.22 WRF nine shot revolver)
• H&R model 929 (.22 LR nine shot revolver, blued finish)
• H&R model 930 (.22 LR & nine shot revolver, nickel finish)
• H&R model 933 (.22 LR nine shot revolver, manufactured 1930–1939. Formally known as the "Hunter" model)
• H&R model 925 (.32 cal. revolver)
• H&R model 939 Ultra Sidekick (.22 LR double-action revolver) Introduced in 1956.^[8]
• H&R model 949 (.22 LR nine shot revolver)
• H&R model 999 (.22 WRF nine shot revolver)
• H&R model Hunter (.22 LR nine shot revolver, Manufactured in 1929. From 1930–1939 this model was listed as Model 933)

Note: Many of the above guns are stamped as "H&R .22 Special" / ".22 W.R.F. or .22 Winchester Rim Fire

NOTE: Pre-1898 solid frame revolvers were designed for use with black powder loads. Using smokeless powder rounds with these revolvers may cause damage to the revolver and/or injury to the user.

Top-Break (All models discontinued)

H&R Revolver of Top-Break design

H&R Revolver of Top-Break design with knife

• Premier Auto Ejecting (small frame centerfire revolver, break-top design) calibers: .22 (rimfire), .32, .38
• H&R model 925 "Defender" (.38ctg five shot revolver 4" barrel - blued finish)
• H&R Sportsman (.22 LR nine shot revolver 6" barrel - blued finish)
• Hammerless Auto Ejecting Second Model Patent date: Oct 4, 1887. Third variation manufactured 1910–1913.
• H&R Knife Pistol (.32, .38 manufactured in 1901)

Pistols

(All models discontinued).

H&R Self-Loading (Automatic) Pistol

H&R HK4 Pistol

• H&R Self-loading (Automatic) Pistol. Calibers .32 ACP and .25 ACP.

• HK4. From 1968–1973, Heckler & Koch's HK4 was imported from Germany and sold in the U.S. with Harrington & Richardson model HK4 branding.

Shotguns

• Pardner shotgun (Single shot). (In production). Available in gauges 10, 12, 20, 28 and in .410 bore. Youth/compact models available in short barrel 8,10, and 12 inch versions prior to 1911, Turkey, Tamer, and Survivor models available in addition to the standard Pardner.

• Topper shotgun (Single shot). (In production). Available in gauges 12, 16, 20, and in .410 bore. Original models of scarce production in Youth/compact short barrel classic models, Deluxe, Classic, & Trap models available in addition to the standard Topper.

• Ultra-Slug shotgun (Single shot). (In production). Gauges 12, 20 available. Rifled barrels. Compact model available with 8,10, and 12 inch barrel for pre-1911 models. Post 1911 productions not available in compact version.

• Pardner Pump shotgun (Imported). (In production). Branded NEF (New England Firearms). 12 & 20 gauges available. Manufactured by Hawk Industries, China. Youth/compact, Turkey, & Waterfowl models available in addition to the standard Pardner Pump.

• Excell Auto shotgun (Discontinued). Branded NEF (New England Firearms). 12 gauge only. Manufactured in Turkey. There were waterfowl & turkey models in addition to the standard black synthetic Excell. Also came in a combo pack with both a standard and rifled barrel. Came with 4 choke tubes: IC, M, IM and F. Discontinued due to lack of parts availability.

• Handy-Gun (Discontinued).

• Pinnacle (Double barrel). (Discontinued).

Rifles

• Handi-Rifle (Single shot): In production calibers: .17 HMR, .204 Ruger, .22 LR, .22 WMR, .22-250 Rem., .223 Rem., .243 Win., .25-06 Rem., .270 Win., .280 Rem., 7mm-08 Rem., .308 Win., .30-06 Spfld. .30-30 Win., .444 Marlin, .45 LC, .45-70 Gov't., & .500 S&W. Also available with pairs of handgun/rifled slug barrels in .357 Mag/20ga and .44 Mag/12ga.^[9] Standard, Synthetic, Superlight, Ultra Varmint, Ultra Hunter, Buffalo Classic, CR Carbine, & Sportster models available.

• H&R 330: Made from 1982-1972, this model is an FN Mauser action that Harrington and Richardson bought as surplus and produced into sporterized hunting rifles using Douglas barrels and conventional stocks, chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum.^[10]

Military rifles

(All models discontinued).

Reising Submachine Gun

• M1: 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 rifles are marked HRA on all marked parts except the receivers, which were stamped H&R ARMS CO.^[11]

• M14: H&R had the largest contract (1959–1964) of four manufacturers (H&R, Winchester, The Springfield Armory, and Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge (TRW)), to produce the M14 rifle.

• M16A1: Working under another US military contract during the Vietnam War, H&R is one of only four companies (Colt, Fabrique National, General Motors Hydramatic Division, and H&R), to have made M16 variants for the US military.

• T223 Rifle: Licensed copy of the Heckler & Koch HK33 Assault Rifle.

• Reising Submachine Gun: Produced during WWII.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "About Us" by Harrington & Richardson at the H&R 1871 web site
2. ^ Walgreens Store locator
3. ^ "243 Park Avenue"Advertisement showing 243 Park Ave as the address for H&R
4. ^ "320 Park Avenue"Letter from H&R showing 320 Park Ave as the address for H&R
5. ^ "439 Park Avenue"Advertisement showing 439 Park Ave as the address for H&R
6. ^ "484 Park Avenue"Advertisement showing 484 Park Ave as the address for H&R
7. ^ Warner, Ken (1990). Gun Digest 1991 45th Annual Edition. DBI Books. p. 292. 
8. ^ Smith, Walter Harold Black; Joseph Edward Smith (1968). The W.H.B. Smith Classic Book of Pistols. Stackpole Books. p. 739. 
9. ^ http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Combos/handislug.asp
10. ^ 2010 Standard Catalog of Firearms copyright 2009 by Krause Publications, Inc.
11. ^ Excerpted from The M1 Garand: Owner’s Guide copyright 1994 by Scott A. Duff.

• Crane, Ellery Bicknell (1907). Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts: With a History of Worcester Society of Antiquity. Lewis Pub.. pp. 1834. http://www.archive.org/details/historichomesins02cran. 
• Rice, Franklin Pierce (1899). Worcester of Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-eight: Fifty Years a City : a Graphic Representation of Its Institutions, Industries, and Leaders. F.S. Blanchard. pp. 809. http://www.archive.org/details/worcesterofeight00rice. 

External links

• H & R Firearms company site
• Worcester: Places of the past
• Wesson and Harrington 1871