Small H&R .22LR 7-Shot Top-Break Revolver ID Help Request

[Bossloper]

Hello,

I discovered this forum yesterday and posted this earlier in H&R section but after a second day of reading posts I decided it might be better suited for the Rimfire Handguns. Sorry for the redundancy. 

I recently acquired a small H&R .22LR revolver. It's a 7-shot top-break action and functions in single or double action. When using the double action I have to reset the trigger forward to shoot DA again. The serial number on the frame under the grip reads 3411, the bottom of the frame where the sling stud is reads "A3411" and on top of the barrel reads "HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS COMPANY, WORCESTER, MASS., U.S.A., PAT., OCT. 4, 87, APR. 2, 95, APR. 7, 96." I tried searching the gun auctions to ID the model, maybe find some paperwork or a schematic as well as gather other info, but I haven't met with any success as of yet. It fits my 4 year old daughter's hand perfectly and we love shooting low velocity (500fps) .22LR's through it. The low velocity rounds work fine, but I'm wondering if it was designed for black powder. It is in excellent condition except for the sling stud that the previous owner had installed. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Brett
Loyal Handi-Man

[Rangr44]

IMO you have a H&R Premier.

[Bossloper]

Thanks Ranger44. With that info I began a search and agree that it is a H&R Premier. I did find some date information for the older H&R revolvers on an old e-Gunparts forum, and if it's right. the "A" means it was made between 1900-1905. I posted the date info below. 

Is having to reset the trigger forward for double action use normal, or does that mean something is wrong?

Thanks again, Brett


H&R's early use of letter codes on the Auto-Ejecting and Premier revolvers appear to be as follows:

The 1st Model Auto-Ejecting Revolver (1885-1889) is the one with a different frame and ejecting mechanism.

Large Frame Auto-Ejecting 2nd Model:
1890= none
1891= O (or zero)
1892/1893=A
1894/1895=B
1896/1897=C
1898/1899=D
1900/1901=E
1902/1903=F
1904/1905=G

Small Frame Premier
1895/1897= none
1898/1899= O (or zero)
1900/1905= A

After 1905/1906 serial numbers were one series going from 01 to over 700,000

[toysoldier]

Having to push the trigger forward is not normal, but is pretty common for these little pistols. There's a broken spring in it. Years ago I took two of these little guns apart to make one functioning one. Not sure I'd do it again, as they are NOT easy to work on. On the other hand, no one makes a nice little .22 like it. If the cylinder locks up nicely, just enjoy it as a single-action plinker.

[coyotejoe]

That is a really nice H&R! I have a small collection of "Saturday Night Specials", in .32 and .38 S&W calibers, none are nearly so well preserved as yours. I have one each of H&R, Iver Johnson, Hopkins & Allen, Forehand & Wadsworth. Such a small revolver must naturally have very small parts and yet the hammer needs to fall with the same impact of a bigger gun. They generally fall into the "just barely work" category when new. Your problem may be nothing more than old oil that has turned to varnish. I'd suggest you first try flushing it out with WD-40 to see if that may free up the works, it may not be a broken spring but just a tired and weak spring, as I said, they just barely work when new and although your gun is very well preserved it is far from new.