H&R 410 pat. date 1900

[mechanic]

I have an old H&R shotgun marked 44cal-410.  I know it was not designed for 44 pistol ammo but rather shot shells.  I have measured the chamber and it is about 3" long, giving ample room for a short 410 shell.

The action is tight and functional but the stock (tang mounted) is cracked, and the fore stock is gone.

I'm thinking of making new wood, and restoring the metal and putting this into service.

It is my belief that it has no real value anyway, so I probably would not detract from it by refinishing.

Am I headed in the right direction?

Ben

[Bossloper]

It sounds like a Model 1905 shotgun (circa 1911-1916) that's chambered for .44 caliber, 14mm and .410 Eley. In 100% condition this shotgun would have a value of $218. In 90% condition it's value is about $144 and in 70% condition it has a value of about $106. It's not a super high end gun in any condition, but this was the most rare chambering in this model. It should have an auto-ejector, which the other model 1905 chambered in 28ga doesn't have. This model was a small frame version of the model 1900 shotgun. I hope this helps.

[mechanic]

Thanks friend,

The story is my grandpa got this from his grandpa on a wagon trip to Texas when he was 13.  He was born in 1888, so that would make it 1901. 

Of course, like many family stories, the particulars can vary with who is doing the telling and how many  times it gets told!

I think I will restore it, just so it can be passed down if for nothing more than a wall hanger.

Ben

[quickdtoo]

Does it have a serial number Ben? It may be on the bottom of the tang behind the trigger guard.

Tim

[mechanic]

Does it have a serial number Ben? It may be on the bottom of the tang behind the trigger guard.

Tim

Yep, its 6580.

[quickdtoo]

That's no help, I was hoping for a prefix letter!! 

Tim

[mechanic]

Tim,

I got the steel wool out.  The prefix is "A".

Thanks,

Ben

[quickdtoo]

Ah ha....that's the same as mine, A= 1940 if the FAQs code applies, but I'm having my doubts it does, I think the serial number prefixes may be inaccurate on these older firerams, Bill Goforth states the 410-44 was earlier, if it's the same as your 44cal-410.

Tim

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=223701

the manufacturing era of the single barrel shotguns marked 410-44 would be about 1915 to 1921 plus or minus a couple of years. the chamber length should be the main concern here. I.J. and H&R did make guns chambered for the 44 shot shell only (manufactured about 1909-1915) with the short chamber and i am sure cresent did also. i know the chamber length of the iver johnson and H&R guns marked 410-44 was 2 1/2 but not sure of the cresent manufactured guns. some of their early 410s were converted by I.J. and H&R to 3 inch chambers in the late 1930s, but these should have some kind of marking to indicate this.
bill

[32 Magnum]

'A' prefix on these older model shotguns indicated full size frames.  If the hinge pin is removable with a little "toggle" on the end, it is a Model 1900.  If it has a fixed hinge pin, with break down by removing the forestock it is a Model 1908.  The Model 1905 was the small frame analogue of the 1900 and the Model 1915 was the small frame analogue of the 1908.  All were in somewhat concurrent production from circa 1909 until sometime before 1920.  Bill's research continues on these earlier pieces.  I have examples of these models in my collection.
Jim Hauff H&R Collector, Contributing Editor for H&R to "THE BLUE BOOK OF GUN VALUES" by S. Fjestad