Author Topic: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates  (Read 1369 times)

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Offline TopperT

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Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« on: December 23, 2011, 01:43:45 AM »
I tried searches and came up empty so I apologize for this re post.
 
I have a Wesson & Harrington 38-55 and I just purchased a W & H 45-70 Buffalo.  Looking forward to getting this after the Holidays and shooting BP cartridges with it.
 
I have a couple of questions:  1).  what year (s) were the Wesson & Harrington versions made and 2) were these a slightly better  or upgraded version of the H&R versions.  My 38-55 has really nice wood compaired to others I have seen.  Also mine has a steel trigger guard vs plastic and came with a Wesson & Harrington gun sock.  It is NOT the limited engraved edition, I believe these were limited to 125 units.
 
Any info is much appreciated, sorry as I'm sure this has been discussed before I just couldn't get a good search result.  Thanks Jim Terrio.

Offline PHATINJUN

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2011, 03:47:04 AM »
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Offline Blackhawker

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2011, 04:14:33 AM »
I have a W&H 45-70 BC with a 38-55 Target Classic barrel combo.  I have no ide of the age but if I had to guess I would say it's probalby a 90's vintage.  While mine has a very nice case finish as compared to the H&R's, I'd say the wood isn't anything to write home about.  The wood on my CR-45 (made by H&R) is much nicer.  My W&H has a plastic trigger guard.  You might keep in mind that steel trigger guards can be purchased and added on after the fact.  Yours may not have come from the factory like that.  ???
I'm sure there are all kind of variations of these things that were produced over the years.

Offline TopperT

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2011, 05:16:09 AM »
Interesting thought on the plastic trigger guard, BUT, the W&H 38-55 I have came with the steel, and the gun sock with Wesson & Harrington emblazoned on it.  The wood in that one is really a few steps better than anything I had seen from H&R. :o  Even the checkering seems better.  Maybe not, just seems that way. ::)
 
My Brother-in-Law has a Buffalo Classic that is of similar age but not the W&H version and that one looks 'average' when compaired to the W&H TC.  So I wondered. ;)
 
They did a lot of funny/screwy things for sure and it could be that someone added the trigger guard.  I just added a bronze fore-end piece, to the W&H TC. 8) 8) 8)  Now to find a brass or bronze trigger guard!!!  I'm going to ask a local machine shop if they could produce trigger guards for a reasonable price.......I won't hold my breath on that one... :'( :-\ :-\ ...so I'm sure that someday someone will ask when did they add the 'yellow' fore-end spacer  ::) ;D ;D
 
Thanks for your interest and comments.

Offline JB White

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2011, 12:34:02 PM »
Did the original firm of Wesson & Harrington ever produce a rifle? I've only seen a couple of revolvers.

Offline TopperT

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2011, 01:39:45 PM »
Wesson * Harrington did in fact produce rifles from what I have been able to find.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2011, 02:53:52 PM »
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline JB White

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2011, 02:54:39 PM »
 Were they the same rifles produced under the Wesson banner? I've see a couple old Wesson's for sale but I have never seen anything marked to the pair.
 Reason for asking on this thread was to compare the latter day H&R's to the old W&H. When I read the opening post, that's where I first thought this was going. I've heard it said the BC's are true to the originals but how am I to know?
 
*edit* Thanks for the links Tim. I must have been searching in another tab when you posted. It shows the model of 1860 but did the pair put forth anything before the buyout?

Offline TopperT

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #8 on: December 24, 2011, 04:25:35 AM »
Thanks for the additional info Tim.  I saved it for future use. 
 
I'll keep looking around for more history on these reissues (re labled) W&H' ----H&R's.  I guess I should have been a bit clearer in my post.  I wondered as to the year they were made.  Their serial numbers all have 71 for the first two numbers and somewhere I thought they were limited to a run of under 4,000 but I have no clue as to why I thought that  ::) ::) ;D ;D .  I do remember that the 71 was to commemorate the 1871 founding of the original company so that would make 1996 as the 125th year.  Maybe that is the answer and they are all 1996 creations.
 
Anyway, Merry Christmas one and all.  Jim Terrio.

Offline cjrjck

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #9 on: December 24, 2011, 06:13:17 AM »
I may be wrong but a few that I have seen appear to have been recently made and are clearly H&R productions or at least the parts are interchangeable.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #10 on: December 24, 2011, 06:21:27 AM »
I may be wrong but a few that I have seen appear to have been recently made and are clearly H&R productions or at least the parts are interchangeable.

The main difference between a W&H BC and an H&R BC is the serial number prefix of WH on the Wesson and Harringtons, H&Rs start with H, last I checked Ilion wouldn't fit any barrels to the W&H models because the serial number info was lost when Gardner closed, the W&H were made prior to 2000 which puts them in the outsourced frame period. Other than the serial number prefix and name engraved on the frame, you wouldn't know a W&H from an H&R BC or Target.

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline TopperT

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #11 on: December 24, 2011, 09:23:03 AM »
Tim, your post really 'jogged' my memory.  The fact that the serial number info was lost reminded me of talking with you about this once before when I wanted to fit a 45 LC to one of mine.  Sorry for the rehash.
 
BUT just for discussion:  The link you posted was an early advertising piece (1996 I think) and clearly indicated the W&H' had case hardened receiver and butt plate vs. case colored.  Also the steel trigger guard and fore end spacer vs. plastic was also noted.  I have one with the steel and a really sweet stock.  I had a second I sold that was likewise VERY nice and was steel.  I also had a 3rd 38-55, an H&R version,  that frankly looked poor when placed side by side and had plastic.
 
Maybe its all in the marketing hype and Ad BS......and also some buyer wishes to be different but the W&H versions do (at least to me) seem to be of a higher quality........anyway, thanks for the discussion and the reminder. 

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2011, 10:05:38 AM »
Jim,

If you read the ad, you'll see that only the W&H 38-55 Target came with steel TG and spacer, and that it was an aftermarket option on the 45-70 as it was for any H&R until H&R(see FAQs) ran out of them several years ago, I have over a dozen H&Rs with the H&R steel parts, there's a companion link on that option. They also came with no sights unlike the H&R branded versions. The "case hardened" receiver is bogus because the SB2 frame is heat treated investment cast steel alloy, it's already stronger than any case hardened cast iron frame, they use a faux case coloring treatment which varies a great deal between firearms, some are nice, others not so much, I have four BC/Target frames, only one of which I'd consider nice, the others are somewhat mediochre specially compared to a vintage H&R Inc or even older SB1 frame like my Pardner which has vivid case coloring. Here's my 2007 38-55 Target.

Tim

http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/Steel_Form_Special.pdf

http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/

"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline TopperT

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #13 on: December 25, 2011, 12:14:01 AM »
Very nice.  Thanks for the education (correction).  Much appreciated.  I have an older H&R 10 Gage from the late 70's that is really beautiful.  Like you said, the older case colors are nice.  Well, that sums up the W&H vs. H&R quations I had.  Very much appreciated.  My TC looks a lot like yours except I have a bronze fore-end spacer now.  Yours has a nice stock......very nice indeed.  Merry Christmas, and once again, thanks Tim for your knowledge.  Jim.

Offline wasatch

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2012, 08:58:12 AM »
Thought i would chime in. I recently bought a new in box Wesson & Harrington. It was a 45-70, the label on the end of the box said #605 of 1000.
 
It had the labeled sock but bummer it came with a plastic trigger guard and spacer.
 
Mike

Offline TopperT

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #15 on: February 04, 2012, 12:06:22 PM »
I have a 45-70 & a 38-55 W&H version  The 45-70 had plastic, the 38-55 came with steel.  Go figure.  I just changed out the plastic one on my 45-70 for one in bronze..  The bronze looks fantastic.  A fellow was selling them on GBcom and I grabbed 3, wish I had grabbed all 4 he had.  \
 
FYI, its maybe not "traditional" but I recentely painted with a brass metalic paint, the barrel band on my Shikari.  It too has the bronze spacer but honestly you cant tell the real one from the painted one.  Just for 'looks' the paint actually worked great......

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #16 on: February 04, 2012, 12:17:12 PM »
I have a 45-70 & a 38-55 W&H version  The 45-70 had plastic, the 38-55 came with steel.  Go figure.   

If you read the ad link again that I posted previously, and as I pointed out in December, you'll see that's the way they came from H&R, steel parts were an aftermarket option on the W&H 45-70, came standard on the W&H 38-55,  CRS strikes again!!  ;D

Tim

http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/

http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/Steel_Form_Special.pdf

Quote
Beginning in 1871, two members of a family, which would establish a firearms dynasty, cooperated on the design for a series of revolvers destined to change the friearms idustry and create what would become "America's Gunsmith".


Frank Wesson was well known for his hinged breech and falling block rifles. In Fact, his hinged breech carbine was actually accepted for use as an official secondary arm during the Civil War. His nephew, Gilbert Harrington, was a bright young firearms designer, and was granted a patent for a new mechanism to eject spent cases from revolvers. Together in 1871, they began a company called Wesson & Harrington in Worcester, Massachusetts. This company would continue until 1875 when Frank Wesson sold his interest to William Richardson, creating the Harrington & Richardson Arms Company, one of the most prolific manufacturers of firearms ever to operate in America. The Wesson & Harrington rifles and shotguns of today celebrate this fine tradition in this historic region of firearms manufature.


Tradition, history and American craftsmanship blend to build today's Wesson & Harrington rifles. Frank Wesson & Gilbert Harrington began their enterprise in 1871 and we continue their proud tradition today, building fine long range rifles in the same Massachuesetts county ober a century and quarter later.


The Wesson & Harrington 45-70 Government Buffalo Classic and the 38-55 WCF Target Model are true American classics to their very core. Modeled after the Frank Wesson tip-up rifles which were first made in Worcester, Massachusetts in the 1850's, these modern classic fill the need of the long range cowboy action shooter as well as those who just enjoy shooting these great old cartridges.


Both the Buffalo Classic and the Target Model reflect true 19th century styling, including real color case hardening on the frame and crescent buttplate, plus "one line at a time", hand cut checkering on their American black walnut stocks and forends. No sights are provided on the high polish blue barrels but a dovetail slot for a post or globe style front sight like the Lyman #17 is cut at the muzzle end of the barrel. The area over the chamber is drilled and tapped to accept a peep sight such as the Williams WGRSHR. As these rifles are designed for competition shooting, a number of sight options are available from a wide variety of specialty suppliers. The shooter's taste and style of competition will dictate the appropriate style of sights.


The Buffalo Classic in 45-70 Government has carved out a very competitive position in today's fast growing sport of Cowboy Action Shooting and BPCR shooting. It features a mid weight 32" barrel to get all the velocity possible out of the venerable 45-70 Government cartridge. The 32" barrel length also provides the necessary sighting radious for long range matches.


The Wesson & Harrington Target Model in 38-55 WCF follows the tradition of fine target offerings from the likes of Ballard or Wurfflein in the 1870's. The 38-55 Cartridge traces its roots to the early 1880's when it was developed for target shooting by the Ballard Rifle Company. The Wesson & Harrington Target Model uses a 28" heavy target barrel and origanal style rifling for consistant accuracy. This barrel length was one of the most popular for this caliber when it was introduced. The Target model also includes all steel furniture. A high polish, heat treated steel trigger guard and forend spacer are standard on this rifle and are now available as a factory upgrade to the owners of the Buffalo Classic, through the H&R 1871, Inc, Customer Service Department.

Both Wesson & Harrington rifles feature a level of quality and attention to detail which would have mad the origanal Wesson & Harrington proud to have their names affixed to the action. Additionally, all Wesson & Harrington firearms include a lifetime "no fault" service plan at no charge. This protect the original purchaser from the cost of ordinary repairs during his or her lifetime. Full details are included on the registration form which is packed with every Wesson & Harrington firearm.

"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline TopperT

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #17 on: February 05, 2012, 05:43:39 AM »
Yes, I knew that, I was responding to what he had posted.  Greatly appreciated your including that prior to this.  I actually recently found a copy of the original ad in a four page layout.  I did see a W&H 45-70 with steel but like you had stated, the previous owner must have exchanged it.  I have a steel trigger guard and will replace the plastic on my 45-70.

Offline wasatch

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Re: Wesson & Harrington Mfg. Dates
« Reply #18 on: February 05, 2012, 02:39:39 PM »
TopperT, You didn't happen to keep the name of the guy you got the brass parts from did you? Maybe we could get a group buy together enough for him to make some more.
 
Wasatch