Freddy’s Note:
I am back after two weeks being away. Every week I feature a gun from my collection. This week it is a H&R 1895 .32 short Top Break Pistol. I have a fondness for these old revolvers. I own 4 different .32 caliber revolvers. It is hard to find .32 short ammo for these guns. I think I paid $100 for this gun at a gun show. it is in great shape for such an old gun You can see all the previous gun of the week posts here.
The original H&R firm was in business for over a century from 1871 to 1986.
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 and Mary A. Richardson.
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.
This particular model is the Top-Break Auto Ejecting it was made in .32 S&W or .38 S&W cal., 5 (.38 cal.) or 6 shot cylinder, hard rubber grip panels with floral design, 3¼ in. barrel, modified American Double Action mechanism and frame, nickel finish, First Variation marked on top of barrel with company name and address only and two guide rods for ejector (1885-1886), Second Variation patent date 10-4-87 marked on top of barrel along with company name and address, extractor does not have extra guide rods (1887-1889). Mfg. 1885-1889.
It is a nice little gun. I wish I had more .32 short to use in it and several of the other H&R guns that I own.
crypticpunk [krip-tik] [puhngk] 
Reblogged this on Brittius.com.
I was hoping you could help me out. I have The same Gun but it needs everything. Trigger, Hammer and well it would just be better to show you a picture. It came from my Grandfathers lock box passed to me and I’m having trouble determining if it is a .32 or a .38. It has a 6 shot Tumbler.
I have a few of these guns. It is really hard to find ammo for them. I am not sure if the gun is worth getting fixed unless it has special value because it was your grandfather’s. These guns regular go for $100 in good condition and $50 in non working condition.