H&R 1915 single shot???

[Nath]

Guys, you know your stuff!

I just got a single shot 12g ejector, 32" barrel, bright action with engraving and no name or number anywhere!

My research shows it to be identical to a 1915 (or variant) model but I can not find an example with engraving and a nickled or other bright finished action.

Help!

Nath.

[gamekeeper]

I've seen a lot of old H&R catalogs showing the 1908 and 1915 models, non mention engraving or special bright actions. Does it have Harrington & Richardson stamped on the barrel or action? what, if any proof marks does it have?

[Nath]

It has the older proof marks John.
2&3/4", 1&1/4oz.
No name or serial numbers!

N.

[gamekeeper]

I was wondering if it was a foreign copy of an American gun, that design or one very similar has been copied.
The Midland Gun Company, Birmingham, made a similar gun called the "knockabout".
I have a more modern Stevens 94 16ga which has been copied by at least two Spanish gun makers.

[Old No7]

Cheers & Holiday Wishes to you Nath, and to John too.

You must know that I really like H&R Top-Breaks -- revolvers, that is -- but here's some info for you.

A Google Images search of "engraved" H&R 1908 or 1915 shotguns came up empty for me, but I did find this info for you:

From Blue Book of Gun Values:

MODEL 1908
12, 16, 20, 24 (disc. 1923), 28 (disc. 1923) ga., or .410 bore (new 1925), top lever break action, case hardened frame, 26, 28, 30, or 32 in. barrel, three piece takedown (non-removable hinge pin), non-adj. barrel lock, walnut pistol grip stock and forearm, hard rubber buttplate, 5 3/4 - 6 3/8 lbs. Mfg. 1909-1942.

Similar Models: These models are similar to the one you are viewing.
MODEL 1915
24, 28 ga., or .410 bore, top lever break action, 26, 28, or 30 in. barrel, small frame, non-adj. barrel lock, three piece take down (non-removable hinge pin), case hardened frame, walnut pistol grip stock and forearm, hard rubber buttplate, 4 - 4 3/4 lbs. Mfg. 1916-1942.

MODEL 1900
12, 16, or 20 ga., 28, 30, or 32 in. barrel, top lever break action, two-piece takedown via removable hinge pin, full choke, case hardened frame, walnut pistol grip stock with short forearm, hard rubber buttplate, 5 3/4 - 6 3/8 lbs. Mfg. 1901-1916.

BAY STATE & COLUMBIA BRAND NAME
12, 16 ga., or .410 bore, top lever break action, blue finish, 26, 28, 30, or 32 in. barrel, three piece takedown (non-removable hinge pin), walnut pistol stock and forearm, hard rubber buttplate, 5 3/4 - 6 3/8 lbs. Mfg. 1916-1942.

H&R TOP RIB MODEL
12, 16, or 20 ga., top lever break action, 28 or 30 in. barrel with chokes, case hardened frame, three piece take down (non-removable hinge pin), non-adj. barrel lock, walnut pistol grip stock, hard rubber buttplate, 5 1/4 - 6 1/4 lbs. Mfg. 1926-1932.

H&R HAMMERLESS
12, 16, 20 ga., or .410 bore, top lever break action, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, or 36 in. barrel, three piece take down (non-removable hinge pin), snap-on forearm, walnut pistol grip stock, 6 1/4 - 7 1/4 lbs. Mfg. 1925-1941.

From the 1912 Schoverling, Daly & Gales catalog:

H&R 1908 Models.jpg

From the 1926 Edw. K. Tryon catalog:

H&R 1915 Models.jpg

The website "Shotgun World" had the ads and the other came from Google.

Hope this helps!

Old No7

[Pete44ru]

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My .410 H&R Model 1915 had a nickel-plated action, marked "Bay State".



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[Nath]

Thanks all.

Pete, yours appears to have a ribbed barrel and black trigger guard. Mine has a bright trigger guard, plain barrel. Yours has a longer fore end too.

It could be a copy but it is clearly a very old gun!

Thanks everyone.

N.

[Pete44ru]

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Mine has a plain barrel too, Nath - and, I rasped off the pistol grip, just because.

IMO, they're neat little trail/woods-loafing guns.

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[Nath]

Got some pictures guy's.



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The gun is not the best fitting for me and the bead is not truly vertical and the ejector is a little weak. About the ejector, I did find some burrs so hopefully thats an improvement.

I dont know what to think regards it originality and part of me thinks it may be a copy!

Your opinions please?

N.

[gamekeeper]

Nath, I have googled " midland gun company knockabout" and there are a few examples, some models are very close to yours, others are slightly different. To confuse the issue even more, apparently "the knockabout" was made in the USA, for the Midland Gun Co. it was not made in Birmingham.
Maybe other makers imported these guns, strange that it has engraving but no name, maybe the name was struck off before the engraving was done.
Photo of a similar Iver Johnson I once had.http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc14 ... ure013.jpg

[Pete44ru]

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I've never heard of or seen an engraved example of a utility single-shot from the factory; AND the barrel has what appears to be Belgian or German proof marks - interesting.............


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[gamekeeper]

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I've never heard of or seen an engraved example of a utility single-shot from the factory; AND the barrel has what appears to be Belgian or German proof marks - interesting.............


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The engraving is unusual as you say for a utility type shotgun but the proof marks are from the Birmingham Proof House.
Some old Rook rifles had similar engraving but were usually much more expensive guns.

[Mike Armstrong]

Keep in mind that Birmingham makes sourced guns and components from all over the gunmaking world. So a Belgian barrel on a British gun is pretty common, and many American makers made doubles with Belgian-sourced barrels, especially "Damascus" barrels, even makers like Remington and Parker.

If this gun was made in England, even part of it, and sold by an English firm, it will have English proofs. To find that out, you can look up the marks on a site called "Proof House" or something like that.

If you don't get a satisfactory answer here or on that website, you could also make a very clear image of your gun's proofs, showing what's on BOTH the top and bottom of the barrel's chamber area, and submit it with a question to http://www.doublegunshop.com/BBS. (Those guys are really excellent on gun ID and LIKE mysteries!). They have lots of British members that post on such issues. Since it's a single, not a double, you might mark your question OT, but they get single shot questions all the time, so I wouldn't bother.

Neat old gun; neat mystery! Thanks for sharing!

[Nath]

Thanks all, it does resemble a midland gun company single that is very much a H&R 1908.
It could be if not, very close to 100 years old.
I can see the faintest of a remnant of a number on the lump.

I will do it an honour now and then by taking game with it.

N.