A Legacy in American Firearms
Harrington & Richardson—commonly known as H&R—is a name steeped in U.S. firearms history. Though its production as the original company ceased decades ago, the brand endures in the collectible market, and its designs remain important to researchers, enthusiasts, and reprint catalogs.
Origins & Innovation
The roots of H&R trace back to 1871, when Gilbert H. Harrington began manufacturing a shell-ejecting revolver in partnership with Franklin Wesson.
In 1877, Harrington formally teamed with William Augustus Richardson, forming the Harrington & Richardson company focused on producing rugged, practical firearms for everyday users.
Early on, the company emphasized mechanical simplicity and affordability—traits that would define its reputation through its long history.
Product Range & Notable Models
Over its lifespan, H&R produced a varied portfolio of firearms, especially revolvers, rifles, and shotguns:
Revolvers
H&R is best known for solid-frame and top-break revolvers in calibers like .22, .32, and .38. Models include the Young America, Premier, and Automatic Ejecting lines.
Single-Shot & Hunting Arms
The company built reliable single-shot rifles and shotguns. In later years under H&R 1871, designs like the Handi-Rifle and Pardner shotgun carried on the brand’s tradition.
Specialty & Military
During wartime, H&R built arms under contract, including the Reising submachine gun in World War II, and later the M14 and M16A1 under U.S. military contracts.
Handy-Gun Series
From 1921 to 1934, H&R offered the Handy-Gun, a breech-loading handgun in both rifled and smoothbore variants. Production stopped after passage of the U.S. National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934.
Corporate Changes & Revival
The original H&R company remained in business until 1986.
In 1991, H&R 1871, Inc. was founded to resurrect production inspired by the original brand’s designs.
Over time, H&R became part of larger corporate restructurings, and by February 2015, independent H&R production ceased.
Currently, the H&R brand is under JJE Capital Holdings (via H&R / JJE-H&R, LLC), which maintains the brand and may license or reissue designs.
Why Reprints Matter
Because many H&R manuals, catalogs, blueprints, and reference materials are long out of print or scarce, reprints provide essential access to:
- Serial number reference tables and production dates
- Maintenance, parts, and disassembly instructions
- Catalogs showing original model specifications, variations, and options
- Illustrations of rare or lesser-known models
Collectors, restorers, and historians rely on these reprints to verify provenance, identify correct components, and understand how original H&R firearms were marketed.
