OT - H&R Sportsman pistol grips

[geobru]

I have two H&R Sportsman pistols. The older one has a 64XXX serial number and is a Type 1 variation 6 made between 1937 and 1939. The newer one has a BXXXX serial number and was built in 1941. The older one has been used very little and still has case colors on the hammer and everything works splendidly. The newer one has been used quite a bit and shows its wear along with a creepy trigger.

Both smooth with no checkering. The newer one with the light colored grips has been sanded as evidenced by the shape of the grips on the gun. The older one appears to be untouched, but most pistols of that era were checkered. I am trying to find out if uncheckered grips were a special order option at the time of purchase or if someone decided to sand the checkering off of an otherwise pristine pistol. I read that there were several options on the style of grips at the time of sale.

Do any of you know what the grip options were?

H&R Sportman Grips & hammers.jpg

[jeepnik]

Grips and barrel configuration changed over the years. This one is circa 1980. Checkered grips and scalloped rib. Not sure when they started putting the scallops on the barrel rib.


See, you made me look. So it's all your fault, at least that's what I'll tell my wife if she asks.

I found that there was a book published on H&R firearms with a bunch of info. Out of print of course. But I found a copy on Ebay. I might have answers in a few days. I'll let you know.

[geobru]

Thank you!

I haven't seen one of these with the scallops. I 've seen the ventilated rib , but not scallops.

Since you posted a pic of your version, This is a full pic of my older pistol in case anyone is interested in the changes.

H&R Sportsman 64960 Rt Side 2.jpg

[jeepnik]

Okay, the OP's pistol is a pre 1952 First Model. All had the same checkered walnut grip. There is one exception. The first 7 variations were walnut, the 8th was a checkered plastic grip. All of these had solid ribs. So if the grips are smooth, someone sanded them.

The Second Model showed up in 1953. All variations have two piece checkered wood grips. The 1st and 2nd variations have solid ribs. The 3rd variation starts the ventilated rib.

The Third Model began in 1974. The first variation is much like the 3rd variation of the Second Model with regards to barrel rib and grips. The final variation, the 2nd kept the same grips, but the barrel vents went away and a scalloped rib is used (think of vents that don't completely go through the rib. This is also when the 4" barrel was introduced, as was the 32 S&W Long chambering.

Since the one I have has a 4" barrel it's obviously a Third Model 2nd variation. Oh, and until this model all, except for possibly a few custom jobs had 6" barrels.

[Old No7]

I used to be a rampant H&R top-break collector -- as evidenced by the 2nd & 3rd images attached -- but as shown in the 1st image, I'm only aware of checkered grips as being offered by H&R as alternate grip choices. I think any smooth grips were done by Bubba or his cousin.

Old No7

H&R Aftermarket Grips:

H&R Grips.jpg

H&R as of 2017:

H&R Top-Breaks - All.jpg

H&R 999 as of 2024:

9 Sportsman.jpeg

......ONLY TWO OF ALL THE ABOVE ARE LEFT.......

[jeepnik]

From my reading it looks like the 3" is one of the "rare" custom variations. As to the 2", I'd guess after marked smithing.

As I mentioned, I just bought the Goforth book H&R Arms Company 1871-1986. If you don't have the book, and I can look anything up, let me know. The book is outrageously priced on some sites.

I hope you kept the 2 & 3 inch guns.