Curious Relics #066: Saturday Night Nostalgia – The H&R Young America
Sam.S 06.14.23
Welcome, if you are a newcomer to this fun bi-weekly segment of AllOutdoor.com! The last time around I took a bit of a detour and dove back into ammunition with the 30 Rimfire cartridge. This time we are getting back into the normal rhythm with an old revolver that I have had for years and rarely given much attention. This is partially because there is an air of mysticism around them. By today’s standards, it would be considered a Saturday night special but I just call it my little H&R Young America!
Revolver Content in Curious Relics:
- Curious Relics #016: Hugo Hensel and The Mystery Revolver Part I
- Curious Relics #017: Hugo Hensel and The Mystery Revolver Part II
- Curious Relics #038: The Colt Police Positive Special
- Curious Relics #039: Leaps in Change – The Colt Police Positive Special
- Curious Relics #040: Positive Review? – The Colt Police Positive Special
Welcome to our recurring series of “Curious Relics.” Here, we want to share all of our experiences, knowledge, misadventures, and passion for older firearms that one might categorize as a Curio & Relic – any firearm that is at least 50 years old according to the ATF. Hopefully along the way you can garner a greater appreciation for older firearms like we do, and simultaneously you can teach us things as well through sharing your own expertise and thoughts in the Comments. Understanding the firearms of old, their importance, and their development which lead to many of the arms we now cherish today is incredibly fascinating and we hope you enjoy what we have to share, too!
History Abridged: H&R Young America
In the late 1880s, Harrington and Richardson (H&R) was still a newer company. They established themselves in 1871 but would not introduce any double-action revolvers until 1880. Up until then, it was only small spur trigger pocket style revolvers that looked similar to the Colt Cloverleaf or the Remington Smoot. Upon their first double-action release in 1880, they introduced the Model 1880 which was a generic medium framed 32 caliber revolver. Its silhouette looks similar to an S&W Model 10 although I would wager the H&R would be smaller.
Lot 1541 of 1197: Very Fine & Scarce Harrington & Richardson Model 1880 Double Action Revolver. (n.d.). Amoskeag Auction. photograph. Retrieved June 13, 2023, from https://live.amoskeagauction.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/94/lot/58355?url=%2Fm%2Fsearch%3Fpage%3D469%26key%3D%26cat%3D1%26view%3Dlist.
In 1884 they rolled out what appears to be a whole lineup of affordable revolvers. The main “big” gun was the H&R American. They hold many similarities to our guns today but most importantly they were chambered for larger calibers such as .32 S&W (otherwise known now as 32 S&W Short) .38 Colt, or .44 Webley. The first iterations were only rated for black powder cartridges. The American model had three variations that were more or less medium, compact, and pocket options. These were called Bulldog, Safety Hammer, and Vest Pocket. The Safety Hammer and Vest Pocket were basically the same in that they were the same frame and bobbed hammer but the Vest Pocket had a tiny 1 1/8″ barrel.
Released right next to the H&R American in 1884 was the H&R Young America. Not to be misquoted as Young “American”. These revolvers were smaller and lighter framed guns. They were chambered for 32 S&W (again the Short and black powder) and 22 rimfire. They came out with those three smaller variants I mentioned earlier. The Bulldog, Safety Hammer, and Vest Pocket. The H&R Young America that was made from 1884 until 1904 is not the same as the ones that came after. Later “models” of the Young America would be smokeless powder models and have their own sets of variations. This is something we will cover in the next article.
By 1931 the Young America and its variations would come to have actual model designations. The Standard Young America would be noted as the No. 78 and the 22 caliber versions would be the No. 70. Just years later catalogs would list these guns as the No. 74 and the 32 rimfire models as the N0. 73. These models and their cumbersome history hint at either confusion, lack of decisiveness, or little care on H&R’s part during this portion of their history.
End of Part One: H&R Young America
Harrington and Richardson (H&R) made significant strides in the late 1880s, solidifying their position as a prominent firearm manufacturer. With the introduction of their double-action Model 1880 revolver, the American, and Young America, they set themselves up to be the “affordable guys” for more than a century. All good things must come to an end just like the Model Young America which ceased production in 1941 most likely due to their top break revolvers gaining in popularity as well as the United States joining World War Two.
In closing, I hope our Curious Relics segment informed as well as entertained. This all was written in hopes of continued firearm appreciation and preservation. We did not just realize how guns were supposed to look and function. It was a long and tedious process that has shaped the world we live in. So, I put it to you! Is there a firearm out there that you feel does not get much notoriety? What should our next Curious Relics topic cover? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
