Curious Relics #067: Is That a Youth Model? – The H&R Young America Part II
Sam.S 06.28.23
Welcome, if you are a newcomer to this fun bi-weekly segment of AllOutdoor.com! The last time around I covered the history of an early Saturday night special, the H&R Young America. In that article, we looked at how this revolver came to be. There is very little information as far as history goes but there are oodles of variations. Let’s dive right into the rabbit hole!
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!
Variations: The H&R Young America
First Model – 1st Variation
This first round of these guns was plain Jane. They featured a round 2-inch barrel, were nickel finished, and had hard rubber grips with a floral pattern on them. Other wood grips or mother of pearl were optional if factory special ordered. They had brass escutcheons and flat hammer screws. Made from 1884 until 1887.
Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie
- Top Strap Marking: “Young America Double Action”
- Barrel Markings: No Barrel Markings
- Chambering: 32 S&W (5 rounds – Black Powder), 22 Rimfire (7 rounds – Black Powder)
- Hammer: Color Case Hardened
- Weight: 7oz
- Overall Length: 5 inches
- Frame Length: 3 5/8 inches
- Frame Height: 3 3/8 inches
First Model – 2nd Variation
This time around there was a little more variety. These were available in nickel or blued. The barrels were now octagon and the same grip options were offered. Just about every aspect is the same as the 1st variation. These were made from 1888 until 1897.
Note: Around this new variations introduction it was decided that the 32 caliber one would be the “medium frame” and the 22 is the “small frame”. They however were never marked as such.
- Top Strap Marking: “Young America Double Action”
- Barrel Markings: No Barrel Markings
- Chambering: 32 S&W (5 rounds – Black Powder), 22 Rimfire (7 rounds – Black Powder)
- Weight: 7oz (Small Frame 22RF) 9oz (Medium Frame 32 S&W)
- Overall Length: 5 inches (Small Frame) 5 3/8 (Medium Frame)
- Frame Length: 3 5/8 inches (Small Frame) 3 3/4 (Medium Frame)
- Frame Height: 3 3/8 inches (Small Frame) 3 5/8 (Medium Frame)
- Optional Barrel Lengths: Offered after 1900. 4 1/2″, and 6″
First Model – 3rd Variation
Good grief they are still going? Yep. The 3rd variation’s major evolutionary contribution included the company’s address on the side of the barrel and a blued trigger guard (whether the gun was a nickel one or not). These were made from 1898 until 1904.
- Top Strap Marking: “Young America Double Action”
- Barrel Markings: Left Side – “H&R Arms Company Worchester Mass USA” NO CALIBER MARKINGS
- Hammer: Blued
- Chambering: 32 S&W (5 rounds – Black Powder), 22 Rimfire (7 rounds – Black Powder)
- Weight: 7oz (Small Frame 22RF) 9oz (Medium Frame 32 S&W)
- Overall Length: 5 inches (Small Frame) 5 3/8 (Medium Frame)
- Frame Length: 3 5/8 inches (Small Frame) 3 3/4 (Medium Frame)
- Frame Height: 3 3/8 inches (Small Frame) 3 5/8 (Medium Frame)
- Optional Barrel Lengths: Offered after 1900. 4 1/2″, and 6″
Second Model
This is our/my specific revolver today. This particular Young America revolver was made for use with smokeless powder pressures. Many specifications remained the same as the rest before. They were offered in 2″, 4 1/2″, and 6″ barrel lengths, were stock with hard rubber grips 9wood and mother of pearl optional), had a blued trigger guard, and the escutcheons were now aluminum instead of brass. The most obvious way to discern this model over the others is the caliber markings on the left side of the barrel as well as the address. After 1932 the 32 Rimfire cartridge was an offering. Made from 1905 until 1941.
Note: In 1931 catalogs gave these revolvers/variants model numbers. The 32-caliber model was dubbed the No. 78 and the 22RF one was the No. 70. Only a year later those models changed to No. 74 (32 S&W) and No. 73 (22RF).
- Top Strap Marking: “Young America Double Action” (some very late productions used frames from the Young American and are marked thus)
- Barrel Markings: Left Side – “H&R Arms Company Worchester Mass USA”, “22 Rimfire”, or “32 S&W CTGE”.
- Chambering: 32 S&W (5 rounds – Smokeless), 32 Rimfire (Rare), 22 Rimfire (7 rounds – Smokeless)
- Weight: 7oz (Small Frame 22RF) 9oz (Medium Frame 32 S&W)
- Overall Length: 5 inches (Small Frame) 5 3/8 (Medium Frame)
- Frame Length: 3 5/8 inches (Small Frame) 3 3/4 (Medium Frame)
- Frame Height: 3 3/8 inches (Small Frame) 3 5/8 (Medium Frame)
- Optional Barrel Lengths:2″, 4 1/2″, and 6″
End of Part Two: H&R Young America
Harrington & Richardson is a neglected company in the history of small arms. These particular small arms were probably affordable and trusted by the people who carried them. I am not sure how old my particular revolver is but I do know that it looks rough. The lockup? Fantastic. honestly, everything runs like a watch. The affordable guys get a bad wrap. Perhaps it is because these particular ones were designed for “card table distances”. More on that to come!
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.
