Harrington & Richardson
Harrington & Richardson Arms Company (H&R) was an American firearms manufacturer founded in 1871 in Worcester, Massachusetts, by G. H. Harrington and Franklin Wesson to produce shell-ejecting revolvers based on Harrington's patent.[1] Harrington acquired Wesson's interest in 1874 and partnered with William A. Richardson, with the firm incorporating in 1888 as Harrington & Richardson Arms Company.[1] The company specialized in affordable revolvers, including top-break designs, and expanded into shotguns starting in 1899, handcuffs, and single-shot rifles and shotguns noted for their simplicity and reliability.[2][1] H&R achieved prominence through long-term U.S. military contracts, beginning with World War I flare guns and extending to major production roles in World War II, including the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle, as well as later contributions to the M14 and M16A1 rifles during the Cold War era.[3][1][4] Defining products like the break-action Handi-Rifle and Pardner shotgun emphasized modular, cost-effective designs suited for hunting and target shooting, reflecting the firm's focus on practical firearms for civilian and military use.[5] The company relocated to Gardner, Massachusetts, in 1973 amid operational shifts but faced market pressures from imported firearms and domestic competition.[1] By the mid-1980s, declining sales led H&R to file for bankruptcy reorganization in December 1984, culminating in the cessation of operations by 1986 after over a century of production.[6][5] While the original firm dissolved, its designs and brand were later revived through H&R 1871, Inc., in 1991 and subsequent acquisitions, maintaining a legacy in single-shot firearms.[5]Founding and Early Development
Establishment and Founders
Harrington & Richardson Arms Company was established in 1871 in Worcester, Massachusetts, by gunsmith and inventor Gilbert H. Harrington and machinist William A. Richardson.[7][3] Harrington, who had previously collaborated with Frank Wesson on early revolver designs at the Wesson Arms Company from around 1859, brought expertise in firearm mechanics following his departure from that firm circa 1874.[8] Richardson, also a former Wesson associate, contributed machining skills to the new venture, which focused on producing cost-effective, mass-market firearms amid post-Civil War demand for reliable personal defense weapons.[5] The founders capitalized on Harrington's patented top-break revolver action, which facilitated rapid cylinder ejection and reloading—a practical innovation for the era's concealed-carry and sporting needs.[7] Operating initially from modest facilities in Worcester, the company emphasized simplicity and affordability, targeting working-class consumers rather than premium military contracts. This approach positioned H&R as a competitor to larger arms makers like Colt and Smith & Wesson, though on a smaller scale with annual production in the early years numbering in the low thousands of units.[9] By prioritizing empirical design improvements over ornate aesthetics, the firm laid the groundwork for over a century of single-shot and revolver manufacturing.[5]Initial Products and Market Entry
Harrington's partnership with Frank Wesson, formed as Wesson & Harrington in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1871, marked the company's entry into firearms production with early revolvers featuring rod-ejection mechanisms, such as the No. 3 model, which required manual extraction of spent casings via a rod under the barrel.[10] These single-action designs, chambered in calibers like .22 rimfire, targeted civilian users seeking basic defensive or sporting handguns amid the post-Civil War expansion of the American arms market.[8] By 1874, Gilbert H. Harrington acquired Wesson's interest, enabling a shift toward innovative top-break designs that improved reloading efficiency.[11] In 1875, Harrington partnered with William A. Richardson to establish Harrington & Richardson, focusing on top-breaking revolvers with simultaneous shell-ejection capabilities upon frame release, a mechanism patented and refined from Harrington's inventions for durability and ease of use.[12] Initial models, produced from the late 1870s, included manual-ejecting variants in .32 and .38 calibers, evolving into automatic-ejection versions by the 1880s that ejected all spent cartridges at once, distinguishing H&R from competitors like Smith & Wesson by emphasizing simplicity over complexity.[8] These revolvers, such as early iterations of the Premier and Young America lines, were manufactured at 18 Manchester Street, with production scaling after incorporation in 1888 with $75,000 capital.[13] H&R entered the market positioning its products as affordable alternatives to higher-end revolvers, retailing for prices accessible to working-class buyers, farmers, and urban self-defense users, while maintaining reliability through basic construction without ornate features.[14] This strategy capitalized on the booming demand for pocket-sized, double-action handguns in the late 19th century, with early output emphasizing .32 S&W and similar low-power rounds for concealability rather than military contracts.[15] By the 1880s, diversification included licensing Anson & Deeley actions for shotguns, but revolvers remained the core, establishing H&R's reputation for economical, functional firearms over premium aesthetics.[16]Innovations and Patent Portfolio
Key Firearm Designs
Harrington & Richardson's top-break revolvers represented a core innovation, incorporating an automatic ejection mechanism that simultaneously extracted and ejected spent cartridges when the barrel-cylinder assembly was tilted upward for reloading. This design, first produced in models like the Auto Ejecting series starting in 1889, allowed for faster cylinder replenishment compared to side-swing gate competitors, and was offered in calibers such as .22 rimfire (7-shot), .32 S&W (5-shot), and .38 S&W (5-shot). Variants included the Premier Auto Ejecting and American Double Action models, with some featuring integrated knife blades for utility. Approximately 1.3 million top-break revolvers were manufactured between 1887 and 1940.[17][18] The Hammerless Safety Revolver, often called the "Lemon Squeezer" due to its grip-mounted thumb safety, emerged from a 1895 patent and prioritized concealability for pocket carry. Chambered in .32 S&W and .38 S&W, these double-action models featured an internal hammer and a safety requiring grip pressure for firing, reducing accidental discharge risks in close-quarters scenarios. Production continued into the 1940s, with the third model in 1909 introducing coil springs in place of flat springs for improved durability.[19] H&R's Vest-Pocket Self-Cocker targeted ultra-compact self-defense, a .22 short rimfire top-break revolver with a 2-inch barrel and simplified self-cocking mechanism for one-handed operation. Early models emphasized minimal size for vest or pocket concealment while maintaining reliability in short-range applications. In semi-automatic handguns, H&R introduced a .32-caliber self-loading pistol around 1910, featuring a slab-sided frame, internal striker ignition, frame-mounted lever safety, open-top slide, 3.5-inch barrel, and 8-round magazine capacity, with an overall length of 6.5 inches. This design drew on recoil-operated principles with twin recoil springs, as detailed in contemporary patents.[20] Eugene Reising's contributions included the Model 50 submachine gun, a closed-bolt, delayed-blowback design chambered in .45 ACP with a 20- or 30-round magazine, parkerized finish, wooden stock, and barrel cooling fins for sustained fire. Adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1941 for its simplicity and low cost, over 10,000 units were produced before production shifted to military rifles. Reising also patented semi-automatic .22 rifles like the Model 65 for H&R, incorporating pistol-grip and folding-stock variants for versatility.[21][22]Handcuff and Accessory Patents
Harrington & Richardson Arms Company ventured into law enforcement equipment with patents for handcuff designs, producing the noted "Super" model under U.S. Patent No. 1,984,677, issued to John W. Harrington on December 18, 1934, and assigned to the firm.[23] This invention featured a ratcheting bow with serrated teeth on a rotatable locking arm for incremental adjustment and secure restraint, coupled with a double-locking mechanism to prevent forward or backward movement once engaged, enhancing resistance to tampering.[23] The design emphasized durability, utilizing hardened steel components to withstand forceful attempts at escape.[24] Manufactured handcuffs bearing this patent marking were constructed for superior strength, incorporating a concealed keyway positioned to minimize picking risks, which contributed to their adoption by the FBI as specialized security restraints.[25] Examples from the era, often nickel-plated and double-cuffed, demonstrate practical application in police departments, such as those marked for Milwaukee Police Department use around the early 1900s, though production peaked in the 1930s.[26] Surplus units were also provided to the Chinese Nationalist government by the United States to support anti-communist operations during the civil war.[27] Earlier efforts included U.S. Patent No. 1,572,262, assigned to H&R and issued February 9, 1926, pertaining to handcuff locking improvements, though production details remain less documented compared to the 1934 design.[28] Beyond restraints, H&R secured patents for firearm accessories, notably U.S. Patent No. 557,814, granted April 7, 1896, to founders Gilbert H. Harrington and William A. Richardson for an ejector mechanism in revolvers.[29] This innovation facilitated simultaneous extraction of spent cartridges via a star extractor linked to a cylinder rod, improving reload efficiency in top-break actions without requiring manual individual removal.[29] Such accessories integrated into early H&R revolver models, reflecting the company's focus on mechanical refinements for practical use.[1]Core Product Lines
Revolvers and Handguns
Harrington & Richardson initiated revolver production with top-break designs featuring automatic shell ejection, based on a patent by co-founder Gilbert H. Harrington.[8][1] These early handguns, manufactured from 1871 onward in Worcester, Massachusetts, emphasized compact frames for civilian self-defense in calibers including .22 rimfire, .32 S&W, and .38 S&W.[2] The Young America double-action revolver, introduced in 1884, exemplified H&R's focus on affordable, reliable pocket pistols, with production exceeding 1,500,000 units by 1941.[30] Models like the American Double Action and Vest-Pocket Self-Cocker catered to concealed carry, while hammerless variants such as the Safety Hammerless, updated with coil springs by 1909, prioritized snag-free draws.[2] In the early 20th century, H&R supplied .38 S&W top-break revolvers to British police forces, adapting designs for institutional use.[2] The company also ventured into semi-automatic handguns, producing .25 ACP self-loading pistols from 1912 to approximately 1924, though these saw limited commercial success compared to their revolvers.[31] Post-World War II, H&R shifted toward .22 rimfire target and plinking revolvers, including the Model 732 in .32 S&W from 1958 to 1986 and the nine-shot Model 900 from 1964 to 1976, valued for their straightforward mechanics and low cost.[32] The Handy-Gun, a single-shot top-break pistol chambered in .410 bore or 28 gauge with 8- or 12.25-inch barrels, served niche roles in close-quarters pest control and defense from 1920 to 1934.[31] Production ceased with the company's 1986 bankruptcy, leaving a legacy of mass-produced, utilitarian handguns.[5]Shotguns and Single-Shot Firearms
Harrington & Richardson specialized in affordable single-shot break-action shotguns, designed for reliability in hunting, training, and general use. These firearms featured simple mechanisms with external hammers and transfer bar safeties in later models, prioritizing functionality over complexity. Production emphasized mass-market accessibility, with models chambered in common gauges such as 12, 20, and .410 bore.[33][34] Early single-shot shotgun designs included the Model 1900, produced from 1901 to 1916, which exemplified H&R's focus on basic, durable construction for practical applications. The Topper series followed, with the Model 158 manufactured between 1962 and 1973; it utilized hardwood stocks, color case-hardened receivers, and rubber butt pads, earning a reputation as a robust "farm gun" suitable for small game and pest control.[35][36] The subsequent Topper Model 58, made from 1974 to 1981, continued this tradition in 12-, 16-, 20-gauge, and .410 configurations, often with modified chokes and 28-inch barrels for versatility.[33][37] The Pardner single-shot model, introduced under H&R 1871, Inc., offered options in 10-, 12-, 16-, 20-, 28-gauge, and .410 bore, featuring a 3-inch chamber in 12-gauge variants and a compact overall length for maneuverability. Youth-oriented variants like the Tamer provided scaled-down frames in 20-gauge for introductory shooting.[34][38] H&R also produced limited double-barrel shotguns under license, such as Anson & Deeley actions starting in 1880, but single-shots dominated their shotgun output due to cost efficiencies.[16] Beyond shotguns, H&R developed single-shot firearms for specialized purposes, including the Model USRA target pistol introduced in 1928 to meet international competition rules; it enabled precise .22 rimfire shooting and was notably used by Julian Hatcher for a perfect 100 x 100 score at Bisley, England. These designs underscored H&R's versatility in single-shot platforms, though production ceased with the company's 1986 bankruptcy.[39][5]