H&R Handy-Gun

The H&R Handy-Gun is a smoothbore pistol, manufactured from 1921-1934 by the Harrington & Richardson Arms Company in Worcester, Massachusettes. It was made in .410 and 28 gauges, most commonly in barrel lengths of 20.32cm (8") or 31.12cm (12.25"). The Handy-Gun has an unusual tiger-stripe finish, simulating color case hardening.

Under normal circumstances, the H&R Handy-Gun could be described as several things, perhaps most appropriate as a survival gun, a camper's or hiker's gun, or possibly a home protection gun, giving the use of a .410 or 28 gauge shotgun in a pistol-like weapon. As of 1934, however, circumstances changed. In that year, Congress passed the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA), which requires strict registration, licensing, and control of fully-automatic weapons, silencers, pistols with shoulder stocks, and short-barreled shotguns such as the H&R Handy-Gun.

Basically, the H&R Handy-Gun is a smallbore, break-open shotgun (which is sometimes called a pistol because of its length) with a pistol grip and a short barrel. It is not suited for hunting (although it could be used for short-range game); it certainly isn't a competition gun; and it is too large for effective concealment. Because of its particular configuration, it is classified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) as 'Any other Weapon'. It shares this category with smoothbore revolvers, pen guns, the Marble-Game Getter combination gun, and the Ithaca Auto-Burglar, a double-barrel shotgun/pistol.

Most H&R Handy-Guns feature a blued barrel, walnut grip and fore-end, and an attractive tiger-strip finish on the frame. This was produced by a hot cyanide bath process that simulates a true case-hardened finish. Some models were available from the factory with a detachable shoulder stock. A matching shoulder stock would be a valuable prize for the collector.

Did You Know?
An extremely rare variation of the H&R Handy-Gun was made with a rifled barrel in both .32-20 WCF (Winchester Center-Fire) and .22 Rimfire calibers. Interestingly enough, these guns—if not equipped or accompanied by a shoulder stock—are not considered a 'firearm' under the National Firearms Act of 1934.

This is just an example of how Gun Control 'works'. Gun Control doesn't actually work, but it does prevent law abiding citizens to obtain certain firearms. To a criminal, gun control is just another law, and will break it to obtain firearms illegally.