Book Review by J. B. Wood | Contributing Editor
H & R ARMS CO. 1871-1986, by W. E. “Bill” Goforth. ©20l4. Published by Gun Show Books, P0 Box 1189, Dept. TGM, Hudson, WI 54016. Phone: 715-425-2338. Online: info@gunshowbooks.com. Hardbound, 8.5 X 11 inches, 628 pages, hundreds of photos. Price: $89.95 plus $5.00 shipping.
This big, heavy, marvelous book took a long time. I can remember, in years past, sending Bill some photos and other info on H & R firearms that I had encountered. Alas, he did not live to see the published book. After he passed away, Jim Hauff helped in organizing the materials, and now he is also gone. There were other assists from Jeff French and Dennis Stellmacher. All of them did well.
You’ll learn that the 1871 date in the title really precedes the actual start of H & R as a company. It refers to the earlier partnership of Frank Wesson and Gilbert Harrington. Between 1871 and 1874, Wesson & Harrington produced a large number of the then-popular “spur-trigger” revolvers. Then, Mr. Harrington partnered with William Richardson, and H & R had its beginnings.
Being primarily a handgun person, I was mostly interested in the excellent coverage of the H & R revolvers, and their brief entries in the auto-pistol field. The latter involved their versions of the .25 Auto and .32 Auto guns that were originally designed by William J. Whiting for the Webley firm in England. Also, between 1967 and 1974, H & R was the sole importer of the HK4 pistol from Heckler & Koch of Germany.
This is, however, only the first half of the book. All of the H & R rifles and shotguns receive extensive coverage. In addition to the sporting guns, there is much data on the military production.
As many readers will know, H & R made the Reising SMG that saw action in World War II, and some Garand rifles. Coming up to the present, there are even a few M-16s with H & R markings.
It requires a couple of firm hands to lift this massive volume, but it’s worth the effort. Everything you ever wanted to know about H & R is here, and very nicely done. I just wish Bill Goforth and Jim Hauff could have seen it.
