H&R pocket pistol value?

[Preacherman]

H&R pocket pistol value? 32 S&W. Thanks!!

[Hoss]

That one looks to be in decent shape. Assuming it functions perfectly, maybe $250. The S&Ws are generally worth quite a bit more. 

[Texas Maverick]

Hoss is an expert on pocket pistols, he has about a hundred of them. LOL

 

TM

[La Sombra]

17 minutes ago, Texas Maverick said:

Hoss is an expert on pocket pistols, he has about a hundred of them. LOL

 

TM

And shoots them quite well too based on his wins.

 

La Sombra

[Three Foot Johnson]

Gunbroker completed auctions indicates $175 is about the top end.

I think this is the same gun in blue - I paid $150 at a pawn shop, and it looked like it was unfired. That had to be at least five years ago though.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Question.  Are you selling or thinking about buying?  If buying with the intent of using for SASS side matches pass on it.

[Preacherman]

I might buy, but don't know much about them. The help is appreciated. Thanks! Preacherman 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Here is why I would not buy it if you are going to shoot it in SASS side matches.  These top breaks were very cheaply made and not really intended to shoot much.  They only cost about a dollar and were often given away as punchboard prizes.  Guns like those in the photo do not have locking bolt notches.  The cylinder is locked into place by the bolt being pushed against the end of the cylinder lead slot by the hand.  As the hand wears the lock-up goes away.

 

 

On the better built top breaks they have cylinder locking notches and tend to be stronger and more reliable.  The hand only rotates the cylinder.  It does not lock the cylinder.

 

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

The H&R Premier, Second Model has the horizontal cylinder stop notches.  A nice one will cost in the $200 ballpark.  It is a reliable little gun.  Beware that the original double action trigger pull weight on most of these pocket pistols is VERY heavy.  It was very difficult to fire one accidentally.  I doubt you will find it too useful in side matches unless you dive into the world of internal parts polishing and hammer spring modification.  They're still a ton of fun to shoot, even in original shape.  And .32 S&W ammo is commercially available if you don't want to bother reloading it.

[Preacherman]

Well, thanks a million for the info and advice! That's why I asked. I see that this one will not lock up solidly. Best if I pass on it. Thought it interesting though. 

[Hoss]

5 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

Hoss is an expert on pocket pistols, he has about a hundred of them. LOL

 

TM

Only 13 at last count! In reality, I only shoot 2 of them regularly. But it’s fun to bring a bunch to shoot!

I have S&Ws. (Both hammered and hammerless, Iver Johnson’s, H&Rs, A Colt, a Merwin Hulbert, a Hopkins & Allan, a Starr,  a couple of “hardware store” branded, a American Bulldog, and a Belgian made one with a folding trigger. 
the S&Ws are the best made. The Iver Johnson’s are ok, but cheap. The rest really aren’t competitive because the hammer springs came from a 56 Buick. One of them has such a strong spring it regularly pierces the primer. But they are fun to collect, shoot occasionally, and imagine where they might have been.  I’m sure none of mine spent their lives in a dresser drawer. All were in a lady of the evenings garter, or an outlaws hideout gun! 

[Itchy Trigger]

9 minutes ago, Hoss said:

But they are fun to collect, shoot occasionally, and imagine where they might have been.  I’m sure none of mine spent their lives in a dresser drawer. All were in a lady of the evenings garter, or an outlaws hideout gun! 

 

And I know you were thinking of the garter or two they were in, when you purchased them!

[Three Foot Johnson]

Two of my favorites, out of... eleven, I think. An Iver Johnson New Model/3rd Model six shot .32 and a S&W 38 Double Action Perfected five shot .38 S&W. Both have well-defined leads and cylinder stop cuts, as per Larson Pettifogger's post, and are great shooters for pocket pistol side matches.