POTD: H&R Handy-Gun Rifled – The Pistol That Became Contraband

   05.28.25

POTD: H&R Handy-Gun Rifled – The Pistol That Became Contraband

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This Harrington & Richardson “Handy-Gun” represents one of the most legally precarious firearms in American history. Manufactured between 1931-1934, this .22 rimfire single-shot pistol with its 12¼-inch rifled barrel exists in a regulatory twilight zone that would ultimately doom the entire product line. Only an estimated 223 rifled Handy-Guns were ever produced, making this among the rarest American commercial firearms. The rifled barrel variant was designed specifically to accept H&R’s detachable wire shoulder stock, transforming it from a pistol into a shoulder-fired weapon. This dual capability would prove to be its legal undoing.

When the National Firearms Act of 1934 took effect, any Handy-Gun fitted with its shoulder stock suddenly became a “short-barreled rifle” requiring federal registration and a $200 tax stamp—equivalent to about $4,500 today. Many owners, unaware of the new regulations or unwilling to pay the prohibitive tax, simply destroyed their weapons rather than risk federal prosecution. The Handy-Gun’s design reflects H&R’s attempt to create a versatile small-game hunting tool. The undercut Partridge front sight and two-leaf combination rear sight provided precision capability, while the smooth forearm and checkered pistol grip offered comfortable handling in either configuration. This example retains its period canvas belt holster and matching serial numbers on the barrel, forearm, and frame. The three-line address and “patent pending” marking on the grip bottom represent H&R’s optimism for a product line that federal legislation would kill within three years of its introduction. Today, these survivors serve as tangible reminders of how quickly regulatory changes can transform legal firearms into prohibited items—a lesson that resonates throughout American firearms history.

Handy-Gun

“Harrington & Richardson .22 RF Rifled Barrel ‘Handy-Gun’ Pistol.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4094/3039/harrington-richardson-22-rf-rifled-barrel-handygun-pistol. Accessed 26 May 2025.

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Writer | TheFirearmBlog Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.