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H&R Defender .38 S&W

CountryGent

CountryGent

Southern Oregon
Staff Member
Gold Lifetime
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I've always had a curious fascination with top-break revolvers. I don't have a good reason why, despite some personal theories. Be that is it may, anyone have the experience with the H&R Defender in .38 S&W?* I have the chance to purchase a LNIB one for three C-notes and I'm tempted for no other reason than just because. Thanks friends. :)

* This curious little fellow.
1333233-IMG_9436.jpg
Read More
 
CountryGent said:
I've always had a curious fascination with top-break revolvers. I don't have a good reason why, despite some personal theories. Be that is it may, anyone have the experience with the H&R Defender in .38 S&W?* I have the chance to purchase a LNIB one for three C-notes and I'm tempted for no other reason than just because. Thanks friends. :)

* This curious little fellow.
1333233-IMG_9436.jpg
Click to expand...
I see no good cause to NOT purchase said revolver... for no other reason than just because.

On the topic of top breaks, I've got my grandpa's old Iver Johnson cycleworks revolver, 5-shot, in .38 S&W. It has no firing pin, and has horrible cylinder wobble and thusly is unfirable, but still a family heirloom and fascinating little piece of history... which makes its tragic loss in a boating accident that much more disheartening... :oops:
 
Thanks @JeremyK. If for no other reason than enabling this crazy guy. Haha, I kid. Thank you for the note. :)

On the topic of top-breaks, just because, this little English friend came into our home in the snowy months.

bov1-jpg.jpg

I regret every Webley or Enfield I ever sold off. As with all matters, such things ebb and flow. Whatever the course may be, it is straight forward.
 
I was doing some more reading on these today. In the process, I came across this old advertisement.

8jpv2Ap.jpg

Anyone know why the Civil Defense logo is prominently displayed?
 
edzz said:
Sales / marketing, it was labeled as the "Defender" I suspect the ad was from the height of the cold war.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the note. The notation that accompanied said the ad said it was produced during the World War II, but I can't confirm that is the case. I was curious if there was any official CD adoption as I have seen some Civil Defense marked firearms. But, as you mentioned, the most likely answer is clever marketing.
 
CountryGent said:
Thanks for the note. The notation that accompanied said the ad said it was produced during the World War II, but I can't confirm that is the case. I was curious if there was any official CD adoption as I have seen some Civil Defense marked firearms. But, as you mentioned, the most likely answer is clever marketing.
Click to expand...

Quite likely the case. Don't know when this model went into production. Not bad guns just a bit of a challenge finding .38 S&W these days, did someone say it's reloading time?
 
From what I read they went into production in the early-1940s and were produced for some time. I don't shoot much .38 S&W, but keep a small supply on hand for the Enfield shown above. What I've done in the past is when ordering a bulk of other ammo, throwing in a box (or two) of .38 if the vendor offers said. For very low volume shooting, it works out.
 
CountryGent said:
I've always had a curious fascination with top-break revolvers. I don't have a good reason why, despite some personal theories. Be that is it may, anyone have the experience with the H&R Defender in .38 S&W?* I have the chance to purchase a LNIB one for three C-notes and I'm tempted for no other reason than just because. Thanks friends. :)

* This curious little fellow.
View attachment 525297
Click to expand...
I have one that was my uncles. He walked a beat in a small town in east Tennessee, back in the 1930s and 40s. All of the checkering is worn off of the hand grips and the finish was rough. I stripped it and refinished it and keep it for the sentimental value.
 
CountryGent said:
I was doing some more reading on these today. In the process, I came across this old advertisement.

View attachment 524785

Anyone know why the Civil Defense logo is prominently displayed?
Click to expand...
Sorry for the necropost but... does this mean this gun is designed to shoot 38/200?

Usually this 38 S&W loading isn't recommended for non-English top-breaks.

But the 925 has a stornger latch than older H&R's
 
ensor7318 said:
I have one that was my uncles. He walked a beat in a small town in east Tennessee, back in the 1930s and 40s. All of the checkering is worn off of the hand grips and the finish was rough. I stripped it and refinished it and keep it for the sentimental value.
Click to expand...
Very cool family history. Thanks for sharing. :)
PDXONE said:
Sorry for the necropost but... does this mean this gun is designed to shoot 38/200?

Usually this 38 S&W loading isn't recommended for non-English top-breaks.

But the 925 has a stornger latch than older H&R's
Click to expand...
Good question. The specs listed implies that from the second listing.

I never did buy that little revolver; passing fancy from long ago. But still seems a curious little rascal and the Civil Defense marketing neato.
 

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