Harrington & Richardson Ætna/Aetna 3 .32 Rimfire Antique Revolver

Howdy Gunpost. This is a very nice and unique little spur-trigger .32 RF revolver made by H&R. The no. 3 is of course the third iteration of the Aetna series by H&R that started in 1870. This example was made circa 1876-1897.

Smith and Wesson's exclusive rights to manufacture bored-through cylinder cartridge revolvers in the United States ended when White's patent expired on December 11, 1869. So as a result many companies started producing cheap cartridge revolvers for the civilian market enmass. Many smaller companies got into the business and of course Hopkins and Allen, forehand and Wadsworth, and Harrington and Richardson who made this revolver.

Single action solid frame spur trigger revolvers typically in a rimfire cartridge whether that be 30, 32 ,38, or 41 rimfire are often to referred to as in today's parlance as "Suicide Specials". These types of firearms often have a poor reputation among collector circles but they're actually fairly well made for the most part. Some of the smaller unknown shops making these types of firearms can be of dubious quality. But any of the firearms made by a more professional gunsmith or large company with industrial equipment and a factory setting tend to actually be reasonably high quality firearms. 

The biggest weak point of these old pocket revolvers is their springs though. They're often broken or missing or too weak to reliably work the action or time and lock properly. Modern spring steel and metallurgy blows what they had in the Victorian era out of the water. This gun has a complete replacement set of modern, handmade and tuned mainspring, handspring and trigger return spring installed into it. As when I got the gun they were all missing! So I had my gunsmith to fabricate, temper and install new springs for me.

This gun has been taken apart and cleaned inside and out that has been lightly oiled and has a nice functioning action with modern springs as previously mentioned. Since these were inexpensive and mass produced pistols in their  day and age I can guarantee this is probably among the best functioning examples of this revolver in the world.

These have a somewhat unique action as far as spur triggers go. The safety and fire position depend on how much you cock the hammer but rest in more or less the same place.

The revolver is located in Calgary AB for local delivery or pickup. Or I can ship it nationwide too. EMT or Cash preferred. Buyer must be 18+.