Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	Harrington & Richardson More Info

About the Gun

This is a compact solid-frame pocket revolver built for concealed carry in the early 20th century. This Second Model was the successor to the black-powder First Model, and was designed to fire the more modern smokeless cartridge.

Production

This model was produced from 1905 to 1941.

Market value

Values today range from $150 to $350 depending on condition.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	.32 S&W
Alias:	.32 Smith & Wesson Short
More Info

Analysis

The Young America Safety Hammer revolver, particularly in its Second Model form, represented Harrington & Richardson's practical response to the handgun market's shift toward smokeless powder ammunition in the early 20th century. Succeeding the black-powder First Model (1887–1904), it incorporated reinforced components to safely handle the emerging smokeless .32 S&W loads—available commercially from 1905 onward—while retaining the patented 1887 bobbed hammer for snag-free pocket draw. This evolution allowed it to remain competitive in the affordable concealed-carry niche against similar Iver Johnson and Hopkins & Allen designs, prioritizing reliability and low cost over advanced features. The rebounding hammer provided rudimentary safety, and the knurled hammer top enabled optional single-action precision when needed. Production tapered off by the late 1930s as demand waned for these budget pocket pieces amid rising interest in more powerful calibers, leaving surviving examples as affordable collector staples that highlight H&R's role in democratizing reliable self-defense handguns during the transitional smokeless era.