H&R Topper M48 - serial number?

[GSPD]

I acquired a nice H&R Topper M48 20 gauge and trying to find the age.
Read some stuff online about A thru P on the serial numbers (but no 'O' used).
Only number I can find is inside the breech on the barrel '00229'.
No letter at all...

[G-Man WC]

Year starting serial number prefix letters on H&R Inc:
1940 A
1941 B
1942 C
1943 D
1944 E
1945 F
1946 G
1947 H
1948 I
1949 J
1950 K
1951 L
1952 M
1953 N
1954 P
1955 R
1956 S
1957 T
1958 U
1958 V
1960 W
1961 X
1962 Y
1963 Z
1964 AA
1965 AB
1966 AC
1967 AD
1968 AE
1969 AF
1970 AG
1971 AH(snap on forend)
1972 AJ (Huntsman introduced with screw-in breech plug, later changed to push-in)
1973 AL (first handgun transfer bar mid year)
1974 AM
1975 AN
1976 AP
1977 AR (transfer bar on rifles and shotguns)
1978 AS
1979 AT
1980 AU
1981 AVAX
1982 AWAY
1983 AXAZ
1984 AYBA
1985 AZBB
1986 BABC

NOTES:
AK denotes Kansas Centennial #s 1-300
NC Nebraska Centennial 1967
CT Chisolm Trail Centennial



Second letter of prefix on NEF or H&R starting with N or H.....

A= 19861987 H&R will only fit the original chambering(replacement for defective rifle), 357Mag, 44mag, and shotgun barrels to these frames
B= 19871988
C= 19881989
D= 19891990
E= 19901991
F= 19911992
G= 19921993
H= 19931994
I= 1994NOT USED
J= 1995
k= 1996
L=1997
M=1998
N=1999
P=2000
R=2001
S=2002
T=2003
U=2004
V=2005
W=2006
X=2007
Y=2008 serial number prefixes changed in May 2008 and on, CBA for SB2 and CAC for SB1, the only source for build year is to call and ask (866)776-9292.

WH=1995-2001 Wesson & Harrington rifles and shotguns, six digit serial numbers run consecutive, no change in prefix for different years, H&R would be the only source to determine actual year of Mfr.

http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp


SBS= Factory Scoped Combo Handi http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.p...#msg1098317469


The first letter N = NEF, H = H&R, the second letter denotes year of manufacture.

Ilion made barrels will have the last 4 digits of the frame serial number engraved on the left side of the barrel underlug, earlier barrels made in Gardner will have just the last three.

[GSPD]

Ilion made barrels will have the last 4 digits of the frame serial number engraved on the left side of the barrel underlug...

That's all it has, just '00229' on the barrel lug.
But thanks for the info!

[papav99]

i got a HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON
THE SERIAL # IS 14104 AND ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE GUN IS A L
WHAT YEAR IS IT AND I ALSO NEED A SNAP ON FORARM
CAN ANYONE HELP ME WITH THE INFO AND FOREARM I THINK ITS A 1951 BUT NOT SURE
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP

[G-Man WC]

Everything you wanted to know and more about the Handi (NEF / H&R) -g
http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/hr-cent...e-read!!!****/

[Steve_In_29]

Originally Posted by GSPD

That's all it has, just '00229' on the barrel lug.
But thanks for the info!

According to what G-Man WC posted the "R" on the side of the receiver means 1955 (as he highlighted) and apparently the numbers on the lug are the serial number.