Top-break rimfire revolvers

[CSACANNONEER]

Every Mossberg Brownie I have ever encountered was broken or very worn and priced very high. I had a more modern copy and it sucked.

Yea, the one I have is rough and doesn't lock up tight. Someday, I may get around to doing a bubba repair to tighten it up and make it a reliable shooter.

[billt]

The 999 Is a nice gun indeed, gave mine to a friend back in early 70's, I do miss it. I'm sure he has sold it by now.

Here is a brand new one in the box!

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/596093873

[Ford8N]

Here is a brand new one in the box!

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/596093873

Ah, the Gardner 999. I used to have that model. I'm surprised it's going for that much these days, I should have sold mine now rather than years ago. Good gun, but I didn't like the way H&R changed the frame and pinned the parts, hard to work on it and the parts don't exchange with the old 999. It wasn't made a lot so it will eventually get scarce and become a collector for sure. I also hated the slick grips and the way that frame felt compared to the 999 frame of the 70's vintage.

[billt]

I'm surprised H&R, or New England Firearms, or whoever they're going by these days, doesn't reintroduce it. There is a HUGE market for 10 shot .22 revolvers today. Proof of that is how fast the new Ruger GP-100, and the S&W 617 sell out most everywhere. And you rarely find either discounted much, if at all. It wouldn't cost them much to bring it back, assuming they still have all the fixtures and tooling. Especially if they made it on modern machinery. Top break ejection is very positive and easy to load. And with speed loaders this gun could hold it's own with any semi auto. All without having to buy a boatload of magazines at $30.00+ a pop.

[I Swan]

Here is a brand new one in the box!

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/596093873

It's in CT. It would be a big undertaking and a lot of money to get it in to CA.

[I Swan]

I'm surprised H&R, or New England Firearms, or whoever they're going by these days, doesn't reintroduce it. There is a HUGE market for 10 shot .22 revolvers today. Proof of that is how fast the new Ruger GP-100, and the S&W 617 sell out most everywhere. And you rarely find either discounted much, if at all. It wouldn't cost them much to bring it back, assuming they still have all the fixtures and tooling. Especially if they made it on modern machinery. Top break ejection is very positive and easy to load. And with speed loaders this gun could hold it's own with any semi auto. All without having to buy a boatload of magazines at $30.00+ a pop.

I think around 1999 NEF decided to no longer make handguns and they refuse to work on or have anything to do with their previously manufactured ones. Might be a PC thing.

Marlin discontinued the Camp Carbine around that time as well. I believe it was a PC thing as well they did not want to manufacture anything even remotely "assault" or controversial anymore.

[billt]

It's in CT. It would be a big undertaking and a lot of money to get it in to CA.

Why would it require more than the usual shipping and FFL transfer fees? I could get that gun to Az. for purchase price, plus $20.00 transfer and $30.00 shipping.

[I Swan]

Why would it require more than the usual shipping and FFL transfer fees? I could get that gun to Az. for purchase price, plus $20.00 transfer and $30.00 shipping.

Gun is not on the approved roster of handguns for sale in CA. There is loophole though to get in certain DA revolvers over a certain size and barrel length. Also even for guns totally legal in CA many FFL's will not ship here.

[aghauler]

Why would it require more than the usual shipping and FFL transfer fees? I could get that gun to Az. for purchase price, plus $20.00 transfer and $30.00 shipping.

EXACTLY not everyone on Calguns still lives in Kommifornica!

[aghauler]

Gun is not on the approved roster of handguns for sale in CA. There is loophole though to get in certain DA revolvers over a certain size and barrel length. Also even for guns totally legal in CA many FFL's will not ship here.

Which DA revolvers do you speak of?

There is an exemption for single action revolvers.

[sealocan]

While the Harrington and Richards and N.E.F. / New England Firearms model was produced more recently and and probably greater total numbers , don't forget or look down upon the Iver Johnson brand .22 caliber top break revolvers.

Although Both Harrington&Richard and Iver Johnson were considered just the working man's Chevy of its day with Smith & Wesson's and Colts being Lincolns and Cadillacs their quality of the workmanship was good and as long as they were not abused should still be working fine. Often reported still having great accuracy, even though the sights are usually rudimentary.

I have always wondered which company (Iver Johnson or Harrington Richard, NEF didn't come along till later) came out with their most popular model of top break action revolver designs first, as they are extremely similar in almost every areas like the shape of the frame , shape of the barrel & barrel rib, three sided wood grip design ... etc...

[I Swan]

Which DA revolvers do you speak of?

There is an exemption for single action revolvers.

SAE exemption. People modify DA revolvers to SA to get them In to CA if they meet the barrel and overall length requirements. Then later convert them back to DA/SA.

This is a CA oriented website so I am ASSuming the OP is in CA which is probably correct.

Of course there is also the possibility of finding a 999/Sportsman made before 1966 and bringing it in as a curio and relic exempt handgun. I actually run across older Sportsman revolvers more often than the newer ones.

Not to say Income across them that often at all. It has been a while since I've seen a 999 for sale at a SoCal gun show or store. I attend gun shows 2-3 or more times a month depending on my travels and visit gun shops hundreds of times a year.