H&R Model 925 Defender 2nd Model .38 S&W Top-Break Revolver, 4-Inch Barrel, Blued, 1966 Production
The H&R Model 925 Defender is one of the last American-made top-break revolvers to reach the market, and the 4-inch variant offered here is the scarcest barrel length produced. Built in 1966 (serial prefix “AC”), this double-/single-action .38 S&W revolver pairs its uncommon adjustable rear sight with a durable blued carbon-steel frame and a distinctive bird’s-head Tenite grip—details that make it both a practical shooter and a desirable collectible.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good – Shows moderate handling and holster wear with approximately 80% original finish remaining.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, bright, and well-maintained with minor wear marks.
Rifling Condition: Good – Lands and grooves are intact and well-defined.
Mechanically: Functions correctly.
Specific Condition Notes: Exterior surfaces display scattered scratches and blemishes, and there is light pitting on the hammer.
What’s Included
- H&R Model 925 Defender 2nd Model revolver
The 925 Defender stands out for its top-break action, allowing rapid unloading and reloading—a feature seldom seen on mid-20th-century U.S. revolvers. H&R engineered the latch and hinge to handle standard .38 S&W pressures while keeping the gun compact and easy to carry.
This example’s 4-inch carbon-steel barrel balances sight radius and concealability, contributing to its rarity within the Defender line. Most surviving 925s wear shorter or longer tubes, making the 4-inch model a prized find for collectors.
The revolver’s screw-adjustable rear notch sight is atypical for an economy-priced handgun of the era, giving shooters the ability to fine-tune elevation and windage. Combined with the pinned ramp front blade, it offers a clearer sight picture than fixed-sight contemporaries.
Its one-piece mottled brown Tenite grip retains the bird’s-head profile favored by H&R for pocket carry. The grip design, along with the exposed hammer, supports both double-action and single-action firing, offering flexibility at the range or in the field.
Collectors will note the clean bore, intact rifling, and solid mechanics, indicating careful maintenance over the decades. The AC-prefix serial further confirms 1966 production, situating this revolver in the final years of H&R’s classic top-break lineage.