B
Saturday, May 15, 2021
The Observer & Baker City Herald
Contributed Photo
ABOVE: A tiny Trumbo with his father after a successful squirrel hunt
with the Topper 158, propped against the fence at right.
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
LEFT: Getting the feel for a newly restored classic.
F ATHER , S ON , C LASSIC S HOTGUN
■ Discovering an old photograph provokes nostalgic memories, leads to restoration of an H&R Topper 158 model
Y
ou recognize the name, but
shrug with indifference at
its mention. In mint condi-
tion, they compare not to the fi ner
side-by-sides of the past. They sell
for pennies on the dollar relative
to the spendy, yet (occasionally)
affordable names like Fox and L.C.
Smith, and may as well be a door
prize for simply viewing a Parker.
Although less glamorous, the single-
shot Harrington and Richardson
(H&R) shotgun may arguably be
one of the simplest and most promi-
nent fi rearms to grace American
hunting and shooting history.
H&R boasts an ornate heritage
dating back to the inception of the
company in 1871 as Wesson and
Herrington in Worcester, Massa-
chusetts. Established by Gilbert H.
Harrington and William A. Richard-
son, the manufacturer we know as
H&R was not so named until 1877.
Harrington supposedly bought
out Dan Wesson’s investment and
re-branded with Richardson, car-
rying the H&R name and parent
operation through 1986. Their doors
remained closed until 1991 when
a new company started under the
name H&R 1871.
H&R was known into the 1880s
for their revolvers, but evolved
quickly to manufacture shotguns
and rifl es with dozens of different
models. But the name as I and
many others have come to know
is married to their single-shot
shotguns.
In 1901, H&R produced their fi rst
single-shot, the Model 1900. A series
of small-bore .410 single-shots
followed, chambered in two-inch in
1911, the Model 1915 chambered in
two-and-a-half inch, then a three-
inch chambering in 1937. It appears
the more commonly known “Top-
per” model did not appear until the
1940s.
The H&R Topper Model 158
(Topper 158) was manufactured
between approximately 1962 and
1973, becoming the shotgun many
of today’s hunters associate with the
H&R name. While this model was
chambered in everything from .17 to
UPLAND
PURSUITS
BRAD TRUMBO
“That photo triggered a desire
to rescue and restore the gun as
a piece of my father’s legacy. A
shotgun built for everyone, and
fi tting of his humble, reliable
personality.”
.300 magnum caliber, smooth bores
appear to be most common.
The Topper 158, like its predeces-
sors, carried a hardwood stock, but
the rubber butt pad didn’t appear
before this model, according to
vintage advertising. Their actions
were color case hardened, boast-
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
ing a beautiful tiger-like, almost
holographic striping. Twelve, 16, 20 A Eurasian collared dove christened the restored Topper 158 after 30 years of rusting on an attic fl oor.
gauge and .410 bores were avail-
able with barrel length ranging
misses historical relevance, allowing not long before his death. Memo-
seems hunters value style and the
from 28 to 36 inches and housing
monetary value alone to determine ries overlaid by time rushed to the
opportunity for a second chance.
an immaculate shell ejector. The
the “worth” of a fi rearm, exemplifi ed surface, cued by the thump of the
The H&R name and Topper
28-inch barrel package weighed a
by H&R.
lightweight single-barrel driving
158 claimed their worthy place in
scant 5.5 pounds. The forearms on
Aside from monetary or historical against my shoulder.
American fi rearms history, and the
early models were held tight to the signifi cance, sentimental value can
With such talk of commonplace
story continues with current Topper
barrel with a center screw, which
eclipse all. I inherited my father’s
style and mechanics, it may be sur- models. Still produced under the
was changed to a sleeker clip-in
Topper 158 as a child and carried
prising that in 1880, H&R became
Harrington and Richardson name,
mechanism in 1971.
it after gray squirrels through the
the sole American licensee for the
the Topper Deluxe Classic sports
These guns may not have been
deciduous forest. I recently discov-
manufacture of quality English An- a vented sight rib, screw-in choke
dazzling, but their reputation as
ered a photo of my father taken at
son & Deely double-barrel box-lock tubes and checkered American
lightweight, reliable and affordable, his parent’s home, approximately
shotguns, producing approximately walnut stock.
led to hundreds of thousands of
1981. He knelt in the yard holding
3,500 of various “grades” between
Various vintage Topper 158 and
sales while in production. Original
me, barely a toddler, and a pair of
1882 and 1885. Not to belittle the
youth models can be found for
cost for a standard Topper shotgun gray squirrels with the Topper 158 company’s contribution to the U.S.
around $100 if you are willing to
was listed at $28.50 in 1957, and
leaning against the fence in the
armed forces over the years.
watch auctions and make some
the Topper 158 at $36.95 in 1971,
background. That photo triggered
In November of 2000, the Marlin minor repairs. Cheap enough to
according to vintage advertising.
a desire to rescue and restore the
Firearms Company purchased the determine for yourself the wing-
Present-day value for a used Top- gun as a piece of my father’s legacy. assets of H&R 1871, Inc. Presently shooting “worth” of H&Rs classic
per 158 in excellent condition runs A shotgun built for everyone, and
marketing its products under the
single-shot.
between $150 and $225, but mon-
fi tting of his humble, reliable per-
brand names of Harrington &
Brad Trumbo is a fi sh and wildlife
etary value does little justice for the sonality.
Richardson® and New England
biologist and outdoor writer in
antiquity of these “working class”
The christening of the old 12-bore Firearms®, H&R 1871 is currently
Waitsburg, Washington, where he also
scatterguns. As W.E. (Bill) Goforth
sporting renewed fashion came a
the largest manufacturer of single
actively serves the Walla Walla-based
said in his in-depth volume on the
nation away from its Virginia origin shot shotguns and rifl es in the
Blue Mountain Pheasants Forever
H&R company, fi rearms enthusi-
with a passing shot at a Eurasian
world. So why are single-shot scat-
chapter. For tips and tales of outdoor
asts are led to “ ... the belief that
collared dove. A bird I doubt my
terguns so uncommonly seen afi eld?
pursuits and conservation, visit www.
the value of a collectible fi rearm is
father had ever heard of considering With a wealth of quality doubles
bradtrumbo.com.
measured by its cost.” This dis-
their entry into the U.S. occurred
and auto-loaders on the market, it
Spring fling: Hunting morels
If you haven’t tried morel mush-
rooms you’re missing out on nature’s
best outdoor treat. Or for that mat-
ter, the best food ever since manna
dropped down from heaven in the
wilderness. I’ve been in the beef busi-
ness nearly all of my life so I can get
good steaks. But for eating pleasure,
a morel will rate right up there with
a choice ribeye.
There are quite a few edible
mushrooms in the Northwest but I’m
not comfortable picking more than
a few varieties. I took a mushroom
class but still don’t feel comfortable
venturing out of my comfort zone.
identify morels, shaggy manes,
caulifl ower, puffballs and calf brains
BASE CAMP
mushrooms. The good news is, morels
TOM CLAYCOMB
are easy to identify. The only thing
that I’ve seen that even remotely
If you make a mistake and pick the
resembles a morel is the snow morel/
angel of death, well, let’s just say that false morel. But again, make sure
you and God had better be pretty
that you go with an old-timer the
good friends!
fi rst season.
So now that I’ve scared you spit-
The growing season on morels is
less, let’s proceed. For your fi rst
short. I’ll say something like a one- to
season you ought to go mushroom
two-week period, max. They’ll pop out
picking with an experienced old-
earlier at lower elevations and then
timer and have them show you the
you’ll fi nd them later up higher.
ropes.
See Morels/Page 6B
They may be able to help you
Tom Claycomb/Contributed Photo
A fi ne morel mushroom.