Wesson & Harrington Buffalo Classic?

[djw]

This is a follow-up to my "enabler" thread, where I mentioned a Buffalo Classic that I found at a local shop.  I've got the BC on hold now, while I seek more info here: 

It is marked Wesson & Harrington and has a WH serial number. Does this have any significance to desirability, or is it just a name?  I compared it side by side with a new "H&R" BC, and saw little difference, except for maybe the actual color of the case hardening of the frame and buttplate.  The W&H has a plastic trigger guard, just like the H&R.

The scope is a 4x15 Navy Arms brass scope, 30+ inches long.  The front brass mount is a ring with an insert holding the tube, much like the Burris signature rings.  The rear is a screw elevator. Now I don't remember if it had windage adjustment.  The bases that are mounted to the barrel are bare aluminum (i.e. not color anodized or painted).  The rear is mounted near the breech, where the rear sight should be.  The front is mounted about two-thirds down the barrel, apparently requiring drilling and tapping of the barrel.  There is a stub insert simply occupying the dovetail at the front of the barrel.  The original sights are not with the gun.

What say ye?

Don

[stimpylu32]

djw

The older W&H frames do indeed have a better color to them , I have one , the down side is that you will probable not be able to have factory barrels fitted ( depending on the year it was made ) . I see no real down side to that though as the BC as is , should remain a BC , very sweet rifles .

The brass scope is a differently plus and for the same price as the newer one , if your wanting to add barrels get the new one , but get one for sure .

stimpy

[Lucky Joe]

DJW,

That combination is a great find especially for that price. I agree with Stimpy a BC should stay a BC, I have one of the older models and she will stay as she is. The older ones did not come with sights, your dealer wouldn't have any more of those scopes laying around would he? I hope when you get it home you will post a picture I'm sure more than I would like to take a look at your new rifle.

[dodd3]

stimpy i think you can have barrels fitted to it i think it is still a sb2 frame tim would no.
bernie

[quickdtoo]

Dunno for sure when the WH's were made, but I suspect it was before '99, so they couldn't be fitted with high pressure barrels, the only way to know for sure if they were made before '87 would be to call H&R and ask.

Tim

[djw]

stimpy,
I agree it seems a good deal with the scope. I've got a couple other frames if I need more barrels.

Joe,
Oh, so it didn't come with sights, okay, so no need to bug dealer to find them. Gun is on consignment anyway; not likely to find more scopes either.

dod and Tim,
Thanks, but again extra barrels not critical.

Don

[handirifle]

Tim
My BC was a W&H with WH in the SN and it was bought in about 2002 or so.  With the S# in hand, NEF could tell you over the phone.

[MSP Ret]

I would think the Wesson & Harrington marked guns followed the same serial numbering scheme as H&R and NEF's. That would put the year of manufacture of the WH numbered BC at 1993. Of course this is just conjecture and what I surmise, and I have been wrong before. When and if you call H&R please let us know what they say about the year of manufacture. Also you might just double check with them about barrel fitting but I would expect they would fit additional barrel to that frame except for the asterisk (*) marked high intensity barrels. Thanks and good luck....<><....

[knight0334]

I bought my first W&H BC back in '96-'98.  ...so there are pre-'99 models out there.  I was told then to limit my pressures to the high trapdoor - really low Marlin levels - which means its SB1 material.

Case coloring was much better than my present BC's.  ...however I was dumb and sold it.