H & R 922

Question
QUESTION: I have an old H & R 922 serial# 132450 this belonged to my late grandfather and would like to know the year it was made. thanks in advance.

ANSWER: Hello Kyle. The serial number means nothing when dating an H&R revolver. They go by letters. A=? B=? C=? etc. I can tell you that you can decide if yours was manufactured between 1950-1982. These dates had plastic grips. Earlier models had checkered walnut grips. If you can get me the letter, I can date it for you. You may need to take off the grips, since sometimes the letter is stamped on the frame.
Thank you for asking for me. Charles Gage

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QUESTION: The serial # on my gun is as stated before 132450 and there isn't a letter on it. I had read that they didn't start putting the letter on them until 1940 and I am pretty sure it's older than that. Oh and yes the grips are checkered walnut.

Answer
Hello Kyle. You are quite right. The H&R 922 revolver did start the letter system in 1940. The H&R 922 actually began production in 1927(approx.). I say 'approximately' since there are no actual company records available. There are several gun forums that I have researched since our last visit. The best I can do is give you the info I found there. Here goes.
The H&R 922 revolver was introduced in 1928 in an ad in a sports magazine. The gun had a 6" octagon barrel with 2-piece checkered walnut grips. In 1930, the 2-piece grip was dropped and in 1931 the one piece grip continued. In 1937, the octagon barrel was dropped and in 1938 it was  replaced with a round barrel. It is believed that serial # 122418 was manufactured between 1927-1930. Your # 132450 would likely put you in that range. Therefore, if your H&R 922 has a 2-piece grip, it would be between 1927-1930. If not, but it does have an octagon barrel, it would put it between 1931-1937. If it has a round barrel and one piece grip, it would put it between 1938, and of course, 1940 when the serial numeral system ended and the letter dating began.
I really do appreciate your reminding me of the numeral-lettering system change. It made me dig deeper. But, as it has been said, there are no absolute dates, only an era to put your H&R 922 into. I hope this has helped you as much as it has helped me and thank you again for asking for me. Charles Gage