voyager Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 (edited) I can't help, it. I'm going to be a bit long winded with this.If you don't want to be bothered with my narative, then skip down to the red highlited portion.I've been preparing for a move from Alaska to Hawaii.I've been going through my very small selection of firearms.I pulled out my old H&R Model 165 to look at it again.And once again, out of curiosity, I've gone looking for more info about it.You folks appear to be the most informed about the H&R Model 165 and its bretheren that I have ever run across.http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/solo_voyager/DSC_0100_zpse5143bcd.jpgI've owned this rifle since I was 9 or 10.My father bought it new for me in 1952 or '53.He chose it because of the Model 65's Garand weight and dimensions, and its use by the USMC as a Garand trainer.He was a vet of WW II in Europe.It is also the heaviest. 22 rifle I have ever picked up.I'm always impressed as to how light and tinny other .22s feel.http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/solo_voyager/DSC_0106_zps6076e83e.jpgThe first thing he did to it, I believe, was to put a military sling onto it.It is possible that it came with that type of sling, but I don't think so.The second thing was to pull the peep aperture out and throw it away.I learned to shoot it looking through the opening the aperture screws into.I found a replacement aperture at Gun Parts back about 2000.I also picked up 9 more clips for it.I still prefer to shoot it without the aperture.The field of view is much better and it can be aimed just as accurately. http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/solo_voyager/DSC_0107_zpsb9ced41b.jpghttp://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/solo_voyager/DSC_0109_zps1593749e.jpgIt proved to be a lot like an electric train for Christmas.I spent more time watching him shoot it than shooting it myself.But, I did spend a lot of time with it off by myself out in the woods and old strip mines, coming home with my pockets full of squirel and chipmunk tails.Over the years, I have probaly done some things to it that detract from its "collector" value.For a number of years it had been out of my posession and had been stored poorly.It had some rust spots on the barrel and receiver.The stock had a crack in it and it was very dinged up.The sling had mildew stains on it.I sanded the pits out of the barrel and receiver and re-blued them, refinished the stock, replaced the sling swivels with a quick release type and put a newer military sling on it.When I picked up the peep aperture and extra clips, I also ordered what GP called a replacement stock for it.It was bigger and did not fit the 165 receiver and barrel.To fit the 165 it would have required some carving and filling.In the end it would not have looked like a 165.I eventually threw it out.Collector value is of no importance to me, because I have no intention of ever selling it, even though I do occasionally try to look up its value.What started my perusing for information about it this time, bringing me here, is trying to find out about serial numbering on the Model 165.Mine has a S/N of 7727.I am curious if its date of manufacture can be found out or estimated?I don't think I'll get much satisfaction though.The feeling that I have come up with is that either H&R never kept those records, or they have become lost since H&R closed down. Edited July 1, 2013 by voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 voyager, Welcome to the board! It's great to have someone on the board who has owned on of these rifles since they were available commercially. Not much is known about exact production dates, but we do know that production of the Model 165 began in May, 1945. I think they were only made for a few years before H&R moved to the Models 150 and 151. If I were to guess, I think they were made from 1945 to 1948, and maybe up until 1950. I have a spreadsheet of 97 Model 65/165/150/151/MC-58 rifles containing data that I have gathered. I only have data on 7 Model 165's, and their serial numbers range from 751 to 10223. I would guess that your rifle was made around 1947 or 1948, but that's just a somewhat educated guess. I want to say congratulations on your move to Hawaii, which is where I grew up, but it will be a big change from Alaska politically. It's beautiful and wonderful in moderation. The gun laws were much different when I was there, and bought my first 2 firearms. I grew up in Kaneohe and Honolulu, and more sepcifically the Nuuanu area of Honolulu. The Koko Head Shooting Range is a wonderful place to shoot. I shot some .22 matches out there in high school, and also frequented the pistol range, and the 100-yard range. You can shoot your Model 165 with a nice breeze coming off the ocean. It's also a pretty drive out to the range, but I guess there aren't too many drives there that aren't. Do you have any of the original paperwork that came with your Model 165? I'd love to see if there are any other items of which I may not be aware. Aloha! David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n64atlas Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Welcome to the forum: I now have three M165's. As David said, they were made from 1945- 1947 or so. They didn't sell very well, so it might have been still in the store for a few years, before your dad bought it. I will be doing a photo summery on my collection of M65's,M165" and my lone M150. All markings, ect. Been raining here the last couple of days, so I can't get out in the good light till later this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemarvin Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 Hi,I know you'll feel welcome here, and that the info is real here.Nice rifle! The pictures are appreciated. We encourage pics and info for all M65/165/150/151/MC-58 Reisings.The more members we have posting about these Reising .22's, the more we will find of the missing pieces of these rifles' history.Be sure to check out the other boards here as well.Welcome,Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voyager Posted July 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 (edited) Thanks folks for the welcome.It's the first time I've ever found someone that would be interested enough to tell the story to, and that I felt like telling it to. I've had the need to take it into a smith a couple of times.The first one, in Seattle, said that he couldn't fix it, but that he'd be willing to buy it from me. HAH!The next one, here in Anchorage, was tickled to be able to work on it. Since making my origanal post here, I've found a zip-lok with a trigger, disconnector, firing pin and what looks to be a complete set of springs.I'd forgotten about them. @dalbertI had assumed that it was probably made near the end of the first run.Thanks for backing that assumption. We're looking forward to our move.I've been up here for 32 years now and love it.But, I need a change. The local mind set on firearms in HI does put me off.But, I am adaptabble.I can deal with all the restrictions, when I get them all figured out.The only problem is the possability of running afoul of them before becoming knowledgable. We'll be located on BI south of Hilo.I have made contact with 2ahawaii.com, a local firearms enthusiast group that seems to be centered on BI. No, all I have from the original aquisition is the rifle.The only other thing that might be of interest, is the NRA's book: "Firearms Assembly ... Rifles and Shotguns".It has a short 2 page article on the M65 with an exploded view with the parts numbered and named.I have the 1993 edition.I just checked.Per Amazon.com it is still listed as being in the current edition.http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/solo_voyager/HampRModel65-165Pg3of4_zps76e6ae58.jpghttp://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/solo_voyager/HampRModel65-165Pg4of4_zps7360311a.jpg Edited July 1, 2013 by voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemarvin Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 Thanks for posting the Reising article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironman Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Voyager and All,My Dad (who is 91 years old and a WWII veteran) just gave me his old 165 which he states he won on a .10 punch card at a bar in Jerome, Idaho back in 1946 or 47. the SN is 2311. It is in Very good condition with the exception of one of the grandsons took it apart and could not get the retracting spring to go back in.My eternal thanks for posting this article, especially the exploded view of the parts. I am taking it that the 65 and 165 are similar if not the same? With your information posted here I can now hopefully rectify this situation and take the old 22 out rabbit or squirrel hunting once again. I would appreciate if anyone has any pertinent knowledge on reinserting this retracting spring that they would let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 Just place it on the guide and push it down till you can trap it with a straightened paper clip through the hole. Leave it traped till your ready to place the rifle in the stock..Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironman Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Thanks Chris I will give that a go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironman Posted November 24, 2013 Report Share Posted November 24, 2013 Ok, there is the problem. It appears that someone has lost the retracting spring guide, any clue where the best place to find one of these would be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 I'd say Numrich / Gun Parts , but they say out of stock ..Might try Sarco .Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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