Help me date this H&R Model 949 .22LR gun

[armedpolak]

I bought this .22 plinker for my son 7-8 years ago at a local gun store for dirt cheap. It’s in nearly perfect condition too.
I’m wondering how old it is since the company apparently went out of business in the 80’s?

Serial number in the picture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%26R_Firearms

[osprey21]

The 'AM' prefix in the serial number dates it to 1974.

[armedpolak]

The 'AM' prefix in the serial number dates it to 1974.

Thank you. That means it’s 50yo give or take. WOW.

So H&R’s have any collectible value? Btw it came with a leather holster that’s also in good shape though not as good as the gun itself…

[lakelandman]

The 'AM' prefix in the serial number dates it to 1974.

Thank you. That means it’s 50yo give or take. WOW.

So H&R’s have any collectible value? Btw it came with a leather holster that’s also in good shape though not as good as the gun itself…

You can check GunBroker https://www.gunbroker.com/Scopes-Gun-Op ... h%20r%2022

[armedpolak]

The 'AM' prefix in the serial number dates it to 1974.

Thank you. That means it’s 50yo give or take. WOW.

So H&R’s have any collectible value? Btw it came with a leather holster that’s also in good shape though not as good as the gun itself…

You can check GunBroker https://www.gunbroker.com/Scopes-Gun-Op ... h%20r%2022

Thank you. Judging by gunbroker prices it is certainly NOT a collectible so it stays in the family and one day my grandchildren will learn on it <3

[lakelandman]

Sounds like a plan. =)

[osprey21]

it stays in the family and one day my grandchildren will learn on it <3

Well there ya go!

[armedpolak]

The 'AM' prefix in the serial number dates it to 1974.

Would you know what prefix AY corresponds to? Asking because I bought a used H&R today but it’s nickled stainless with very short barrel. Also a 9 shot .22…

[osprey21]

The 'AM' prefix in the serial number dates it to 1974.

Would you know what prefix AY corresponds to? Asking because I bought a used H&R today but it’s nickled stainless with very short barrel. Also a 9 shot .22…

AY dates it to 1984.

H&R 949 serial # pre-fix list.

1940 A
1941 B
1942 C
1943 D
1944 E
1945 F
1946 G
1947 H
1948 I
1949 J
1950 K
1951 L
1952 M
1953 N
1954 P
1955 R
1956 S
1957 T
1958 U
1959 V
1960 W
1961 X
1962 Y
1963 Z
1964 AA
1965 AB
1966 AC
1967 AD
1968 AE
1969 AF
1970 AG
1971 AH
1972 AJ
1973 AL
1974 AM
1975 AN
1976 AP
1977 AR
1978 AS
1979 AT
1980 AU
1981 AX
1982 AY

[armedpolak]

The 'AM' prefix in the serial number dates it to 1974.

Would you know what prefix AY corresponds to? Asking because I bought a used H&R today but it’s nickled stainless with very short barrel. Also a 9 shot .22…

AY dates it to 1984.

H&R 949 serial # pre-fix list.

1940 A
1941 B
1942 C
1943 D
1944 E
1945 F
1946 G
1947 H
1948 I
1949 J
1950 K
1951 L
1952 M
1953 N
1954 P
1955 R
1956 S
1957 T
1958 U
1959 V
1960 W
1961 X
1962 Y
1963 Z
1964 AA
1965 AB
1966 AC
1967 AD
1968 AE
1969 AF
1970 AG
1971 AH
1972 AJ
1973 AL
1974 AM
1975 AN
1976 AP
1977 AR
1978 AS
1979 AT
1980 AU
1981 AX
1982 AY

Thank you!
So I have 50 and 40 years old H&R’s and both look brand new!