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Jonathan
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Rev O Noc Rifles
Nov 5th, 2026 at 1:47pm
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I just came into an interesting little 22 that has had a storied past. The only mark on the entire gun is HSB&co over REV O NOC neatly stamped on the left side of the frame. This topic was covered in the forum about ten years ago but I think that it is worth revisiting.   Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. was a large hardware / mail order company based in Chicago and like Sears Roebuck they sold everything from toothpicks to steam engines. They were quite successful and evolved into what we know today as True Value Hardware. As with all of these companies they offered a full lineup of firearms and prior to the great war they started to offer guns under their house brand with the Rev O Noc name. Rev O Noc comes from the name of one of their high ranking officers, a gentleman named Conover and they reversed the spelling because they thought that it had an Indian sound to it which would appeal to boys and others. I went through their catalogs of 1910 and 1916 and found that in the earlier one they listed the full lineup of Hopkins and Allen rifles but by 1916 these were shown only under the house brand. It seems that H&A supplied most of their guns but they also sold a Remington #4 22 military musket complete with bayonet as a Rev O Noc for the whopping price of $7.50.   My rifle is a H&A model 922 with all parts interchangeable with my others. Mine has been through many changes. at one point the barrel was changed to one from a 67 Winchester and it was re stocked with unknown wood but sports a Winchester buttplate. It's a mystery to me why someone would put so much work into such an inexpensive rifle but that just adds to it's charm and mystery.
  
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ssdave
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Re: Rev O Noc Rifles
Reply #1 - Nov 5th, 2026 at 2:02pm
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I think the 922 is the best of the boys rifles, with the possible exception of the #4 remington.  If you're going to put work into one, it's probably the best candidate, as well as good bones to start from, it's easy to work on and make parts for.  A lot easier than the Remington #4.

  
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frnkeore
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Re: Rev O Noc Rifles
Reply #2 - Nov 6th, 2026 at 12:20pm
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I've always liked the 922. I got mine in the 80's and put a Douglas barrel on it, with a match chamber and even shot it in 22rf matches. 

My only fault with them is the extractor. They should only have been made with a ejector.

Regarding the Winchester 67 barrel, I have a collection of early 22rf's and of that collection, the 67's are the most accurate.
  

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oneatatime
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Re: Rev O Noc Rifles
Reply #3 - Nov 6th, 2026 at 12:58pm
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I have a 1922 which is the 922 with a 24 inch octagonal barrel. The length of pull is like 15 inches so the kids must have been expected to have long arms. They are real falling blocks. I had it lined and it shoots well once you find the right ammo.
  
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Jonathan
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Re: Rev O Noc Rifles
Reply #4 - Nov 6th, 2026 at 4:16pm
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I love the Hopkins & Allen boy's rifles. I own a 922, a 1922, a 1932 and a somewhat rare 2938. As stated the 922 has a round barrel, the 1922 is octagonal and the 2922 is octagonal with a checkered stock. As with all of them the last two digits designate the caliber. H&A advertised them as having ejectors and this is true but it depends on how quickly you open the action. On my rather well worn 22s flipping the lever open quickly will clear the empty from the chamber but that's it. The centerfires are much better. One that I had lined and rechambered to 32 S&W kicks the empties clear of the action and my 90% plus 2938 in 38 S&W which has an action like a rat trap will spit them out so that you can catch them in mid air. The 2938 is one of the most fun rifles that I own. With a Beech front sight and a Lyman tang it shoots into 2" at 50 yds. all day long. With 180 grn. cast bullets it's cheap and easy to load for and it tips over feral housecats with authority.
  
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J.Francis
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Re: Rev O Noc Rifles
Reply #5 - yesterday at 7:08am
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I've got a Remington #4 with a 513 barrel and 8 power Lyman Junior Targetspot. It's a pretty little rifle that shoots great. Boys rifles get better barrels and longer stocks because truth be told, no matter how old we get, there will always be a little bit of boy in us.
  
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