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*IVER JOHNSON SERIAL NUMBERS

234K views 82 replies 27 participants last post by  hrf 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have an Iver Johnson, serial number I 33714.
I'm trying to find out the model production year and any other info I can get on it.
 
#29 · (Edited)
Welcome to TFF.

H24029 was made in 1919, per Goforth's Iver Johnson book.
Interesting. I bought it a couple of years ago. It is in overall excellent condition due to the fact that the plating I would say is 99% still intact, grips have little wear and the cylinder locks up tight.
It came with a Hunter brand leather holster, and one box of Remington ammo. I have fired it a couple of cylinders through it and works fine. I paid $200.00 for it, and feel like I got a good deal. No intentions of using it as a defensive weapon, just thought it was a cool little weapon due to liking the break open style revolvers.

Thanks for the info!
 
#30 ·
My friend has an Iver Johnson .32 five shot top break with serial number 34964 found only on the bottom of the trigger guard. At some point the gun was chrome plated and there is no serial # visible on the barrel top. The owl faces the shooter and the gun has the automatic shell ejector. On the butt there is a patent date of November 17, ... (can no longer make out the year). Any help in determining the year of manufacture would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Xerxes
 
#31 ·
My friend has an Iver Johnson .32 five shot top break with serial number 34964 found only on the bottom of the trigger guard. At some point the gun was chrome plated and there is no serial # visible on the barrel top. The owl faces the shooter and the gun has the automatic shell ejector. On the butt there is a patent date of November 17, ... (can no longer make out the year). Any help in determining the year of manufacture would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Xerxes
Welcome to TFF.

The serial number with letter prefix on butt frame under left grip is needed to identify year made.

A Nov 17 patent date (NOV.17.08) was used only on smokeless powder third models made 1911-1941.

If it's been chrome plated, and is not original nickel finish, it no longer has any collector value.
 
#32 ·
I have a 'silver' Iver Johnson .32 caliber, top break with auto eject, removable cylinder and with a hammer. I would like to know the year and the model # is someone has this information. The serial number is 89317 which is found UNDER the trigger, stamped on the housing below the trigger. I believe it is considered a 'small frame'. Surprisingly it is in very good shape and a gunsmith rated it at 85-90 so I am anxious to get additional information about it in the hope of selling it. Any help is appreciated! Thank you.
 
#33 ·
I have a 'silver' Iver Johnson .32 caliber, top break with auto eject, removable cylinder and with a hammer. I would like to know the year and the model # is someone has this information. The serial number is 89317 which is found UNDER the trigger, stamped on the housing below the trigger. I believe it is considered a 'small frame'. Surprisingly it is in very good shape and a gunsmith rated it at 85-90 so I am anxious to get additional information about it in the hope of selling it. Any help is appreciated! Thank you.
Welcome to TFF, but the serial on trigger guard will not identify year made. Read the sticky below and repost with details needed:

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=90427
 
#34 ·
Big Sigh!!!, I really don't want to sound snarly, but guy, did you even read the post right above yours? the one from hrf, I know you didn't read the one in the introduction to the forum in reference to Iver Johnson's serial number. The true serial number will be under the left grip, if there is a Letter Prefix, it will be there, and if there is one, it is crucial for the identification. The trigger guards seem to be soft metal and are prone to bend and break. Many times they are repaired by being replace from a part from another gun. Also Iver Johnson placed any prefix under the grip. If there's no prefix under the left grip we need to know that also. That is just for the year made. to determine the model we need, word for word the markings on the top of the barrel and butt ( if any ). Clear pictures would be even better. Over the course of their manufacturing lifetime Iver Johnson made several million firearms, at one time they were the second largest firearm manufacturer in the US. To help you, need to help us with the proper information. Sigh.:(
 
#36 ·
Shame on me!! I was so excited to find this forum that I completely forgot to read all the required information.......my sincere apologies, but I am a newbee and hopefully can use that as an excuse this 1 time :)

My Iver Johnson has a serial number that is......A89317.
 
#37 ·
Shame on me!! I was so excited to find this forum that I completely forgot to read all the required information.......my sincere apologies, but I am a newbee and hopefully can use that as an excuse this 1 time :)

My Iver Johnson has a serial number that is......A89317.
We were hoping you'd post clear photos, as I. J. made it even more complicated:

The A prefix was used three different period:

On black powder models made 1896-97, and 1900.

On smokeless powder models made 1909-1914.

When you had grips off, did it have a coil mainspring or the old flat type?
 
#38 ·
It is a coil mainspring.......check out the photos I have included. If you could give me the date and model # that would be great and would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!! I will be selling this pistol and if you have any ideas of the value that would be great too.....thanks again,
 

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#39 ·
It is a coil mainspring.......check out the photos I have included. If you could give me the date and model # that would be great and would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!! I will be selling this pistol and if you have any ideas of the value that would be great too.....thanks again,
It's a smokeless powder third model made late 1913.

If mechanically OK, my value wag is $100-$150 range but others may have a better idea.
 
#41 ·
I have now decided to sell the Iver Johnson (s/n A 89317), Model 3, Circa 1913.......does anyone have any idea where I can start? This pistol is in great shape, and recently rated by a gunsmith at about 85%. Slight wear at grip (in photo) but otherwise in good shape. thanks, any help would be appreciated!!
 

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#45 · (Edited)
Leon Czolgsz shot President McKinley twice with a .32 caliber, Iver Johnson Safety Automatic, 6 September 1901. To be honest, the bullets didn't kill the President, his doctors did, the same as with Garfield. In regards to selling your revolver, it appears to have been refinished at least once, I don't think the value would exceed 150.00. Your gun but it is one of those things that it really wouldn't bring in that much money.
 
#46 · (Edited)
Thanks for the history lesson.........I thought I read somewhere that an Iver Johnson was used to shoot a president. I have NO idea if the revolver was refinished......I would doubt it based on when and who I received it from and the gunsmith that looked at it did not think so either, but you never know. He thought it looked great for a 100 year old pistol. Truthfully $150 would be a good fair price in my estimation. Thanks again for the history lesson........much appreciated!
 
#47 ·
I appreciate any help anyone can provide. I have an Iver Johnson with double top post, wheel does not spin freely. I presume it is a Third Model SA based on those characteristics. Also, the butt of the gun is stamped "Nov. 17, 08", which has been stated to be the 1909-1941 model range of 32 top breaks. The serial number is G67170. I am only looking for a year or range, no worried about value. Thank you in advance.
 
#55 · (Edited)
I have this Iver Johnson 32 S&W (standard) five shot top break, revolver that I inherited from my Grandmother 40 years ago. I have done some research and have gotten conflicting information. The coil hammer spring and cylinder notches are suposed to indicate a smokeless powder model. But I have also been told that the serial numbers on the Smokeless models have the letter "N" prefix to the number.

The serial number on this revolver has no letter prefix but does have the coil spring and the later model cylinder notches. The serial # is 98XXX. The serial number appears on the frame under the left grip and on the bottom of the trigger guard. Also, on the bottom of the grip frame, as best I can read it, are two lines of print. Top line reads "PAT. NOV 17 08" There could be a coma between the 17 and the 08. The line below that reads "PATS PENDING". The only other stamps (rollings?) are on the top of the barrel consisting of the company name and the address.

I would like to know when it was manufactured as in my state handguns manufactured before 1898 are not, under permit laws, treated as are more "modern" handguns. I am going to guess that if that is a patent date of NOV 17, xx08, it is not likely it was manufactured before the turn of the 20th century...unless that is an 1808 date. ;-D

Firearm Gun Revolver Trigger Starting pistol
 
#56 ·
I. J. used various letter prefixes and N was used only on .38 hammerless models made 1933-34.
Your photo confirms a 3rd model made after 1908.

The pic is too small but I see what may be letter A before the number with more space than usual:
If so, made in 1914.
 
#58 ·
The only 3rd model serials without letter prefix are special order guns, but they are smaller numbers and I see no special order features on your gun. Without a prefix, it can only be dated 1909-1926.
(Later production did not reach 98000 any year)
 
#59 · (Edited)
Well, thank you. It may not be possible to definitively place its year of manufacture, but that is enough information for me to know that it doesn't qualify as an antique non-firearm under CA law.

Thought you might be interested in a little back story of this gun. My Grandmother grew up on the remnants of a cotton plantation in Virgina during the years after the Civil War. She was smart with a good education for a woman in that day and age and ended up going to work for and later managing the floor sales department for Talhimers (sp?) Department store in Richmond VA.

She lived on the plantation and commuted for several years until she married then moved into a row house in Richmond. She bought the gun herself and carried it religiously for self protection, during her streetcar commutes, which she said was common for most working women in that day.

She also told me about standing on the back porch of the plantation house and target practicing at an old shirt tacked to the wall of the barn...about 40 yards from the house. She said she couldn't hit the target very well by just holding the gun up, looking over the sights and carefully pulling the trigger. She said she hit the target best when she shot like the cowboys in the movies, holding the gun pointed up then snapping it down towards the target while pulling the trigger. Sort of "throwing" the bullets at the target. As a young kid I was watching Roy Rogers and Hop-a-long Cassidy shows on the early television, so her description of how she shot well seemed right to me.

The gun had seen a LOT of use with much wear on the mechanism when I got it. Its lock up is sloppy with a cylinder gap that could be measured with a ruler. But, with light loads, soft lead round-nose bullets and an oversize force cone (wear?) it will put 5 cocked shots on a 9" paper plate at 30 feet. And I love the ahead of its time hammer transfer bar mechanism. Haven't put more than 10 shots through it in the last 25 years, but I enjoy showing the unique break action to my pistol class students.
 
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