Value of a revolver

[Ray Zakrzewski]

I would appreciate any information as to the value of the revolver described below:

Iver Johnson .32 S&W Revolver with a 6 inch barrel; Plastic "Owl Head
Grips, 6 shot Top Break on a 32 caliber frame.
Finish is Blue and does not have any specific nicks or scratches.

Unknown if this weapon was ever fired as it was bought by my father around 1940 for buisness protection while he operated a neighborhood grocery store.
Note that my father was born in 1890 thus he is no longer around to ask any specific questions.

The ser. no. is H78865

[RJay]

Ray, if you will use the forums search feature and type in Iver Johnson, you will see the information required to properly ID your revolver. One of the foremost experts on Iver Johnson is a contributor to this forum, but even he needs more information than you furnished. At one time Iver Johnson was one of the largest arms manufacturers in the U.S., They literally made dozens of different models of handguns for over a hundred years. There's no way to give you the information requested on so little info and no pictures. Sorry about that.

[jondar]

Ray, I've been checking some of my old Gun Digests and Stoegers catalogues. I don't have any going back to the 40's but a somewhat later one lists a revolver something like you describe except it is a five shot revolver as described in the catalogue. You are sure yours is a six shot? It is chambered in .32 S&W Long. I'm certainly not an expert on I.J.'s but I thought all the IJ's made in the 40's time frame were in .32 S&W. Of course I was wrong once before.

[jondar]

Correct myself: Of course I don't think that ALL IJ revolvers in the 40's time frame were chambered in .32 S&W. Only the ones in .32 caliber. Just before somebody pounces on me.

[b.goforth]

in the 1940's iver johnson only made one top break revolver that was a 6 shot 32 S&W Long caliber. it was the large frame safety automatic revolver, both hammer and hammerless model were made. to tell the year of manufacture i will need to know the letter code and serial number (found under the grips on the left side of the grip frame) is.

as rjay has said for most of the iver johnson revolvers made during this time it would be hard to identifywith what you have posted. this one being a top break in 6 shot 32 S&W Long make it a some what easier to tell the model but i still need the serial number and letter code to tell the year.

THIRD MODEL SAFETY AUTOMATIC HAMMER REVOLVER
(Smokeless Powder Cartridges)--------------------1909-1941
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME VERSIONS USES HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: Double top post barrel latch with Hammer the Hammer action. This model redesigned to be strong enough for smokeless powder. All coil springs, hard rubber grip panels with Owls head at top, optional oversize grips of hard rubber or wood were offered. Two frame sizes, four calibers, Standard barrel length: small frame 3 inches, large frame 3 ¼ inches. Calibers: small frame .22 rimfire 7 rounds cylinder capacity, .32 centerfire 5 rounds cylinder capacity, large frame .32 Special centerfire with 6 rounds cylinder capacity, .38 centerfire with 5 rounds cylinder capacity; Weight: small frame .22 rimfire with 3 inch barrel 13 ounces, .32 centerfire with 3 inch barrel 13 ½ ounces, large frame with 3 ¼ inch barrel .32 Special 19 ounces, .38 centerfire with 3 ¼ inch barrel 18 ¼ inches; Height: small frame 3 ¾ inches, large frame 3 7/8 inches; Frame length: small frame 4 3/16 inches, large frame 5 inches; Overall length: small frame with 3 inch barrel 6 3/8 inches, large frame with 3 ¼ inch barrel 7 3/8 inches. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see. The Third Model features a double top post barrel latch, coil hammer spring and four cross pins in the lower frame.
VALUE: 100%=$250 60%=$115

THIRD MODEL SAFETY AUTOMATIC HAMMERLESS REVOLVER
(Smokeless Powder Cartridges)-------------1909-1941
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME VERSIONS USES HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION; Double top post barrel latch, with Hammer the Hammer action, nickel finish standard blue optional. Two frame sizes, four calibers, hard rubber grip panels with Owls head at top, two piece oversize hard rubber and one piece wood grips optional. Redesigned for smokeless powder. Standard barrel length: small frame 3 inches, large frame 3 ¼ inches; Calibers: small frame .22 rimfire with 7 rounds cylinder capacity, .32 centerfire with 5 rounds cylinder capacity, large frame .32 Special with 6 rounds cylinder capacity, .38 centerfire with 5 rounds cylinder capacity; Weight: small frame .22 rimfire with 3 inch barrel 13 ½ ounces, .32 centerfire with 3 inch barrel 14 ounces, large frame .32 Special with 3 ¼ inch barrel 19 ¼ ounces, .38 centerfire with 3 ¼ inch barrel 19 ounces; Height: small frame 3 ¾ inches, large frame 3 7/8 inches; Frame length: small frame 4 3/16 inches, large frame 5 inches; Overall length: small frame with 3 inch barrel 6 3/8 inches, large frame with 3 ¼ inch barrel 7 3/8 inches. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see. The Third Model features a double top post barrel latch, coil hammer spring and four cross pins in the lower frame.
VALUE: 100%=$260 60%=$125

bill