Iver Johnson's Arms .38 info needed

[ml0126]

Family heirloom or junk. I have just been given a pistol by my father. He believes the gun to be more than 100 years old and in the 50 years he owned it he has shot a couple boxes of .38 shorts through it. I did a little reseach on the internet on it and know their are several variations on this model but none of the descriptions matches everything on this pistol. Even wondering if this is a black powder gun??? Hopefully someone can help id it and suggest if it should be kept or junked.
It appears in good shape, no rust. On the barrel rib is has:
Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works Fitchburg Mass USA
Pat'd APR.6.86.FEB.15.87.MAY.10.87.AUG.25.96 PATS PENDING
no other marking can be found but inside the grip..appears to be a serial #
C94746.
1 Is it worth anything...is it a collectable...should we shoot it
2 What model and when was it made.
3 Black powder or regular bullets
4 or any thing about it that wwe should know.
If I keep it, I will probably frame it and put a card on the frame noting the history, details, ect of the gun.
thanks for all the help and info

[Xracer]

Hi ml0126.....welcome to TFF.

Very, very pretty old IJ!

Keep checking back. Our resident expert on IJ's, Bill Goforth ("World's Greatest Expert On IJ's"....he literally wrote the book on 'em), should be along shortly and can tell you everything worth knowing on your gun.



*Shamless Plug* (For everything you've ever wanted to know about Iver Johnson's, click here!): http://www.gunshowbooks.com/cgi-bin/...5&sid=9X4vr2zN

[b.goforth]

this is a iver johnson's arms & cycle works large frame 38 S&W caliber second model "safety automatic hammer revolver". the safety automatic revolver was manufactured between 1894 and 1941 in three models;
first model 1894-1896 black powder only
second model 1896-1908 black powder only
third model 1909-1941 smokeless powder

this revolver with these four patent dates and the "C" letter code prefix to the serial number was manufactured in 1897. it was designed for black powder cartridge pressure and should not be fired.

in my opinion the first and second models are collectible and the third model are shooters. check out some of the auction sites there are usually more than several offered for sale on these sites
bill

[ml0126]

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll frame it with a 1897 silver doller and give it back to my dad for his wall....thanks

[SW44Mag]

I have an Iver Johnson .38 ecactly like yours with the SN# C 89063. I wonder if it was made in the same year. I'm glad I saw this post as not to buy ammo and shoot it since it should have black powder shells.

[b.goforth]

the "C" letter code was used a couple time on the second model large frame 38 S&W caliber safety automatic hammerless revolver. first in 1896 & 1897 and then in 1900 and 1901. the only way to tell exactly is by the number and the patent date markings.

if it has four patent dates serial number C89063 would have a manufacture date of 1897 and if there are five dates the year would be 1901.

please remember all iver johnson's arms & cycle works second model safety automatic revolver were manufactured for black powder cartridge pressures and should not be fired with modern smokeless ammo.
bill