Iver Johnson Hammerless Pistol - The Firearms Forum

WarrenK · 08-01-2011, 10:46 AM

Gentlemen, I need some help identifying a pistol. Any input would be appreciated.

As stated, it is an Iver Johnson hammerless pistol

S.N. 59963 stamped outside under the trigger guard
S.N. U59963 was located under the grip under the left side of the butt strap

Top of the barrel reads:

Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works
Fitchburg, Mass U.S.A.

Thanks in advance for your help!

hrf · 08-01-2011, 01:09 PM

Welcome to the forum, Warren.

The U serial number prefix was used only on the second model small frame .32 S&W caliber hammerless.

SN U59963 was made in 1908 for black powder ammunition, the last year before upgrades for smokeless powder.

WarrenK · 08-01-2011, 05:26 PM

Thanks for the welcome hrf, and the valuable information. I appreciate them both. I did notice that there was some rifling in the barrel. Do you know when that became a common practice with black powder ammunition?

hrf · 08-01-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenK

Thanks for the welcome hrf, and the valuable information. I appreciate them both. I did notice that there was some rifling in the barrel. Do you know when that became a common practice with black powder ammunition?

?? - Gun barrels were rifled long before the invention of smokeless powder, and when new the rifling in your gun and later smokeless powder models would have been the same. But black powder was corrosive, and if guns were not cleaned properly after firing the rifling was damaged.

WarrenK · 08-01-2011, 06:27 PM

???.....sorry, didn't claim to be a gun geek by any means, was just curious. I do however appreciate all the info. Great time searching around all the forums. Thanks again

Warren

hrf · 08-01-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenK

???.....sorry, didn't claim to be a gun geek by any means, was just curious. I do however appreciate all the info. Great time searching around all the forums. Thanks again
Warren

And I apologize if my question marks offended; I just wasn't sure if I understood what you were asking.

WarrenK · 08-01-2011, 09:41 PM

Oh, no offense taken hrf, you answered my question as to the rifled barrel just as I asked. I really wasn't sure. Sorry, I guess the question marks did look a bit off color with the following remark. Nothing like typing to lose the context! Thanks again!

Warren

codygx123 · 09-30-2012, 04:02 PM

help

SN on trigger guard : 32919
SN under grip : B32319
Dates on Butt : June 16 96 Aug 25 96
T.16.04 PETS PEND

hrf · 09-30-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codygx123

help

SN on trigger guard : 32919
SN under grip : B32319
Dates on Butt : June 16 96 Aug 25 96
T.16.04 PETS PEND

See reply to your other post.

08-01-2011, 10:46 AM	#1
WarrenK Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 4	Iver Johnson Hammerless Pistol Gentlemen, I need some help identifying a pistol. Any input would be appreciated. As stated, it is an Iver Johnson hammerless pistol S.N. 59963 stamped outside under the trigger guard S.N. U59963 was located under the grip under the left side of the butt strap Top of the barrel reads: Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works Fitchburg, Mass U.S.A. Thanks in advance for your help! -->

08-01-2011, 01:09 PM	#2
hrf Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,282	Re: Iver Johnson Hammerless Pistol Welcome to the forum, Warren. The U serial number prefix was used only on the second model small frame .32 S&W caliber hammerless. SN U59963 was made in 1908 for black powder ammunition, the last year before upgrades for smokeless powder.

08-01-2011, 05:26 PM	#3
WarrenK Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 4	Re: Iver Johnson Hammerless Pistol Thanks for the welcome hrf, and the valuable information. I appreciate them both. I did notice that there was some rifling in the barrel. Do you know when that became a common practice with black powder ammunition?

08-01-2011, 06:27 PM	#5
WarrenK Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 4	Re: Iver Johnson Hammerless Pistol ???.....sorry, didn't claim to be a gun geek by any means, was just curious. I do however appreciate all the info. Great time searching around all the forums. Thanks again Warren

08-01-2011, 09:41 PM	#7
WarrenK Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 4	Re: Iver Johnson Hammerless Pistol Oh, no offense taken hrf, you answered my question as to the rifled barrel just as I asked. I really wasn't sure. Sorry, I guess the question marks did look a bit off color with the following remark. Nothing like typing to lose the context! Thanks again! Warren

09-30-2012, 04:02 PM	#8
codygx123 Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 3	Re: Iver Johnson Hammerless Pistol help SN on trigger guard : 32919 SN under grip : B32319 Dates on Butt : June 16 96 Aug 25 96 T.16.04 PETS PEND