iver johnson secret service special serial#5020

[creek4]

Please help me date this iver jonhson secret service special 38.it's a 5shot break top with sss on grip.serial # on bottem of trigger guard is 5020 inside on left side of frame is only C5020. thats the only numbers on it,side mount safety also.thank you

[b.goforth]

if this is one of the iver johnson manufactured secret service special it was manufactured in 1918, but there were four other manufacturers.

SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL HAMMER
(manufactured for FRED BIFFAR Co.)--------------------1912-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: These are the same as U.S. Revolver Co. Four other Companies also manufactured Secret Service Special revolvers for Fred Biffar Co. they are Meriden Firearms Co., Hopkins & Allen Firearms Co. and H&R Arms Co. and an unknown Spanish manufacturer. The Secret Service Special is the same revolver as the U.S. Revolver Co. Automatic except for the markings on the barrel. The top of the barrel will be marked “ for .38 SMITH & WESSON cartridge” (or .32 for the small frame) and the left side of the barrel will be marked SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL. This Brand name was sold only through Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson: manufacture same as U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&R Arms Co. manufacture 10% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&A Firearms Co. manufacture 15% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Meriden Firearms Co. manufacture 20% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Unknown Spanish manufacture 25% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent

SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL HAMMERLESS
(manufactured for FRED BIFFAR Co.)------------------1912-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: This revolver is the same as the U.S. Revolver Co. Automatic Hammerless model only the markings on the barrel and the grips are different. The grips and barrel markings are the same as the hammer model. This revolver Brand name is sold only through Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson: manufacture same as U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&R Arms Co. manufacture 10% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&A Firearms Co. manufacture 15% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Meriden Firearms Co. manufacture 20% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Unknown Spanish manufacture 25% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent

SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL WITH HAMMER BLOCK SAFETY-------1917-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: The only difference between this model and the earlier Secret Service Special is the Patented hammer block safety. This safety was patented by Prospero Donaldo and assigned to Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. It is number 1,227,531 issued on May 22, 1917. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson manufacture 10% more than U.S. Revolver Co. equivalent.

U.S. REVOLVER Co. VALUE: 100%=$225 60%=$105
bill