Iver Johnson Super Shot Sealed 8 Questions

[Hammerdown]

Hello
I am a new member here, and traded today for a revolver I know little about. It is a Prewar Iver Johnson Super Shot Sealed Eight, Traget adjustable sight revolver. The seller shared with me that it is accurate, and durable. Here are some pictures of it, and I would appreciate it, if anyone could tell me more details about this revolver. Thanks, in advance to all that reply, Hammerdown

[22WRF]

That is a Second Model 833
DOM from 1946-1954
Looks like it's in real nice cond.
The IJ currently don't have a lot of collector interest so prices remain low.
Yours is in the $150-$175 range.
It has recessed cylinder so you may shot HV ammo in it.

[Hammerdown]

Originally Posted by 22WRF

That is a Second Model 833
DOM from 1946-1954
Looks like it's in real nice cond.
The IJ currently don't have a lot of collector interest so prices remain low.
Yours is in the $150-$175 range.
It has recessed cylinder so you may shot HV ammo in it.

Hello
HMMM. The Guy I swapped with said it was a Pre-War revolver. Wonder where he got that from? Like I said, I know little about this brand revolver, anything else you can add? I have Pre-War K-22 Outdoorman, and from what I have read S&W was the first to recess the .22 cylinders with the newer Winchester ammo introduced in the early 30s, and this recessed cylinder caught my eye, that is why I wondered if it was really a Pre-War revolver..Thanks, Hammerdown

[southernshooter]

Accordin to my book if it has an adjustable finger rest it is pre-war

[Hammerdown]

Originally Posted by southernshooter

Accordin to my book if it has an adjustable finger rest it is pre-war

Hello
The seller, told me it had adjustable grips as well, and he did not elaborate on what he meant by that. I am into this right, so it looked like a decent little Plinker. Thanks, Hammerdown

[22WRF]

The first model was mfg 1932-1941 however it had checkered grips.
It also has recessed cylinder.
The only barrel length was 6"
The Adj finger rest and sights were the model 834.
Value is same as the second model
Whats not rihgt for yours to be a first model is the grips.
Look for a model # on it. Look under the grips

[Hammerdown]

Originally Posted by 22WRF

The first model was mfg 1932-1941 however it had checkered grips.
It also has recessed cylinder.
The only barrel length was 6"
The Adj finger rest and sights were the model 834.
Value is same as the second model
Whats not rihgt for yours to be a first model is the grips.
Look for a model # on it. Look under the grips

Hello
I will have to wait until it shows up here to do this. It was an out of State deal. I am wondering if the grip's could have been changed, from wood checkered ones to the ones it has now ? Is the screw locations and frames the same on the Pre-War's as this newer model you speak of ? The owner swore it was a Pre-War, So I guess I will have to wait and check the serial under the grips when it shows up. I am hoping it is older as most older revolver's were smoother and built better during the Prewar era. Thanks, Hammerdown

[Hammerdown]

Hello
I finally recieved the Iver Johnson. It is indeed a pre-War according to Mr. Goforth who provided me with Pre-War serial numbers, and this one is 1789X. The grips also look to be original and have a nice Burl grain to them. It is a good shooter as well. I have seen very few with this rear sight set up in the past, but it is simple.I have taken it apart to clean it, and discovered it has not been fired much if any at all. The pivot point is still stiff and I see no wear on any of the parts.It has an adjustablke trigger stop, adjustable finger rest, and adjustable main coil spring notches to lessen or increase the main spring tension. Regards, Hammerdown

[Bill DeShivs]

It's a darned nice old gun!
Bill

[Hammerdown]

Hello Bill
Thanks for the Kind comments. It is one Like I have not seen in the past. All the ones I have seen mostly have fixed sights. This one leaves a little to be desired on the sight design, but it is functional. The action is very tight and locks up like a vault. I assume it has been fired little by the overall shape of it. I shot about 100 rounds through it, and it did better with standard velocity ammo with lead bullets. Regards, Hammerdown

[b.goforth]

for every ones information;
here how the iver johnson 1938 catalog list the 22 supershot sealed eight;
model 88 fixed sight
model 833 adjustable sights
model 834 adjustable sights and finger rest adapter
standard, high gloss blue finish, over sized checkered walnut grips (called hi-hold), 6 inch barrel (proofed), cylinder with recessed chambers.

the reason it shoot the standard velocity ammo so well is that is what it is champered for. during the prewar era there was only one other iver johnson handgun that cost more the the model 834, that was the model 822 single action target revolver.

the most popular 22 supershot sealed eight was the model 88 (fixed sights) then the 833 (adjustable sights) and finally the 834. there was one more model called the "model 90 protector sealed eight" had pocket size grips and 2 1/2 inch barrel only. this is a very rare model manufactured only 1932-1941.

in the 22 supershot sealed eight series the prewwII serial numbers only went to L26600. considering the entire production run of 22 supershot sealed eights was about 125,000 (or slightly less) the pre war model are scarce. my book calls the pre war models 1st model 1932-1941 and the post war models 2nd model 1946-1954 the third model also called model 844 was manufactured 1955 to 1957. there is no real difference between the 1st model (prewar) and the 2nd model (post war) until about 1952 when the barrel shape was changed. there are also a 4 inch barrel 2nd and third model that is some what scarce.
bill

[Hammerdown]

Hello Mr Goforth
Thanks so much for your detailed description of the Super sealed Eight revolver I have. I apprecaite it, and know little about this classic. Best regards, Hammerdown

[southernshooter]

Good lookin pistol Hammerdown

[Hammerdown]

Hello Southern Shooter
Thanks for the kind words. It appears I have stumbled onto a revolver not all that popular in todays world for what Mr. Goforth has stated. Regards, Hammerdown

[saguaro6]

My Father in law has a First Model, exactly like Hammerdown's except the front blade sight is rounded. It's in nowhere near the shape, tho. Looking for a manual for it. The checkered stock is the same. It's serial 14579.

[fuzebox40]

Originally Posted by saguaro6

My Father in law has a First Model, exactly like Hammerdown's except the front blade sight is rounded. It's in nowhere near the shape, tho. Looking for a manual for it. The checkered stock is the same. It's serial 14579.

If it's a Supershot Sealed Eight it should have the letter code L or A with the serial no. on the left side grip strap (remove grip to see) and that serial no. with letter code L would make it a First Model manufactured in 1936, however the finger rest was not introduced untill 1939 so this conflicts with your discription.
Verify serial no. and markings to be certain. Not sure if there is a "manual" to speak of that's atainable. Is there something in particular you need to ascertain about the gun?
For about $35 you can buy the Iver Johnson book by W.E. Goforth. (b.goforth) from previous posts.

[hrf]

Originally Posted by saguaro6

My Father in law has a First Model, exactly like Hammerdown's except the front blade sight is rounded. It's in nowhere near the shape, tho. Looking for a manual for it. The checkered stock is the same. It's serial 14579.

Your gun might also be a post war Sealed 8 model?
According to Bill's book, the first model ended at serial M13100, and 14579 would be a second model made either 1946 if an M prefix or 1951 if an N prefix.

[greenpearl148]

Hey, I've been reading the posts about the .22 supershot sealed eight. My girlfriend has one that belonged to her grandfather and we've been trying to get info on it. Thanks to the posts here, we found what we were looking for. The gun we have has s/n L2335 and is in pretty good shape. Thanks again.

[fuzebox40]

Originally Posted by greenpearl148

Hey, I've been reading the posts about the .22 supershot sealed eight. My girlfriend has one that belonged to her grandfather and we've been trying to get info on it. Thanks to the posts here, we found what we were looking for. The gun we have has s/n L2335 and is in pretty good shape. Thanks again.

That serial number with letter code L would place it among the first year of the Supershot Sealed Eight (1932). Model 834 is equiped with an Adjustable Finger Rest and adjustable rear sight, Model 833 does not have the finger rest, Model 88 does not have the finger rest or adjustable rear sight.

[fleetwood1976]

I think $150 to $175 is low. I know If I set out to buy one for $200 I don't think it could be done in that shape. I am thinking more like $250.

[twopass]

Greetings!
I discovered this website/thread while Googling images of the Super Sealed "8".

Congrats on securing such a pristine example of the gun.

I will inherit an identical "8" my father owned when my mother passes.

I have a picture of him holding it and the skunk he shot with it on a farm in N.D. in 1937(?).

The gun shows/exhibits use. The bluing is worn from riding in a holster, and I recall while shooting it some 20 odd years ago it would some times "jam" while cycling it double-action. As if the mechanism wasn't engaging the notch in the cylinder properly.

So, it definitely has a future date w/a gunsmith. Also, last time I saw it the adjustable finger rest (and it did have one) had mysteriously gone missing. Damn! That'll be a impossible to find item.

Are there any parts sources for Iver Johnsons?

Cheers........

[hrf]

Originally Posted by twopass

Greetings!
So, it definitely has a future date w/a gunsmith. Also, last time I saw it the adjustable finger rest (and it did have one) had mysteriously gone missing. Damn! That'll be a impossible to find item.

Are there any parts sources for Iver Johnsons?

Cheers........

Welcome to the forum.

Give Numrich customer service a call, they may have the finger rest:

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/ContactUs.aspx

[jmace57]

Not to hijack the thread, but my reading this thread sent me on a quest for one of these. Don't know why it so appealed to me, but I knew I had to have one. Months of participating in gun auctions led to me buying one for $150 in not quite as nice a condition as the one shown above. It was made in the early 30's accoriding to the serial number. I took it shooting at the range this past week for the first time and have never shot a pistol so accurate. At 7 yards was shooting groups of 1". Amazing. (Serial #L24422)

[hrf]

Originally Posted by jmace57

Not to hijack the thread, but my reading this thread sent me on a quest for one of these. Don't know why it so appealed to me, but I knew I had to have one. Months of participating in gun auctions led to me buying one for $150 in not quite as nice a condition as the one shown above. It was made in the early 30's accoriding to the serial number. I took it shooting at the range this past week for the first time and have never shot a pistol so accurate. At 7 yards was shooting groups of 1". Amazing. (Serial #L24422)

Serial no. L24422 was made in 1941, the last prewar batch.

[jmace57]

Thanks hrf