Iver Johnson .45 revolver - The Firearms Forum

Erritu · 07-15-2011, 12:18 AM

I received this as a birthday gift, and was trying to find out more information about it. Such as, when it was made, where, etc. Any info would be awesome.

Left side has stamped: IVER JOHNSON'S
Fitchburg-Mass-USA

Right side has stamped: A shield?, PSF with a star above the letters, and then AA inside a box.

Under the barrel, and in two other locations a five digit numerical serial reads: 2883{x}

Thank you for your assistance.

woolleyworm · 07-15-2011, 12:28 AM

Welcome to TFF, you've got an Uberti manufactured 1873 Cattleman, imported by IJ. Probably from the mid 1970's or so. I've got some digging to do to find the S/N lists from these ones. Worth between 325-400 in good - exc condition.

woolleyworm · 07-15-2011, 12:30 AM

quote from the late Mr. Goforth :

"the cattleman revolvers were imported from uberti as unassembled parts and then final finnishing and assemble was done at the iver johnson factory (by then located in middlesex new jersey). as late as 1983 at least two of the italian gunsmiths who came over from italy to supervise the finishing of these revolvers were still in the employ of iver johnson at their new factory in jacksonville, arkansas."

Hawg · 07-15-2011, 03:08 AM

AA dates it to 1975.

hrf · 07-15-2011, 06:43 AM

Bill Goforth's book doesn't list the Cattleman in the shorter "Sheriff's Model" configuration sans ejector shown, but I know Uberti makes them:

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product...ducts_id=14186

Jim K · 07-15-2011, 01:27 PM

"PSF" is the Italian Nitro proof mark (Polvere Senza Fumo).

AFAIK, Italian proof houses do not prove parts, so the presence of the proof mark indicates the gun was completed and proved in Italy, not imported as parts and assembled here.

Jim

Alpo · 07-15-2011, 01:54 PM

Jim, if it was imported here as a "gun", it would say "Italy" on it, somewhere. If it was brought in as parts and assembled here, it was "made" here, and would not have to be marked "Italy".

Erritu · 07-15-2011, 04:49 PM

Wow! That was a quick and informative response. Thank you very much, I sincerely appreciate you all sharing that knowledge.

Hawg · 07-15-2011, 11:55 PM

Also if it was built in Italy and shipped here it would have a cat. number on it.

Double D · 07-16-2011, 09:21 AM

I like your gun.

RJay · 07-17-2011, 12:22 AM

I've never seen an Iver Cattleman with a short barrel, I wonder if the barrel has been changed? Wouldn'd change the value, in fact I always liked the storekeepers or sheriff's model.

Erritu · 07-17-2011, 12:47 AM

I believe its the original barrel. The serial on the barrel matches the serial found on two other locations.

Goody · 07-17-2011, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJay

I've never seen an Iver Cattleman with a short barrel, I wonder if the barrel has been changed? Wouldn'd change the value, in fact I always liked the storekeepers or sheriff's model.

The easy way to tell is that if it was made as a Sheriff's model is there will be no boss at the front of the frame for mounting the ejector rod tube. Some folks will grind this away, but you can't hide that fact.

hrf · 07-17-2011, 07:41 AM

http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/produ...NewSheriff.tpl

RJay · 07-17-2011, 12:02 PM

However the " Usage of the "Cattleman" name survived the Iver Johnson association. I have just never seen a short barrel Cattleman with Iver Johnson markings. However, I have seen the mountains and the elephant, but realize there are still a lot of things I haven't seen

07-15-2011, 12:18 AM	#1
Erritu Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: CA Posts: 3	Iver Johnson .45 revolver I received this as a birthday gift, and was trying to find out more information about it. Such as, when it was made, where, etc. Any info would be awesome. Left side has stamped: IVER JOHNSON'S Fitchburg-Mass-USA Right side has stamped: A shield?, PSF with a star above the letters, and then AA inside a box. Under the barrel, and in two other locations a five digit numerical serial reads: 2883{x} Thank you for your assistance. -->

07-15-2011, 12:28 AM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,888	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver Welcome to TFF, you've got an Uberti manufactured 1873 Cattleman, imported by IJ. Probably from the mid 1970's or so. I've got some digging to do to find the S/N lists from these ones. Worth between 325-400 in good - exc condition. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

07-15-2011, 12:30 AM	#3
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,888	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver quote from the late Mr. Goforth : "the cattleman revolvers were imported from uberti as unassembled parts and then final finnishing and assemble was done at the iver johnson factory (by then located in middlesex new jersey). as late as 1983 at least two of the italian gunsmiths who came over from italy to supervise the finishing of these revolvers were still in the employ of iver johnson at their new factory in jacksonville, arkansas." __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

07-15-2011, 03:08 AM	#4
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,584	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver AA dates it to 1975.

07-15-2011, 06:43 AM	#5
hrf Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,308	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver Bill Goforth's book doesn't list the Cattleman in the shorter "Sheriff's Model" configuration sans ejector shown, but I know Uberti makes them: http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product...ducts_id=14186 Last edited by hrf; 07-15-2011 at 07:17 AM..

07-15-2011, 01:27 PM	#6
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver "PSF" is the Italian Nitro proof mark (Polvere Senza Fumo). AFAIK, Italian proof houses do not prove parts, so the presence of the proof mark indicates the gun was completed and proved in Italy, not imported as parts and assembled here. Jim Last edited by Jim K; 07-15-2011 at 01:29 PM..

07-15-2011, 01:54 PM	#7
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,772	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver Jim, if it was imported here as a "gun", it would say "Italy" on it, somewhere. If it was brought in as parts and assembled here, it was "made" here, and would not have to be marked "Italy". __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

07-15-2011, 04:49 PM	#8
Erritu Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: CA Posts: 3	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver Wow! That was a quick and informative response. Thank you very much, I sincerely appreciate you all sharing that knowledge.

07-15-2011, 11:55 PM	#9
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,584	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver Also if it was built in Italy and shipped here it would have a cat. number on it.

07-16-2011, 09:21 AM	#10
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,252	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver I like your gun. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

07-17-2011, 12:22 AM	#11
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,504	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver I've never seen an Iver Cattleman with a short barrel, I wonder if the barrel has been changed? Wouldn'd change the value, in fact I always liked the storekeepers or sheriff's model. __________________ RonJames

07-17-2011, 12:47 AM	#12
Erritu Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: CA Posts: 3	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver I believe its the original barrel. The serial on the barrel matches the serial found on two other locations.

07-17-2011, 07:41 AM	#14
hrf Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,308	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/produ...NewSheriff.tpl

07-17-2011, 12:02 PM	#15
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,504	Re: Iver Johnson .45 revolver However the " Usage of the "Cattleman" name survived the Iver Johnson association. I have just never seen a short barrel Cattleman with Iver Johnson markings. However, I have seen the mountains and the elephant, but realize there are still a lot of things I haven't seen __________________ RonJames Last edited by RJay; 07-17-2011 at 12:03 PM..