One for Jim Hauff - The Firearms Forum

Jim K · 01-29-2012, 02:48 PM

Hi, Jim Hauff and guys,

I picked up this rare collector's item yesterday and it is marked Iver Johnson so I am sure you know all about it. I am sure it is valuable as it is much rarer than a common gun like the Colt Paterson.

Seriously, it is an IJ small frame barrel installed on a frame of unknown make, apparently as a proof of concept for a, well, unique cylinder stop system. The gun is in poor shape but probably was not that way when the work was done. The additional top strap part that holds the mechanism is riveted and soldered on. The IJ barrel has been altered, then fitted and pinned into the frame. To make things more "modern" the inventor installed a coil mainspring. All in all, a decent piece of workmanship. The idea seems to work, though the gun itself would have been obsolete when it was worked over.

The spur trigger is conventional, as is the cylinder pin, but the barrel had to be drilled out to accept it. The hammer is made for a rimfire cartridge, and the cylinder will accept .32 RF rounds. No, I did not fire it!

The gun is out of time (naturally), but the idea should have worked at least as well as some other cylinder stop systems.

Jim

hrf · 01-29-2012, 03:59 PM

Ah, American ingenuity and improvision! Are the barrel and cylinder the same caliber I hope?

Jim Hauff · 01-29-2012, 04:12 PM

Jim K.
Nice find. Too bad it isn't made with H&R parts, I would have offered a small fortune for it!!!!

Does it operate? I like that top strap gizmo to stop barrel rotation.

Your find reminds me of a "find" I found awhile back - I believe it to be another example of American ingenuity and improvisation. Ever see anything like this one?

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hrf · 01-29-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Hauff

Jim K.
Nice find. Too bad it isn't made with H&R parts, I would have offered a small fortune for it!!!!

Does it operate? I like that top strap gizmo to stop barrel rotation.

Your find reminds me of a "find" I found awhile back - I believe it to be another example of American ingenuity and improvisation. Ever see anything like this one?

Hopkins & Allen added a similar ejector to some of their XL solid frame models, maybe where the H&R mechanic got his idea:

TRAP55 · 01-29-2012, 05:06 PM

Bubba, the early years.

Jim K · 01-29-2012, 07:21 PM

That ejector is nice, sort of like the ones on the European revolvers. Maybe we could start a "neatest gunsmith idea" contest.

Jim

Lanrezac · 01-29-2012, 07:48 PM

1) JimK, that thing is kind of neat. I wonder if there is any way to find out if a patent was ever issued for it?

2) Jim Hauff, does that thing actually work, or is the head of the ejector rod fouled by the muzzle? (As well as fouling the emergence of a bullet?)

3) TRAP55 - LOL!

Jim Hauff · 01-29-2012, 09:07 PM

Lanrezac · 01-29-2012, 09:21 PM

Thanks, Jim - I couldn't visualize it from the other photos. Whoever made that did nice work.

PS - Please please please do the book?

01-29-2012, 02:48 PM	#1
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	One for Jim Hauff Hi, Jim Hauff and guys, I picked up this rare collector's item yesterday and it is marked Iver Johnson so I am sure you know all about it. I am sure it is valuable as it is much rarer than a common gun like the Colt Paterson. Seriously, it is an IJ small frame barrel installed on a frame of unknown make, apparently as a proof of concept for a, well, unique cylinder stop system. The gun is in poor shape but probably was not that way when the work was done. The additional top strap part that holds the mechanism is riveted and soldered on. The IJ barrel has been altered, then fitted and pinned into the frame. To make things more "modern" the inventor installed a coil mainspring. All in all, a decent piece of workmanship. The idea seems to work, though the gun itself would have been obsolete when it was worked over. The spur trigger is conventional, as is the cylinder pin, but the barrel had to be drilled out to accept it. The hammer is made for a rimfire cartridge, and the cylinder will accept .32 RF rounds. No, I did not fire it! The gun is out of time (naturally), but the idea should have worked at least as well as some other cylinder stop systems. Jim Attached Images -->

01-29-2012, 03:59 PM	#2
hrf Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,276	Re: One for Jim Hauff Ah, American ingenuity and improvision! Are the barrel and cylinder the same caliber I hope?

01-29-2012, 04:12 PM	#3
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: One for Jim Hauff Jim K. Nice find. Too bad it isn't made with H&R parts, I would have offered a small fortune for it!!!! Does it operate? I like that top strap gizmo to stop barrel rotation. Your find reminds me of a "find" I found awhile back - I believe it to be another example of American ingenuity and improvisation. Ever see anything like this one? __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

01-29-2012, 05:06 PM	#5
TRAP55 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Occupied Territory Of Kalifornia Posts: 1,834	Re: One for Jim Hauff Bubba, the early years. __________________ Aim small...Miss small www.mausercentral.com/forum

01-29-2012, 07:21 PM	#6
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: One for Jim Hauff That ejector is nice, sort of like the ones on the European revolvers. Maybe we could start a "neatest gunsmith idea" contest. Jim

01-29-2012, 07:48 PM	#7
Lanrezac Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 685	Re: One for Jim Hauff 1) JimK, that thing is kind of neat. I wonder if there is any way to find out if a patent was ever issued for it? 2) Jim Hauff, does that thing actually work, or is the head of the ejector rod fouled by the muzzle? (As well as fouling the emergence of a bullet?) 3) TRAP55 - LOL!

01-29-2012, 09:07 PM	#8
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: One for Jim Hauff __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

01-29-2012, 09:21 PM	#9
Lanrezac Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 685	Re: One for Jim Hauff Thanks, Jim - I couldn't visualize it from the other photos. Whoever made that did nice work. PS - Please please please do the book?