Wanted: info on iver johnson .32 pistol - The Firearms Forum

WVUMike · 08-14-2005, 05:45 PM

I have inherited a pistol with the inscription:

IVER JOHNSONS ARMS & CYCLE WORKS FITCHBURG MASS USA
PATD APRIL 6 86, FEB 15 87, MAY 10 87, DEC 26 93, PATS PENDING

Serial number on butt of gun: A19816

It has owls on each side of the grips facing toward the barrel; approx. 5" barrel; 5 shot; assume it is .32 caliber because there were western .32 S&W bullets in the cylinder

I would like any info you can provide on this pistol. Thanks

WVUMike

I would appreciate if those posting pictures, please limit the picture size to a printable 4"x6" at no more than 96 pixels per inch. When you post these pics and look at your post, you HAVE to realize that these pics are gigantic. Please resize them or contact one of the mods or staff and we will be glad to tell you how to do it. Thanks for you time.

We have many members that use a dial up to access this site. When you post 1 Meg photo's it can kill there dial up speed and stop their enjoyment of this site. Thanks for your understanding.

inplanotx · 08-14-2005, 06:34 PM

Welcome to TFF. I have resized your photo's for the enjoyment of the members here that use a dial up connection. Someone will be along shortly to help you in this matter.

IPT

Xracer · 08-15-2005, 07:00 AM

Hi Mike........welcome to TFF!

What you have is a Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Double-Action Revolver.

They were made in .22 RF, .32 (S&W)CF, and .38 (S&W)CF. It's a double action revolver and was produced in a variety of barrel lengths, with or without exposed hammers, blued or nickle plated. Many, many thousands of these were made between 1893 and 1950.

They were a pretty inexpensive revolver......in 1902, Sears Roebuck had them listed in their catalog at $3.10.

Value now:

V.G. - $170
Good - $120
Fair - $95
Poor - $65

b.goforth · 08-15-2005, 01:06 PM

mike,
your revolver is a small frame first model safety automatic hammer revolver. first model were manufactured between 1894 and 1896 and manufactured for black powder cartridge pressures. your revolver serial number A19816 was manufactured in 1896. there were 50,000 manufactured that year and a total of 250,000 small frame hammer models manufactured between 1894 and 1896.

standard finish was nickel and standard barrel length (for small frame) was 3 inch. as per 1896 catalog longer barrel available for $0.50 extra per inch. you are correct to assume it is a 32 S&W caliber.

the safety automatic revolver was manufactured between 1894 and 1941 in three models, first model 1894-1896, second model 1896-1908 and third model 1909-1941. only the third models are considered safe with modern ammo. the safety automatic (hammer & hammerless) revolver was iver johnson's arms & cycle works most popular model. it featured the "hammer the hammer" action patented in august 25, 1896 (all safety automatic revolvers manufactured after 1897 will carry that date).
bill

08-14-2005, 05:45 PM	#1
WVUMike Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1	Wanted: info on iver johnson .32 pistol I have inherited a pistol with the inscription: IVER JOHNSONS ARMS & CYCLE WORKS FITCHBURG MASS USA PATD APRIL 6 86, FEB 15 87, MAY 10 87, DEC 26 93, PATS PENDING Serial number on butt of gun: A19816 It has owls on each side of the grips facing toward the barrel; approx. 5" barrel; 5 shot; assume it is .32 caliber because there were western .32 S&W bullets in the cylinder I would like any info you can provide on this pistol. Thanks WVUMike I would appreciate if those posting pictures, please limit the picture size to a printable 4"x6" at no more than 96 pixels per inch. When you post these pics and look at your post, you HAVE to realize that these pics are gigantic. Please resize them or contact one of the mods or staff and we will be glad to tell you how to do it. Thanks for you time. We have many members that use a dial up to access this site. When you post 1 Meg photo's it can kill there dial up speed and stop their enjoyment of this site. Thanks for your understanding. Attached Images --> Last edited by WVUMike; 08-14-2005 at 06:07 PM.. Reason: add photos

08-14-2005, 06:34 PM	#2
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Re: Wanted: info on iver johnson .32 pistol Welcome to TFF. I have resized your photo's for the enjoyment of the members here that use a dial up connection. Someone will be along shortly to help you in this matter. IPT __________________

08-15-2005, 07:00 AM	#3
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Re: Wanted: info on iver johnson .32 pistol Hi Mike........welcome to TFF! What you have is a Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Double-Action Revolver. They were made in .22 RF, .32 (S&W)CF, and .38 (S&W)CF. It's a double action revolver and was produced in a variety of barrel lengths, with or without exposed hammers, blued or nickle plated. Many, many thousands of these were made between 1893 and 1950. They were a pretty inexpensive revolver......in 1902, Sears Roebuck had them listed in their catalog at $3.10. Value now: V.G. - $170 Good - $120 Fair - $95 Poor - $65

08-15-2005, 01:06 PM	#4
b.goforth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: houston, tx Posts: 3,174	Re: Wanted: info on iver johnson .32 pistol mike, your revolver is a small frame first model safety automatic hammer revolver. first model were manufactured between 1894 and 1896 and manufactured for black powder cartridge pressures. your revolver serial number A19816 was manufactured in 1896. there were 50,000 manufactured that year and a total of 250,000 small frame hammer models manufactured between 1894 and 1896. standard finish was nickel and standard barrel length (for small frame) was 3 inch. as per 1896 catalog longer barrel available for $0.50 extra per inch. you are correct to assume it is a 32 S&W caliber. the safety automatic revolver was manufactured between 1894 and 1941 in three models, first model 1894-1896, second model 1896-1908 and third model 1909-1941. only the third models are considered safe with modern ammo. the safety automatic (hammer & hammerless) revolver was iver johnson's arms & cycle works most popular model. it featured the "hammer the hammer" action patented in august 25, 1896 (all safety automatic revolvers manufactured after 1897 will carry that date). bill