I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 - The Firearms Forum

TREF · 08-19-2005, 09:15 PM

YEP, MY GRANPA'S CARRY THAT MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME ABOUT! A 5 SHOT NICKEL 1887 IVER JOHNSON&CYCLE WORKS MADE IN GARDNER MASS I FOUND IT, WHEN WE DID THE HOUSE RESHINGLE JOB THIS PAST APRIL 05 AND JUST GOT IT CLEANED UP ,WHAT A SCORE,ITS PRICELESS TO ME BECAUSE MY GRANPS WENT EVERY AND I REALLY THOUGHT I GOT JUNKED WITH HIS 50 SOMETHING HUDSON CAR,THANKS GRANDPA AND DAD,TREF

SouthernMoss · 08-19-2005, 09:43 PM

b.goforth · 08-20-2005, 05:42 PM

a complete description of all markings and where they are found will help in identifing which model you have. check the bottom of the butt or under the left grip for a serial number, and i might be able to give you a manufactured date.

for your information iver johnson's arms & cycle works was not located in gardner, mass. they were located in worcester, mass. until 1892 when they moved to fitchburg, mass. where they remained until 1975. h&r also of worcester mass. moved to gardner mass. in the late 1960's.
bill

armedandsafe · 08-20-2005, 07:24 PM

Welcome to the forum, TREF. PICTURES!!!

Pops

sck · 09-16-2005, 09:40 PM

Congradulations!!!!!!!!
My grandfather too, had the same model Iver Johnson pistol. He also had two others. He told me that as a boy in the country, he and his friends liked to make some noise on the 4th of July and Memorial Day, but they generally bought firecrackers from the general store in town. Well, after a few years, it just didn't seem to make sense to him, spending all that money on firecrackers and have nothing to show for it the next day. So, he got out the Sears & Rowbuck catalog and order a pistol. It came within a few days and was terriffic. He then ordered the others. When Grandpa gave those to me they had been shot so much they didn't function any more. So, being like my grandfather, I said to myself "having a gun that doesn't shoot, doesn't seem right." The end result was that I traded them away. It was the worst thing that I think I ever did. I'm pleased to see that someone else was a lot brighter than me. Take good care of them. Steve

wonderwhippet · 09-29-2005, 01:49 AM

Actually, back in those days boys didn't shoot their pistols very much, as they couldn't afford a steady supply of expensive ammo So they did the next best thing, they just dry fired the hell out of them. That's why so many of these old pistols have a decent bore but the rest of the gun is in poor condition.

FloridaFialaFan · 11-14-2005, 01:10 AM

Just had to show off this little I.J. "Owl Head" .32 somebody did some neat work on many years ago. They bobbed it's nose to 1 1/2", crowned the muzzle, renickeled that, and reinstalled the front sight blade. Then they removed the hammer spur, but DIDN't renickel it. Nickel finish (not counting hammer spur) is about 98%. Serial number is 1000. Neat little antique carry piece. FFF

b.goforth · 11-14-2005, 11:39 AM

this is a first model 'safety automatic hammer revolver' manufactured beween 1895 and 1896. exact year will depend on where the serial number is located and if it has a letter code with it.
bill

FloridaFialaFan · 11-14-2005, 09:26 PM

b.goforth - No letter with the serial number which is on the butt. See photo below. With all the hacking it may be ruined as a collectible but it sure is a slick little pocket piece - and, you gotta' admit, it IS cute... Here's photo of SN on butt. The big chip in the base of the left grip upsets me, but someday I'll find an old original pair for it at a gun show somewhere. FFF

Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music. ---George Carlin

b.goforth · 11-15-2005, 10:34 AM

the manufacture date is 1895. i would be remiss if i did not remind you that all the iver johnson's arms & cycle works 'safety automatic revolvers' first and second models (first model 1894-1896, second model 1896-1908) were manufactured for black powder cartridge pressures and are not considered safe with modern ammo. only the third model is safe with smokeless powder (1909-1941).
bill

Shooter45 · 11-15-2005, 02:23 PM

FFF, I wish you had made your post a couple of weeks ago. I had a set of grips for your pistol and sold them cheap.

FloridaFialaFan · 11-23-2005, 01:20 PM

Hi Shooter45. Yeah, I wish I could have gotten them from you. However, I should be able to find an old set at a gun show around here. Next BIG show I'm scheduling to attend is the Lakeland, FL show January 21 & 22. b.goforth, thanks for the heads-up on this gun being intended for BP cartridges only. If I ever put it on auction I'll make note of that. FFF

08-19-2005, 09:15 PM	#1
TREF Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: RI Posts: 5	I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 YEP, MY GRANPA'S CARRY THAT MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME ABOUT! A 5 SHOT NICKEL 1887 IVER JOHNSON&CYCLE WORKS MADE IN GARDNER MASS I FOUND IT, WHEN WE DID THE HOUSE RESHINGLE JOB THIS PAST APRIL 05 AND JUST GOT IT CLEANED UP ,WHAT A SCORE,ITS PRICELESS TO ME BECAUSE MY GRANPS WENT EVERY AND I REALLY THOUGHT I GOT JUNKED WITH HIS 50 SOMETHING HUDSON CAR,THANKS GRANDPA AND DAD,TREF -->

08-19-2005, 09:43 PM	#2
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

08-20-2005, 05:42 PM	#3
b.goforth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: houston, tx Posts: 3,174	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 a complete description of all markings and where they are found will help in identifing which model you have. check the bottom of the butt or under the left grip for a serial number, and i might be able to give you a manufactured date. for your information iver johnson's arms & cycle works was not located in gardner, mass. they were located in worcester, mass. until 1892 when they moved to fitchburg, mass. where they remained until 1975. h&r also of worcester mass. moved to gardner mass. in the late 1960's. bill

08-20-2005, 07:24 PM	#4
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 Welcome to the forum, TREF. PICTURES!!! Pops

09-16-2005, 09:40 PM	#5
sck V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 117	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 Congradulations!!!!!!!! My grandfather too, had the same model Iver Johnson pistol. He also had two others. He told me that as a boy in the country, he and his friends liked to make some noise on the 4th of July and Memorial Day, but they generally bought firecrackers from the general store in town. Well, after a few years, it just didn't seem to make sense to him, spending all that money on firecrackers and have nothing to show for it the next day. So, he got out the Sears & Rowbuck catalog and order a pistol. It came within a few days and was terriffic. He then ordered the others. When Grandpa gave those to me they had been shot so much they didn't function any more. So, being like my grandfather, I said to myself "having a gun that doesn't shoot, doesn't seem right." The end result was that I traded them away. It was the worst thing that I think I ever did. I'm pleased to see that someone else was a lot brighter than me. Take good care of them. Steve

09-29-2005, 01:49 AM	#6
wonderwhippet Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,583	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 Actually, back in those days boys didn't shoot their pistols very much, as they couldn't afford a steady supply of expensive ammo So they did the next best thing, they just dry fired the hell out of them. That's why so many of these old pistols have a decent bore but the rest of the gun is in poor condition.

11-14-2005, 01:10 AM	#7
FloridaFialaFan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: World's Most Famous Beach - Daytona Posts: 194	Re:ANOTHER LITTLE I.J. .32 S&W REVOLVER Just had to show off this little I.J. "Owl Head" .32 somebody did some neat work on many years ago. They bobbed it's nose to 1 1/2", crowned the muzzle, renickeled that, and reinstalled the front sight blade. Then they removed the hammer spur, but DIDN't renickel it. Nickel finish (not counting hammer spur) is about 98%. Serial number is 1000. Neat little antique carry piece. FFF

11-14-2005, 11:39 AM	#8
b.goforth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: houston, tx Posts: 3,174	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 this is a first model 'safety automatic hammer revolver' manufactured beween 1895 and 1896. exact year will depend on where the serial number is located and if it has a letter code with it. bill

11-14-2005, 09:26 PM	#9
FloridaFialaFan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: World's Most Famous Beach - Daytona Posts: 194	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 b.goforth - No letter with the serial number which is on the butt. See photo below. With all the hacking it may be ruined as a collectible but it sure is a slick little pocket piece - and, you gotta' admit, it IS cute... Here's photo of SN on butt. The big chip in the base of the left grip upsets me, but someday I'll find an old original pair for it at a gun show somewhere. FFF Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music. ---George Carlin

11-15-2005, 10:34 AM	#10
b.goforth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: houston, tx Posts: 3,174	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 the manufacture date is 1895. i would be remiss if i did not remind you that all the iver johnson's arms & cycle works 'safety automatic revolvers' first and second models (first model 1894-1896, second model 1896-1908) were manufactured for black powder cartridge pressures and are not considered safe with modern ammo. only the third model is safe with smokeless powder (1909-1941). bill Last edited by b.goforth; 11-15-2005 at 10:35 AM..

11-15-2005, 02:23 PM	#11
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,749	Re: I FOUND IT!!!!IVER JOHNSON SW32 1887 FFF, I wish you had made your post a couple of weeks ago. I had a set of grips for your pistol and sold them cheap.

11-23-2005, 01:20 PM	#12
FloridaFialaFan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: World's Most Famous Beach - Daytona Posts: 194	Sorry I Missed Those Grips Hi Shooter45. Yeah, I wish I could have gotten them from you. However, I should be able to find an old set at a gun show around here. Next BIG show I'm scheduling to attend is the Lakeland, FL show January 21 & 22. b.goforth, thanks for the heads-up on this gun being intended for BP cartridges only. If I ever put it on auction I'll make note of that. FFF