Iver Johnson .32

[hrf]

Originally Posted by joeymiller

well that sucks that it isn't designed for modern ammo
that completely defeats the reason i purchased the pistol for
personal protection that is
it just wouldn't be practical for that
oh well from what i am reading on here it should be worth at least 100 right?
i could probably go to a gun shop and get my 55 back at least

Thanks for posting good pics, which confirm it's an 1895 gun.

Most gun shops probably won't be interested but if you can remove the paint from grips without damaging them you might get $75 or $100 on the online auctions: A plus is that as an antique it can be shipped in ordinary mail without an FFL or C&R license.

[AJJ]

Hello,
I was recently given a few guns one of which is an Iver Johnson's. I would like to get some info such as production date and approximate value.

The gun is 5 shot saftey automatic revolver. There is very little wear on the gun.
Under the left pistol grip is G40189.
Under the trigger guard is 40189(no G)
The only other markings on the gun are on the 6" barrel. They are: *Iver Johnson's Arms and Cycle Works* *Fitchburg, Mass.U.S.A.* (with the * representing 5 pointed stars and the address appearing below the company name)

A flat hammer strikes a firing pin and there is no saftey on the gun that I am aware of.

[hrf]

Originally Posted by AJJ

Hello,
I was recently given a few guns one of which is an Iver Johnson's. I would like to get some info such as production date and approximate value.

The gun is 5 shot saftey automatic revolver. There is very little wear on the gun.
Under the left pistol grip is G40189.
Under the trigger guard is 40189(no G)
The only other markings on the gun are on the 6" barrel. They are: *Iver Johnson's Arms and Cycle Works* *Fitchburg, Mass.U.S.A.* (with the * representing 5 pointed stars and the address appearing below the company name)

A flat hammer strikes a firing pin and there is no saftey on the gun that I am aware of.

Welcome to the forum. Your description indicates a small frame third model .32 made in 1919. It should have the "hammer the hammer" safety feature whereby the hammer does not directly strike the firing pin, but a part that rises up between the hammer and firing pin when the trigger is pulled. Value is probably in the $100-$150 range.

[dukefan4life]

Hello all,
New to this forum and I hope I can revive this thread by asking the same question many have asked. I hate to see that the resident expert went on to be with the Lord as he seems to have been really well liked.
I am looking at purchasing an Iver Johnson revolver.
It has the serial # Q 304** located below the grip on the left side.
It has the Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Fitchburg Mass stamped on top
Pat June 16.96 aug 25960(?) -the 0 on the end is ?
It is a 5 shot revolver.
I'm looking to buy as home protection for the wife.
My questions are what caliber, and is it safe for modern ammo? I have not paid for this yet as it is a friend who is selling it.
Thanks for any assistance you may be able to provide.

[hrf]

Welcome to the forum.

The Q sn prefix and patent dates identify it as a large frame hammer model made in 1906 for black powder .38 S&W ammo. Use of current smokeless powder ammo will probably not be dangerous at first, but will rapidly loosen the lockup. Iver Johnson did not upgrade materials and construction for smokeless powder use until 1909.

[dukefan4life]

thanks so much for the quick response hrf. Would I be able to search on here for the estimated value of it? To me it appears to be in excellent condition.

[hrf]

Hard to tell for certain from the photo, but don't think it's a nickel gun but rather it looks like a gun that was originaly blued that has been polished bright. As such, and as a non-shooter, my wag of value would be $100 or less.

[dukefan4life]

Don't know if these will help or not. Would it have any traces of the blueing left on it anywhere?

[hrf]

Originally Posted by dukefan4life

Don't know if these will help or not. Would it have any traces of the blueing left on it anywhere?

Possibly under the top strap when cylinder removed, or on the hidden part of trigger guard (but don't remove it just to find out)

It's also possible it was a nickel gun that had flaked and remainder polished off.

[rsako]

Dukefan,

Hang tough for a few minutes. I'll go dig out mine and show you something i just noticed in your pics.

bear with me...back in a flash.

Originally Posted by dukefan4life

Don't know if these will help or not. Would it have any traces of the blueing left on it anywhere?

Attachment 59408

Attachment 59409

[rsako]

Ok..back with pics.

First off...hrf is right on the money with his analysis as always It's been a project gun for someone along the way...for sure. Polished as hrf said. no doubt.

but i wanted to throw in my 2 Canuck cents as well. Have a look at the rear ejector 'Star' in your second photo. It's hard to tell if it is closed all the way, but it looks miss-aligned to me. The 'star' may have been replaced with one that does not appear to seat properly or index correctly.

Here's 2 pics of my baby IJ. First Gen, single post top break, black powder only small frame 32 in Nickel. A nickel finish should look like chrome..not polished steel. But i agree the one you are considering looks great no matter what..BUT..





Notice how the ejector "star" seats well. and it has peened marks for the line up. Not sure if the peening marks were done aftermarket or not. Bottom line is yours shows signs that it would not eject the spent rounds very well as it does not seat well in the cylinder.

I'm no real pro...but i thought I'd toss that into the mix before you commit to something your wife might really need someday.

hope that helps make your decision.

Cheers from the frozen north,

Originally Posted by dukefan4life

Don't know if these will help or not. Would it have any traces of the blueing left on it anywhere?

Attachment 59408

Attachment 59409

[jefe]

greetings, i acquired an iver johnson top-break revolver in a trade. it holds five rounds. on the top of the receiver reads:

IVER JOHNSON'S ARMS & CYCLE WORKS. FITCHBURG MASS U.S.A.
PAT'D APR. 6. 86. FEB. 15. 87. MAY. 10. 87. DEC. 26. 93. PAT'S PENDING

i've searched high and low to date the revolver. i removed the grips and found no s/n. the serial number is listed on the butt as D4187.

[hrf]

Originally Posted by jefe

greetings, i acquired an iver johnson top-break revolver in a trade. it holds five rounds. on the top of the receiver reads:

IVER JOHNSON'S ARMS & CYCLE WORKS. FITCHBURG MASS U.S.A.
PAT'D APR. 6. 86. FEB. 15. 87. MAY. 10. 87. DEC. 26. 93. PAT'S PENDING

i've searched high and low to date the revolver. i removed the grips and found no s/n. the serial number is listed on the butt as D4187.

Welcome to the forum jefe.

You have an antique second model large frame hammerless made in 1897 for black powder .38 S&W ammo. Looks like someone has put S&W grips on it, at least on side shown.

[bohika]

this is my first post so please bear with me. i have been scouring this sight and others for literally 3 days trying to find the answer to my questions regarding my newly aquired I J top break .32 cal I'm ordering W.E.Goforth's book but there is some urgency for legal reasons. I'm just interested in the year of manufacture (antique or not ?)but any information is appreciated.
I've read numerous posts about similar guns but none seem to have the same confiuration. So here it is : 5 shot, hammer ,3 inch barrel with double latch release
the serial # 78807 marked on bottom of trigger guard and the bottom of the top strap (above cylinder)
under the grips on left side ser.# prefixed by "A" .On the right side the # "2" stamped.
top of barrel rib "IVER JOHNSON'S ARMS & CYCLE WORKS " OVER "------FITCHBURG MASS. USA.
bottom of grip stamped "PAT AUG25 96" OVER "PAT PENDING"
HAMMER SPRING IS COIL
Grips are black plastic with a BULLDOG looking foward toward barrel (not an owl) I suspect they're replacements and they are not screwed together they are fitted in place
gun is in fairly good shape excellent bore, minor pitting , solid action.
please help these guns are very confusing i purchased this one as an antique but have my suspisions thanks in advance ...

[hrf]

Originally Posted by bohika

this is my first post so please bear with me. i have been scouring this sight and others for literally 3 days trying to find the answer to my questions regarding my newly aquired I J top break .32 cal I'm ordering W.E.Goforth's book but there is some urgency for legal reasons. I'm just interested in the year of manufacture (antique or not ?)but any information is appreciated.
I've read numerous posts about similar guns but none seem to have the same confiuration. So here it is : 5 shot, hammer ,3 inch barrel with double latch release
the serial # 78807 marked on bottom of trigger guard and the bottom of the top strap (above cylinder)
under the grips on left side ser.# prefixed by "A" .On the right side the # "2" stamped.
top of barrel rib "IVER JOHNSON'S ARMS & CYCLE WORKS " OVER "------FITCHBURG MASS. USA.
bottom of grip stamped "PAT AUG25 96" OVER "PAT PENDING"
HAMMER SPRING IS COIL
Grips are black plastic with a BULLDOG looking foward toward barrel (not an owl) I suspect they're replacements and they are not screwed together they are fitted in place
gun is in fairly good shape excellent bore, minor pitting , solid action.
please help these guns are very confusing i purchased this one as an antique but have my suspisions thanks in advance ...

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, made in 1912, so although 100 years old, not an antique by USA federal law.

[bohika]

thanks for the quick response Ill do some more research before my next " antique " purchase.

[casperdln]

New to the forum. I have an Ivers Johnson pistol from my wife's father. It appears to be chrome plated and in nice shape. It is a 5 shot with a 4 inch barrel. The serial # is H33364. It has the four pins under the cylinder. I am not sure of the caliber. A 32 is way too small but a 38 seems too long. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

[hrf]

Originally Posted by casperdln

New to the forum. I have an Ivers Johnson pistol from my wife's father. It appears to be chrome plated and in nice shape. It is a 5 shot with a 4 inch barrel. The serial # is H33364. It has the four pins under the cylinder. I am not sure of the caliber. A 32 is way too small but a 38 seems too long. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the forum.

You apparently have a large frame third model made in 1921.

If you are trying a .38 Special round, that is NOT the right cartridge: It's chambered for the old .38 S&W round which is shorter and slightly larger diameter, now semi-obsolete but still available some stores or mail order.

[casperdln]

Thank you very much. I will try to find the correct rounds for it. The gun is in very ice condition.

[Windsor311]

Hello,

Just purchased an Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works 5-shot in .38 short. It is a top-break with the release being a small lever on left side that you push up to open the top-break. It's blued with black plastic grips and has the serial number 2115x exposed on the bottom of grip frame. It has four dates on top of barrel. Apr 6, 86 Feb 15, 87 May 10, 87 Dec 26, 98

I'm looking for any info such as model & year of manufacture please.

Thanks,
Greg

[hrf]

Originally Posted by Windsor311

Hello,

Just purchased an Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works 5-shot in .38 short. It is a top-break with the release being a small lever on left side that you push up to open the top-break. It's blued with black plastic grips and has the serial number 2115x exposed on the bottom of grip frame. It has four dates on top of barrel. Apr 6, 86 Feb 15, 87 May 10, 87 Dec 26, 98

I'm looking for any info such as model & year of manufacture please.

Thanks,
Greg

Welcome to TFF.

The left side release identifies the antique first model with single post top latch made in 1894. This style latch was found too weak even for the black powder ammo then made, and they changed to the more commonly seen double post latch the following year. (The last patent date is '93, not '98)

Value depends on original condition, but usually less than $100.

It should not be fired.

[Windsor311]

Hrf, thank you very much for the reply. So this weapon i have was manufactured in 1894?
Very interesting.