Iver Johnson Champion 12 ga.

[DillHarris]

Hello All,

My father-in-law recently found an Iver Johnson Champion 12 gauge in the attic of his mother's house and sent it to me to fix up a little. I've done what reasearch I can and found several other posts here (thank you Mr. Goforth) very helpful. I was wondering if any of the following characteristics could narrow down a range of production dates. These are the points I think will be useful, if there are others I'm unaware of please let me know.

-After knocking the rust off the finish appears to be blued over brown on both the barrel and the receiver. I'm not sure about this. Probably 80% of the metal is a brown color with blotches of what looks to me like blueing covering the rest. The forend cap looks color-case hardened to me. Under the forend there appears to be gray/unfinished metal on the barrel.

-Markings: on forend cap (the metal piece which attaches to the wood closest to the breech end) is the numbers 57241. This number also appears on the left side of the receiver covered by the buttstock (just below the main spring). The forend wood has the numbers 7241 (just no 5) impressed in it as well. The top of the barrel says "CHAMPION" in all capital letters and underneath that it says "PATD. APR.2'01 APR.15'02 PATS. PENDING". There are no markings on either side of the receiver (either curved or straight).

-The forend screws on the barrel, there is not a plunger type of system.

-The latch for the release has straight lines in it, not a cross checkered pattern.

-The hinge pin is broken, only about three fourths of it remains, the rest being rigged with a woods screw inserted into the hinge pin. I'm not even sure the broken hinge pin is original.

-The buttplate is just a piece of leather tacked on the buttstock with a couple dozen cobbler's type nails. I'm pretty sure these would not be fun for recoil.

-Lock-up is tight and the bore is actually in good shape. A couple small areas of pitting (which seems minor). If you manually push the firing pin out, it does not go back in on its own. The end of the firing pin has a few small dings in it and the spring is fairly lifeless.

-The is no plate/cap at the bottom of the semi-pistol grip.

-I measured the distance from the ridge in the chamber to the end of the breech end of the barrel and got 2.640". I have not used a chamber gauge yet, but am assuming this is chambered for 2.5" shells.

-Front bead site is broken, no bead, just a nub.

I have a digital camera if specific pictures are wanted, but I'm not much of a photographer (I take pictures like I shoot a shotgun, point and pull the trigger). I was thinking the date could be narrowed by finding the next patent date after the '02 one. I spent some time at the patent office website. I now have a headache and saw plans for a "Mustache Guard" but didn't learn much except early 20th century patents are entertaining. Thanks in advance for any help. I've gotten a fair idea of monetary value, but really am just trying to learn history more than anything. Have a good one.

[b.goforth]

pictures would be very helpful beecause these patent dates were used on two early champion single barrel shotguns. the top snap champion improved model 1901 (1902-1908) and the champion semi-hammerless ejector gun model 1900 improved (1901-1908). the patent pending is most likely for a patent appilied for at the sma time the other two were applied for (1898) but not actually issued until 1908.

go back to the u.s. patent office web site and click on patents and then patent search and patent number. then look at patent numbers 670985, 697516 and 893014.

which ever model this turns out to be this is a black powder gun and should not be fired with modern ammo. the earliest in could have been manufactured is 1902 and the latest is 1908 (the year these two models were discontinued. in 1909 when iver johnson switch to smokeless powder the champion single barrel shotgun was redesigned with smokeless powder in mind and only the top snap model was manufactured.

the original finish of this gun was browned barrel and case hardened frame and the hard rubber but plate would have the name in script of either champion or iver johnson. these butt plates are very hard to find. the butt plate with the owls head was not used until 1909.

please send the pictures because even bad pictures should help identify the exact model. but i will not be able to give you an exact year of manufacture just the era.
bill

[DillHarris]

Wow, thank you very much Mr. Goforth. That is incredible. The missing/broken hinge pin on my gun looks like it should be that last patent (#893014) as it would fit in the slot on the right side of my gun. I do not think the other two patents apply. The first is for an extractor that is retained by a screw from the bottom of the barrel, the one on mine is retained by a pin through the side. The functioning of the extractor would be the same however, it would make contact with the breechface and stop its motion before it could "throw" the empty shell. In order to break the action open on mine, I push a lever behind the hammer to the right, it is not in the trigger guard. Here are a few pictures. I took several and can get a picture of anything you would want. I just don't know what would be useful. These pictures didn't capture the finish real well. Thanks again. 1902-1908 is already a much narrower age range than what I was expecting to get (with the lack of serial number records). I'm also glad to know that it was made for blackpowder. If it shot much blackpowder, it was cleaned well afterwards. I really appreciate you sharing your expertise and your time. It has made this gun that much more fun.

[b.goforth]

this is the champion top snap improved model of 1901. i forgot to list two other iver johnson shotgun patents that cover features used on this and the semi-hammerless ejector guns. number 754080 and 818461.

for you information listed below is a list of all iver johnson shotgun patents. these are listed by the date they were applied for (not date issued) to show the progression of iver johnson shotgun designs

DATE APPLIED FOR NUMBER DATE ISSUED COMMENTS
12-03-1879 230,409* 07-27-1880 CENTRAL MOUNTED HAMMER EUTEBROUK this patent controlled by J.P. Lovell Arms CO.

09-04-1880 253,292 02-07-1882 DOUBLE BARREL HAMMER I.J. & M.B.

04-17-1884 379,257 03-13-1888 SINGLE SHOT SHOTGUN/RIFLE I.J. & R.T.T.

09-14-1885 339,299 04-06-1888 SHOTGUN EJECTOR I. JOHNSON

07-07-1886 350,681 10-12-1886 HAMMERLESS SINGLE BARREL I.J. & A.F.

06-21-1888 391,155 10-16-1888 HAMMERLESS SINGLE BARREL I.J. & A.F.

11-04-1898 697,516* 04-15-1902 RING TRIGGER SINGLE BARREL MOSSBERG

11-04-1898 754,080** 03-08-1904 SHOTGUN HINGE PIN MOSSBERG

08-30-1899 818,461 04-24-1906 SINGLE BARREL SHOTGUN MOSSBERG

01-14-1901 670,985* 04-02-1901 SINGLE BARREL EJECTOR ELLSTROM

07-08-1902 893,014** 07-17-1908 SHOTGUN HINGE PIN RINGQVIST

07-08-1902 754,092** 03-08-1904 SHOTGUN EJECTOR RINGQVIST

02-16-1904 832,660** 10-09-1906 TRIGGER ACTION SINGLE BAR. ELLSTROM

08-10-1904 802,803* 10-24-1905 TRIGGER ACTION S.B. ELLSTROM

08-10-1904 803,277* 10-31-1905 TRIGGER ACTION-EJECTOR ELLSTROM

11-03-1909 1,142,934* 06-15-1915 SMALL BORE SINGLE BARREL COBB

08-24-1914 1,131,984** 03-16-1915 DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN BARNES

09-05-1914 1,137,045** 04-27-1915 DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN BARNES

04-22-1927 1,673,666* 06-12-1928 Model X 22 single shot rifle A.P. CURTIS

* denotes dates marked on firearms
**denotes patents used but not marked on firearms

I do not know what this list will look like after i post it but i believe you will be able to pick out the patent numbers.
bill

[DillHarris]

That is excellent information. Looking over the list you provided, and the dates, those patents I said were different are the ones stamped on the barrel. I'll have to read the text of the patent a little more carefully (lawyer speak isn't my first language). You have gone way beyond the call of duty on this, I really appreciate it. I will definitely keep this information. I guess I'll keep my eyes open for an old, shot out, junker with an intact hinge pin. This'll be a wall hanger and something to talk about. Maybe I'll try to find a later model I can turn into a shooter. Uh oh, here comes a new obsession. Thanks again Mr. Goforth, this has been a great lesson for me. From this point, I'm going to oil it well and see what my father-in-law would like to do with it. Have a good one.

[KHGII]

Hello,

New to the site and got on though a shearch for a home defence weapon I just purchased for $50 which is what it is worth but find looking for the history of the gun fun. The gun I have is break open, lever release, Patents APR201(1?) APR502 Pats Pending on the top of the barrel, looks like an attempt at auto-eject but in it's current condition would not. Engraving on the left side of the gun says "Champion" pat. pending, Champion Arms Co. Fitchburg-Mass." 26" barrel. 12 ga. The top of the barrel is very pitted.

Would be neat to know if this gun is 100 years old.

Take care and thanks.
Kemper

[b.goforth]

this is an interesting shotgun in the fact that it is marked "champion arms co.". as far as i can tell this is iver johnson's first attempt at manufacturing an in house Brand name shotgun. they later (sometime after 1910) offered the "EXCEL" single barrel shotgun as in in house Brand name.

the manufacturing era of this shotgun would be sometime between 1901 and 1908. this shotgun was manufactured before iver johnson made the switch to smokeless powder and should NOT be fired with modern ammo.

i would like to add this is not a shotgun seen very often today but were once made as a high volume low cost single barrel utility shotgun (not many have survived intact).
bill

[KHGII]

Thank you very much for the information. I have a new found fondness of this weapon, it's history and will pass that infomation along to my family so it can be know.

I also thank you very much for the safety information and will put the hot load turkey shot shells away. I guess you can't always trust your gun shop salesperson as I asked if this could be used for home defense and fire. I am now back in the market for a low cost 12 ga. any suggestions?

Thanks again,
Kemper

[b.goforth]

i would look for one of the modern used H&R's or some time you can find mossberg pump shotguns cheap. several years ago i picked up a mossberg 20 gauge magnum model 500 pump. it was not pretty but functions well. it cost me $80 at a pawn shop.
bill

[KHGII]

I sure would like to use this shotgun and given it can only handle blackpowder rounds I am not having any luck on finding where you can buy them if they make them. I tried Caribala and Dixie. Any suggestions?

[eodrob96]

I am glad that this post is so recent and active. I received an Iver Johnson Champion 12 gauge recently from my father in law. It was my wife's grandfathers and it is in excellent condition. It reads something different than the others on here but looks the same. It has the Owl logo on the buttplate and the receiver reads "CHAMPION (in sort of a fancy script)(next line) IVER JOHNSON'S ARMS AND CYCLE WORKS (next line) FITCHBURG MASS. U.S.A." On the top center of the barrel it reads "-12 GAUGE FULL CHOKE. BARREL AND LUG FORGED IN ONE-" The last markings I can find are a sort of code like a serial number on several parts. On the underside of the handguard, the mount screwed to the handguard, the bottom of the lug, and on the bottom tang of the receiver are the letters "GRCU". The receiver is flat sided like in the second set of pics above. I would appreciate any info you could give me. There is nothing about any "Pats Pending" or anything else. I am normally a mil surp guy but this is a beautiful old shotgun I would like to know more about. Perhaps I was VERY stupid today but everything looked good to me to take it out and shoot it. I would like to use it for some deer hunting (I like to use older guns as it makes me feel connected to my Great Grandfather and the old hunting camp). I fired two 2 3/4 Remington sluggers out of it and killed my shoulder. First I guess I am lucky nothing went wrong, second I will NEVER do that again. It kicked harder than anything I have ever shot in my life to include .50 cal BMG rifles. Thanks guys.

[b.goforth]

there was a time in the late 1930's (1937-1940) where iver johnson used letter instead of numbers in their serial numbers on single barrel shotguns. the reason for this is unknown at this point in time. some of these letters even spelled simple words, i have seen one thar read BUG U. after wwII they went back to numbers and a single letter suffix.

bill

[KHGII]

This project as I now call it has become very interesting. Finding pre-loaded blackpowder shells is not easy however, loading your own is not that complicated. I've ordered the pre-primed shells from Cablais, the wads, cards, and shot from circle fly wads.

Kemper

[KHGII]

I should clarify the cards, wad, and shot were ordered through Track of the Wolf, Inc.

[b.goforth]

good luck with your project.
bill

[KHGII]

Well, here is the end product. I plan on trying it this weekend and I am using 00. Loading was easy. We will see.

Kemper

[stevenmharper]

i also just recently have recieved a iver johnson 410. would like to know its age. iver johnson full choke barrel and lug forged in one, is stamped on barrel. pat is june 15.15. and the serial number is very short it seems 5315D

[b.goforth]

can't give you an exact date but this one most likely manufactured between 1916 and 1929. iver johnson discontinued the marking of patent dates by the 1930's and this is the standard size frame 410 which was introduced in 1916.
bill

[92rs25th]

Hi, guy. im knew here and i dont know a ton about guns simply put but i was hoping sombody could give me some answers. My grandad just gave me his grandads 12 gauge shotgun (which would be my great great grandads). it has been well kept and is free of rust. the description goes as follows. on the left side of the gun above and forward of the trigger it says the following:

IVER JOHNSON'S
ARMS AND CYCLE WORKS
FITCHBURG,MASS USA
CHAMPION

just like that, all caps block font alligned just like above. on the top of the barrel closest to the hammer it says the following:

-12 GAUGE CHOKE BORE. BARREL AND LUG FORGED IN ONE-

it says it just like that. behind the trigger gaurd is the serial number stamped: 62297

there are no pattent numbers that i have found on it and i have searched.
when you break the gun on the left side just under the barrel infront of the shell ejector there is a letter "P" stamped on it.

this is all the lettering i can find on the gun. it does not have the origional butt stock on the gun. it has a rubber one on it thats says "HAWKINS".
ive cleaned the exterior very well with metal tarnish remover and polish and it looks very nice.

ive heared that some of these guns are black powder guns and should not be used with modern 12 gauge shells. this of course after i shot the shells of game shot. i will post picture if some one can please give me a rough time frame of when this gun was made AND IF IT IS SAFE TO FIRE MODDERN SHELLS. if the pictures help please give me any information you can about the gun.

[92rs25th]

another shot

[b.goforth]

this is the standard model 36 champion introduced in 1909 (safe with smokeless powder loads). the lack of the model 36 markings suggest manufacture in the 1920's as does the small slim forearm and the rounded pistol grip. sorry i can't for now pin point an exact date of manufacture just the era of the 1921 to 1929.

the butt stock is original just the recoil pad is a after market add-on. the champion 12 gague modes did have a hard kick to them.

if in good shooting condition this shotgun should be safe with modern 2 3/4 inch field loads.
bill

[92rs25th]

thank you. the leaver that allowes the barrel to break down to load the shell has about a 1/3 of an inch of play in it. is this normal? should it be free of play? if so what parts would i need to replace? the webpage below shows a breakdown of the gun.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productsch...=0770zCHAMPION

i know the firing pin and spring need to be replaced. the spring is bent almost crushed and the pin doesnt fully retract. the pin shows wear and the gun some times wont fire the first time you pull the trigger, you have to cock it and try again some times.

and i see why great great grandad put the rubber butt plate on it. im 5'7'' and the bloody thing kicks like a mule several shells and i have a sore shoulder. would buck shot be safe if field shot is?

[b.goforth]

some wear can be expected from the top snap action but as long as in is returning by its self it should be ok. when you manually have to return the top snap lever then it spring is broken. this is the weakest part (the spring) of an otherwise robust action.
bill

[Kisiah]

After hours of searching online, i have seem to run out of places to look, so i figured one of you guys might be able to help me. I just bought an iver johnson shotgun from my step grandfathers estate. I'm having trouble finding exactly what it is. Its in kinda of rough shape but i can make out the "champion" on the barrel and what seems to be "pat 7-30-86" All of the single shot shot guns i have found pictures have the break action on the reciever. On mine the break is the trigger gaurd. Can anyone help me out with some info and if it is something special and worth ensuring. Thanks

[b.goforth]

champion brand name was first used on single barrel shotguns retailed by the J.P. Lovell Co. of boston about 1875 through 1880. these shotguns were manufactured for J.P. Lovell Co. by c.s. shattuck co. and the american gun co. after 1880 iver johnson took over the manufacture of the champion single barrel shotguns sold by J.P. Lovell Co. the iver johnson manufactured single guns were offered in a "top snap model", a "side snap model" and a "hammerless model". after 1894 iver johnson took over the champion name and advertized it as their own, still offering the top snap, side snap and hammerless models. these model were discontinued in 1899 when iver johnson brought out a new line of single barrel shotguns simply called in the catalogs iver johnsons top snap and iver johnson semi-hammerless models. the champion name was then used by iver johnson for single guns they furnished to the wholesale mail order trade. in 1909 the name champion was again used on the main line single barrel shotguns but model 36 or model 39 were also used with the name champion. about 1918 the model numbers were dropped from the catalog and the champion name was used alone.

CHAMPION TOP SNAP-----------------------------------------1880-1900
Single barrel hammer; 12 gauge only; 30 inch plain twist steel choked barrel; top lever break open mechanism; rebounding hammer; double locking bolt; automatic extractors; American Black Walnut butt stock and fore-end; nickeled frame, browned barrel (barrel imported from Belgium); weight 6½ pounds; overall all length 45¾ inches. ONLY MARKINGS WILL BE CHAMPION NAME ON TOP OF BARREL AND POSSIBLY PATENT DATE OF JULY 27, 1880
VALUE: 100%=$300 60%=$135

CHAMPION SIDE SNAP---------------------------------------1880-1900
Single barrel hammer; 12 gauge only; 30 inch plain twist steel choked barrel (barrel imported from Belgium; side lever break open mechanism; double locking bolts; re- bounding hammer; automatic extractors; American Black Walnut butt stock and fore – end; nickeled frame and browned barrel; weight 6½ pounds; overall length 45 ¾ inches. ONLY MARKINGS WILL BE CHAMPION NAME ON TOP OF BARREL AND POSSIBLY PATENT DATE OF JULY 27, 1880
VALUE: 100%=$300 60%=$135

CHAMPION SIDE SNAP HAMMERLESS-----------------------------1880-1900
Single barrel concealed hammer; 12 gauge only; 30 and 32 inch plain twist steel choked barrel (barrels imported from Belgium); side lever break open mechanism, cocks on opening; double locking bolt; automatic extractors; American Black Walnut butt stock and fore-end; nickel frame and browned barrel; weight 6½ pounds; overall length 45 ¾ inches. . ONLY MARKINGS WILL BE CHAMPION NAME ON TOP OF BARREL AND POSSIBLY PATENT DATE OF JULY 27, 1880
VALUE: RARE 100%=$325 60%=$155

please double check the patent date on your gun as it does not quite match the information i have.
bill