Iver Johnsons arms & cycleworks shotgun Help?

[Bandjo]

I have received a 12 ga single shot shotgun. The unit has writing on the left side of " Iver Johnsons Arms & cycleworks Fitchburg Mass USA". It has a serial number on the bottom of the trigger guard of "46893". I can find no model number on the gun. The unit is semi-hammerless with a bobbed hammer. It has a locking bolt operated with a ring journaled in the trigger guard directly in front of the trigger. The gun has nice wood on it with tiger striped grain. The fore arm looks to be a beaver tail design. Can any one tell me about this gun and a value?

[b.goforth]

this model is called the "ring trigger model" by collectors see below for full catalog name.

IVER JOHNSON EJECTOR SEMI-HAMMERLESS (Ring Trigger)-------1897-1899
Semi-hammerless (hammer does not have a spur) single barrel; ring trigger break open mechanism (ring in front of trigger opens action); 12 gauge only; 28, 30 or 32 inch plain twist steel barrel choked; rebounding hammer; automatic ejector; American Black Walnut butt stock and fore-end; cased hardened frame and browned barrel; Weight 7 pounds; overall length with 28 inch barrel 43 ¾ inches.
VALUE: 100%=$325 60%=$155

IVER JOHNSON EJECTOR SEMI-HAMMERLESS IMPROVED MODEL 1900
(Ring Trigger)---------------------1900-1908
Semi-hammerless break open single barrel shotgun; ring in front of trigger opens action; 12 and 16 gagues; 28,30,32 and 34 inch barrels; barrel now manufactured in U.S.A.; rebounding hammer; automatic ejector; improved barrel take down; American Black Walnut butt stock and fore-end; casehardened frame and browned barrel; Weight with 30 inch barrel 6¼ pounds; Overall length with 30 inch barrel 45 inches.
VALUE: 100%=$300 60%=$135

IVER JOHNSON EJECTOR SEMI-HAMMERLESS JUNIOR MODEL
(Ring Trigger)---------------------------------1901-1908
Single barrel semi-hammerless break open shotgun (ring in front of trigger opens barrel); rebounding hammer; single locking bolt; shorten butt stock; American Black walnut butt stock and fore-end; hard rubber butt plate; 12 and 16 gauge; 26 and 28 inch barrels; case hardened receiver and browned barrel; weight with 26 inch barrel5 ½ lbs., 28 inch barrel 6 pounds; overall length about 40 inches.
VALUE: RARE 100%=$300 60%=$135

these single barrel shotguns were manufactured before iver johnson made the switch to smokeless powder and should be considered black powder only model and not fired with any modern smokeless ammo.

the main difference in the improved model is the method used to remove the forearm and barrel from the frame. improved model has a spring loaded detent to retain the hinge pin activated by a small lever on the bottom of the frame.
bill

[Bandjo]

Thank you, for your help. My unit is the later model with the spring loaded lever on the bottom of the receiver.