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Iver Johnson Manufacturing date. Black powder?

5K views 12 replies 4 participants last post by  Shrek73 
#1 ·
I ended up with these two Iver Johnson top break revolvers. Wondering what year each was made and if they are black powder only. One is a secret service special with for 32SMITH & WESSON CTGS stamped on top. Serial number is 93082.

The second is serial number 61214 and has IVER JOHNSON ARM & CYCLE WORKS FITCHBURG MASS. U.S.A. on top the barrel and on the bottom of the grip it is faint but says PAT NOV 4 then mayby two unreadable digits, over PAT PEND.

Figure they may be worth $100 each, if I am way off let me know. Otherwise, seem like good shooters if they take standard ammo. Of course black power only would be more difficult to get but would still be fun.

Thanks,
Jim
 

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#2 ·
Which revolver is marked Secret Service? The pictures are not helpful because I can’t see both sides of the gun to determine which one the stampings go with. I am guessing the one on top is marked Secret Service. Can you take pictures of each revolver by its self? The more pictures, the better.


Please remove the grips and get the correct serial number under the grip on the left side of the frame. There should be an alphabetic prefix.



The revolver on top looks like a 2nd Model Safety Hammer Automatic revolver, which is a black powder frame. It has the wrong model grips on it. The Secret Service revolvers came with a SSS on the grip, where the Owl head is. I believe several companies made Secret Service revolvers for a department store, but yours appears to be the one made by Iver Johnson.



The revolver on the bottom appears to be an Iver Johnson 3rd Model Safety Hammer Automatic revolver, which is a smokeless frame.
 
#3 ·
Great feedback, here is just one of the pistols.

Serial number G 61214. Is it possible to identify the year or manufacture?

I like to imagine the era while shooting when I can.

Thanks for help!
Jim
 

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#4 ·
This is the second pistol which reads "Secret service special" on the barrel. If you could confirm the black powder and approximate year it would be great.

Looks like serial number is 93034, no letter pre fix on this one.

Thanks,
Jim
 

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#8 ·
You are not going to get a date of manufacture for Secret Service revolver. Bill Goforth wrote that the Secret Service revolvers were made like the US Revolvers out of 2nd Model frames after Iver Johnson switched to smokeless frames. The correct grips will have a 3 cursive S's where the owl head is. The US Revolver grips would not be correct. If you search for grip, you should know several companies made Secret Service for the merchant, and parts are not necessarily interchangeable.

As far as value, the 3rd Models tend to sell around $150-$175 and increase depending on special/additional features. The Secret Service would be around $100-$120.
 
#11 ·
Jim, may I suggest standing a bit closer? Here are a couple targets I shot with the pair I have at 14'. These were "up close and personal" guns if ya catch my drift.

Target archery Recreation Shooting sport Diagram Precision sports
Target archery Shooting sport Recreation Precision sports Diagram
 
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#13 ·
Iver Johnson's were not considered "Saturday Night Specials". In 1905, a Colt Single Action Army cost $13.00 and a Smith & Wesson top break cost $10.00. The Iver Johnson Safety Automatic cost $6.00. A weeks wage back then was around $1.00 a day.

Iver Johnson were well made, affordable guns. "Saturday Night Specials" refer to cheap import guns from the 1960's such as Rohm, Raven, Lorcin, and Davis Industries to name a few.
 
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