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Iver Johnson Pistol
357smithwesson
Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
We recently bought a pistol and we would like any info anyone can give us. It has a black grip with a owl's head on it no hammer and it's a small pistol the markings are on the top of the barrel they are iver johnson arms & cycle works fitchberg mass usa then under that is pat'd apr.5. 86 feb.15. 87 may.10. 87 dec. 26. 93 pat's pending then there are numbers on the bottom of the grip they are 18642 if anyone can tell us how old it is we would greatly appreciate it thank you
Comments
Sr.#1718x
On top of barrel:Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works.
What Caliber is it? Is ammo available?
http://www.armscollectors.com/php_bb.html
is a Iver Johnson historian. He has written a book concerning them. If anybody can positively identify your revolver, it's him.
I agree that Bill is the MAN when it comes to all that is Iver Johnson....He knows his stuff and is willing to share that knowledge....
the first thing i will need is the serial number located on the left side of the grip frame under the grip panels this is the main serial number location for all iver johnson ahndguns except the very early first year production of the 'safety automatic revolver" which is on the bottom of the butt. the serial number located on the bottom of the trigger guard was not added until 1904 and is not the main serial number, trigger guards are replaceable on the safety automatic revolver.
the next thing is what are the markings found on the left side of the barrel or the bottom of the butt. between 1894 and 1899 patent dates were marked on the top of the barrel after that they were marked on the left side of the barrel and then the bottom of the butt strap.
generally speaking the 'safety automatic revolver' was manufactured between 1894 and 1941. there were three model 1st 1894-1896, 2nd 1896-1908 and 3rd 1909-1941. only the third model is considered safe with moder ammo.
the 3 inch barrel was the standard barrel length for the small frame 22 and 32S&W. if you furnish me with all the information listed above and anything else you can think of i will give you as much information as i have.
the serial number and markings are about the only way to tell which model is which.
bill
i recieved a message from the owner of this revolver and it has the serial numbe A1718? but he did not give me the patent date markings. so i can only assume this to be a third model small frame "safety automatic revolver' in 32 S&W caliber. the only other time the A letter code was used was on the small frame 32 caliber first model that had patent dates marked on the top of the barrel, which he indicated his did not have. so 32 S&W caliber third model small frame safety automatic revolver serial number A1718? was manufactured in 1910. there were 24,500 of this model manufactured that year.
bill
I can find no patent date markings anywhere. It is a small frame.
Is it .32S&W? If so. is safe ammo available?
THANKS AGAIN!
if by chance this is a revolver that has had the barrel replaced. it may not be safe to shoot. check the underside of the barrel top strap (you must remove the cylinder to see) for a serial number without the letter code that matches the frame. that will tell you if the barrel and frame are original to each other.
to determind if this is a third remove the grips and check the hammer spring. first and second models used a single flat leaf hammer spring and were designed for black powder cartridge pressures only. the third model (designed for smokeless powder cartridges) will have a coil mainspring with a full length guide rod. if it has the coil hammer spring the 1910 date i gave is correct and if in good shooting condition you should not have any problems firing the 32S&W factory standard velocity ammo which is still available.
if you are still having problems deciding which model it is post a clear sharp picture left side with grips removed and i will be able to identify it for you.
bill