AboutCharles Gage Expertise I can answer questions dealing with firearms and their development due to western expansion. I can answer most questions about any firearms of the world manufactured after the Civil War(1868 - present. I can offer safety warnings about these. I can offer opinions and the reasons behind these.
Experience I have been at the study of firearms and their use since my first issue of Field and Stream in 1962.At that time I was completely devoted to rifles, but over the years I have experienced the thrill of the hunt with handguns, shotguns and of course rifles. I moved from Oklahoma to New Mexico in 1972 and since I have taken numerous game and non-game animals with all firearms (cannons excluded)including blackpowder muzzleloading rifles,shotguns and handguns. My favorite handgun for large non-game animals, such as feral hogs, is my Uberti replica of a 1847 Colt Walker. Very heavy, but accurate.
Education/Credentials I am a 1973 high school graduate. Junior and senior year I developed a class on Wildlife Depredation and Conservation of our Rocky Mountain states. My specialty was the brown bear.
Awards and Honors New Mexico Hunter Safety Program Instructor 5 year award.
Question I'M LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON AN IVER JOHNSON 5-SHOT BREAK OPEN REVOLVER. THERE IS NO CALIBER LISTED ON IT. LOOKS LIKE A .32 DUE TO THE SHORT CYLINDER. THIS GUN DOES NOT HAVE AN EXTERNAL HAMMER. THE SERIAL NUMBER IS 239. AFTER THE NUMBER 9, THERE IS ANOTHER STAMP WHICH LOOKS LIKE A SHORTENED UPSIDE DOWN T. THE STAMP IS MUCH HEAVIER/DEEPER THAT THE NUMBERS. IT COULD BE A NUMBER 1, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS. THIS GUN WAS MY GRANDFATHERS. ANY INFORMATION ON THE GUN ITSELF, VALUE AND COMPANY WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU!
Answer Hello Chris. You have an IVER JOHNSON "Safety Automatic".The number you have given me(239?) is not a serial number. The Iver Johnson revolver is broken down into 3 designations;
1st Model(1894-1896); 2nd Model(1896-1907=sm.frame;1897-1907=lg.frame); 3rd Model(1908-1941). There are some simple ways to find the year of your firearm. These include a 'single' top post barrel latch on the 1st Model.It is strictly "BLACK POWDER ONLY"...The 2nd Model has a 'double' top post barrel latch.It, too, is a "BLACK POWDER ONLY" revolver.The 1st and 2nd Model's have a single leaf hammer spring.
The 3rd Model has a 'double' top post barrel latch, but instead of a leaf spring hammer spring, it has a coil(or wire)hammer spring. This Model was manufactured to use "SMOKELESS POWDER". The 3rd Model will have the patent date of 'NOV.17,08' stamped on the barrel rib. This designation was used on all 3rd Model from 1914-1941.
With this said, I will walk you through the dating method used by Iver Johnson,as follows;
Make sure the revolver is unloaded!!!
Use a good screw driver(CAREFULLY!) to remove the left side grip panel. Here is where you will begin. There will be a letter code stamped on the frame. For the small frame .32 s&w 5-shot the dates are; A (1909-1915);G(1915-1926)and J(1927-1940).
The large frame .38 s&w 5-shot or the 6-shot .32 s&w Long dates are; C(1909-1914); H(1915-1941). There is some data for the small and large frame revolvers available in the following serial numbering system:Small frame= 1911(A30201-A66700); 1919(G31001-G39500); 1920(G39501-G46300). In the large frame=1911(C35901-C62500)and 1921(H30301-H41700).This information is from previously 'lost' records that turned up in 1983. A question for you is "Which U.S.President and Senator were both killed with one of these revolvers? You will be the one to place a value on this one. If it were mine, it would be 'Priceless'. However, for insurance purposes, it is in the $75.00 to $150.00 range. I always include a "GUN SMITH ALERT" in my answers, so here it is. Have this revolver checked by a professional gun smith before attempting to fire it. I hope I have answered your questions satisfactorily and thank you for asking for me.Charles Gage
