Iver Johnson 12" 45LC
A freind has a 45LC Iver with a 12" barrel, knows little about it. Gunstore no help. Never seen one before, he saw a picture of one,
he can't remember where. He wants to cut it down to 5" for a "bear gun", I told him to hold on and find out if there is any special interest, maybe cowboy action? Might be too long for that even.
It's in very good condition. Thanks for any info, I looked in this forum and didn't find anything...BS.
he can't remember where. He wants to cut it down to 5" for a "bear gun", I told him to hold on and find out if there is any special interest, maybe cowboy action? Might be too long for that even.
It's in very good condition. Thanks for any info, I looked in this forum and didn't find anything...BS.
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Bill Goforth will be around in a while to give you the straight skinny, ( he wrote the book). Only thing I can add is when the original company was sold in the mid 70's, the outfit that bought them out moved production to New Jersey, and started selling a lot of non Iver Johnson made guns under the I.J. name. I believe the revolver your inquiring about is just a Italian made, (you can tell by the proof marks), Uberti rebranded as a I.J. Whether it has any collector value with the long barrel, your going to have Bill fill you in on that. As he wrote the book he knows what Iver Johnson collectors are looking for. 0 -
I don't believe the IJ would make a good choice for a "bear gun."
For one thing cutting down the barrel would destroy what little collector value the gun may have, if it has any at all. It would also affect the available power and accuracy. As far has defending himself against bear with the .45 LC round, your friend may suddenly wish the gun had a 50 round magazine or was belt-fed instead of the 5 or 6 shots it would normally carry. I've owned .45 Long Colt revolvers in both single and double action. It's perfect for cowboy shooting, and was the issue military round in its' day. But if I were going into bear country hunting, or on any regular basis. and wanted a back-up to a hi-caliber rifle or shotgun loaded with solid slugs, I would carry my .44 magnum with some hot CorBons, or maybe invest in a .454 Casull. You can practice with it using the .45 Colt rounds, but for the bear trip I'd load the .454 Magnums. They hit a LOT harder than the old cowboy-style loads, and the old IJ probably wouldn't take really hot hand-loads in the .45LC. It's not worth the safety risk to find out. I am NOT an expert hunter, but for tangling with an irritated bear I'd want something with a lot more stopping power than a standard-velocity .45 Long Colt round. Just my opinion........0 -
the only iver johnson in 45 long colt caliber (to the best of my knowledge) was the uberti imported cattleman single action. the person who purchase iver johnson in the mid 1970's also was the exclusive importers of uberti handguns for a while. between about 1973 and 1978 the uberti cattleman single action also was marked with the iver johnson name. this is the same uberti cattleman still being imported today.
i can't say for sure but this revolver is most likely the cattleman buckhorn magnum. the only iver johnson marked cattleman i have seen with a 12 inch barrel. the 12 inch barrel has a slightly different story as it was never cataloged and most likely only imported for one year as they usually have the fitting to attach a shoulder stock and the BATF did not like that. i have a 357 magnum caliber with 12 inch barrel set up for shoulder stock attachment and have seen a couple of others. this model was later imported with an 18 inch barrel as the cattleman buntline complete with shoulder stock. my advice is not to cut the barrel but put it up for auction. value would be at least 10% over what a regular barrel length cattleman would bring. below is information on those with the iver johnson name.
I.J. CATTLEMAN MAGNUM
1973-1978
Large frame, single action, rod ejection revolver imported from Italy. Finish Blue barrel, Case hardened frame, Brass trigger guard and back strap; Grips one piece European Walnut; Sight fixed (groove in top strap); Caliber: .357 Magnum, .45 Long Colt and .44 Magnum; Cylinder capacity all calibers 6 rounds; Barrel length: .357 Magnum and .45 Long Colt 4 _, 5 ? and 7 ? inches; Barrel length: .44 Magnum: 6 and 7 ? inches; Weight all calibers: 4 _ inch barrel 40 ounces, 5 ? inch barrel 41 0zs. 6 inch barrel 42 ? ounces, 7 ? inch barrel 44 ounces; Overall length: 4 _ inch barrel 10 ? inches, 5 ? inch barrel 11 inches, 6 inch barrel 11 ? inches, 7 ? inch barrel 12 _ inches; features automatic hammer block safety.
VALUE: 100%=$315 60%=$205
I.J. CATTLEMAN BUCKHORN MAGNUM
1973-1978
Large solid frame single action revolver with rod ejection imported from Italy. Finish: Blue barrel, case hardened frame and Brass trigger guard & back strap; Grips one piece European Walnut; Sights rear adjustable for elevation and windage; Calibers: .357 Magnum, .45 Long Colt and .44 Magnum; Cylinder capacity all calibers 6 rounds; Barrel length .357 Magnum and .45 Long Colt: 5 _ inches and 7 ? inches; Barrel length 44 Magnum: 4 _ inches, 5 ? inches and 7 ? inches; Weight all calibers: 4 _ inches 40 ounces, 5 _ inch barrel 41 ounces, 6 inch barrel 42 ? ounces, 7 ? inch barrel 44 ounces; Overall length: 4 _ inch barrel 10 ? inches, 5 _ inch barrel 11 inches, 6 inch barrel 11 ? inches, 7 ? inch barrel 12 _ inches; Feature automatic hammer block safety. Note: some very early Buckhorn Magnums were imported with a 12 inch barrel that had the necessary fittings for the attachment of a shoulder stock.
VALUE: 100%=$350 60%=$240
12 inch barrel add 25% premium
I.J. CATTLEMAN BUCKHORN BUNTLINE
1973-1978
Large solid frame single action revolver with rod ejection imported from Italy. 18 inch barrel with detachable shoulder stock. Shoulder stock European Walnut with Brass fittings. Sight: front blade and rear is dovetailed into the frame top strap; Grips one piece European Walnut; Finish: Blue barrel. Case hardened frame and Brass trigger guard & back strap; Caliber: .357 Magnum, .45 Long Colt and .44 Magnum; Specifications without shoulder stock, Weight 56 ounces and overall length 23 ? inches; Specifications with Shoulder stock, Weight 5 lbs, 4 ounces, Overall length 36 ? inches; Features automatic hammer block safety.
VALUE: 100%=$400 60%=$290
I.J. CATTLEMAN TRAILSBLAZER MEDIUM FRAME
1973-1978
Medium solid frame (7/8th size of regular Cattleman) single action revolver with rod ejection imported from Italy. Finish: blue barrel, casehardened frame with Brass trigger guard and back strap; Grips one piece European Walnut; Sights: ramp front, rear adjustable for elevations and windage; Calibers: .22 rimfire and .22 Magnum; Cylinder capacity 6 rounds in both calibers; Barrel Length: 5 ? inches and 6 ? inches; Weight: 5 ? inch barrel 38 0zs. 5 ? inch barrel 40 ounces; Overall length: 5 ? inch barrel 10 _ inches, 6 ? inch barrel 11 _ inches; Features automatic hammer block safety.
VALUE: 100%=$350 60%=$240
I.J. PERCUSSION REPLICA REVOLVERS,
1860 ARMY, 1851 NAVY & 1858 REMINGTON
1977
In the series of revolvers imported from Uberti of Italy there was also a line of black powder replicas of Colt & Remington revolvers,
VALUE: 100%-$275 60%=$150
bill0 -
Dang! That's a lot of info, thanks!
He is convinced not to do surgery on the (apparently) Cattleman,
and might post it at auction some day. I'll let you know. Or he'll
try to trade it at a gun show.
I have a revolver addict freind (me too, just can't afford so many of 'em) who said the same thing about non-freindly attackers of larger species, it's just that the one with the 45LC can't afford a suitable large bore right now. Maybe I'll loan him a Redhawk, hate to have his
girls become grizzly snacks. Thanks again!0
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