Iver Johnson Top Break Revolver
What changes did Iver Johnson make to the 38 S&W "Top Break" 5 shot revolver, Second Model, when they switched from black powder ammunition to smokeless ammunition?
I am interested in changes to materials used in production such as improved steel quality. Also, were there dimensional changes which were necessary to handle pressure increases such as larger diameter cylinders, thicker barrel walls, thicher chamber walls, thicher frame walls, etc.
My thought is that there were no such changes because the then new smokeless ammunition in 38 S&W brought to the market place by Remington and Winchester (and of course others) was down loaded to match the original blackpowder loading (not by weight of powder), which was about 640 FPS muzzel velocity.
It would have been inprudent for the ammunition manufacturers to bring high presuure 38 S&W smokeless ammunition to the market place, and discontinue black powder 38 S&W ammunition, when there was a zillion Iver Johnson Break Top revolvers out in circulation in the U.S. population.
Thanks for your input,
Creedmoormatch
I am interested in changes to materials used in production such as improved steel quality. Also, were there dimensional changes which were necessary to handle pressure increases such as larger diameter cylinders, thicker barrel walls, thicher chamber walls, thicher frame walls, etc.
My thought is that there were no such changes because the then new smokeless ammunition in 38 S&W brought to the market place by Remington and Winchester (and of course others) was down loaded to match the original blackpowder loading (not by weight of powder), which was about 640 FPS muzzel velocity.
It would have been inprudent for the ammunition manufacturers to bring high presuure 38 S&W smokeless ammunition to the market place, and discontinue black powder 38 S&W ammunition, when there was a zillion Iver Johnson Break Top revolvers out in circulation in the U.S. population.
Thanks for your input,
Creedmoormatch
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Someone asked me if I could find some information on this particular revolver for them. It is a top break Iver Johnson double action revolver. It says it is a .32 Smith & wesson cartridge on the side of the original box. The box is also dated Dec 21,1916 and has a serial number 205xx located on the bottom of the trigger guard. I would like to know if this revolver is a black powder or smokeless version. I thought someone could determine this from either the serial number or the 1916 date. What little I've read, it sounds like it could be either. The person who owns this revolver doesn't reload so they were wondering where they could purchase loaded ammunition for it. I thought someone might know of some place that reloads for older vintage firearms. Any idea as far as value range goes in case this person wants to abandon this project and trade it in for something more modern as well as practical. 0 -
see my anwser to your question about this matter in your other post.
your thinking is all wrong. smokeless and black powder loads were sold side by side for many years after the introduction of smokeless powder. iver johnson added a warning about firing smokeless loads to the boxes of the second model safety automatic revolver sonetime after 1900. what is good enough for the factory should be good enough for every one else.
bill0
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