iver johsons arms and cycle works
I recently aquired a .32 revolver from my father. It is an Iver Johnsons arms and cycle works. I have found two pat. numbers...V17,08 on butt(S Pat. Pending) and 77294 on trigger. Any information about this revolver would be helpful...does anyone have a guess to its value?
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Guy you want is Bgoforth. He will likely be around or you can e-mail him. 0 -
I've got an IJ .32 (small frame) Safety Hammer, 2nd Model, c1897-1908. (Over 950,000 of this model were produced in its 12 years of production.) These guns retailed for $6 in 1905. Sounds cheap now, but remember a workingman's wage back then might be $1 a day! So for a week's wages you could have an Iver Johnson, as opposed to two or three weeks worth for a S&W or Colt. This is one reason IJ made such a tremendous volume of guns in those days - they were well- built and a great value for the price!
Sounds like you've got the 3rd Model .32 S&W - don't use 32 Colt cartridges, they are undersized - don't use modern loads - were made for BP only.
I don't shoot mine.
A positive I.D. on an IJ is sometimes very difficult. Iver Johnson was frugal with serial numbers, and would often use the same identical number several (or many) times over the course of a gun's production life, making it unique each time around (after the first use) by the addition of a letter (alphabetic) prefix. Strangely, the prefix was *only* stamped in one location - on the frame under the left grip, usually - leading to confusion as the # w/o the prefix would be found stamped elsewhere all over the gun, mainly as an in-factory assembly aid to ensure that all the same parts stayed with the gun during the entire manufacturing, fitting, and finishing process. Additionally, Iver was stingy even with the letter prefixes, and would sometimes employ the same letter more than once over the years of a gun's production, though never within the same (major or minor) model variation, so that sometimes the first step in pinning down a revolver's age and I.D. is to determine, from patent markings, characteristics, and other factors, which particular model and variation it is, after which the serial number is used to pinpoint the year of manufacture within that model's run.
Resale depends on condition but it is generally low - I'd say $50 - $200 Max.
Good luck!0 -
the actual marking on the bottom of the butt read (in two lines) PAT'D.NOV.17.08 PATS.PENDING. this marking was used from 1914 until the end of production in 1940. this would make your revolver a third model small frame 'safety automatic hammer revolver' the third model was manufactured for smokeless powder, although the company advise was to use semi-smokeless until about 1912 or so. do not use hot handload in these revolvers stay with factory standard velocity loads.
there were three letter codes used for the small frame 32 caliber hammer third model. these letter codes will be found on the left side of the grip frame under the grips. the problem of using the serial number on the bottom of the trigger guard is that many trigger guard were replaced, therefore have an incorrect number for the frame and barrel. the serial number is also found on the bottom side of the barrel top strap (cylinder must be removed to see). only two of the letter code went as high as the 77294 on the bottom of the trigger on your revolver. "A" in use 1909-1915 and "G" in use 1916-1926. if the frame serial number is A77294 your revolver was manufactured in 1912 and if it is G77294 the date is 1923. in 1912 there were 14,300 of this model manufactured and in 1923 10,300. between 1923 and 1941 production of this model fell rapidly as trend in the type of handguns the public wanted changed. in 1940 the actual last year of production only 850 were manufactured.
bill0
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