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December 15, 2017, 10:22 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: December 15, 2017
Location: Byron Bay Australia,
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Iver Johnson small frame revolver
My first post from australia.
I have a 32 cal small frame revolver, that i am trying to date the manufacture. It appears unfired with the origional pearl grips. serial number is J3548 Stamped on R/S strap under grips and 3548 on T.G. Any help would be appreciated. regards tony australia |
December 16, 2017, 07:36 AM | #2 | |
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You might like a copy of this work:
Quote:
https://www.amazon.com/Iver-Johnson-.../dp/0978708601 https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...n=new&qid=&sr= Last edited by fourbore; December 16, 2017 at 07:52 AM. |
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December 16, 2017, 04:02 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: December 15, 2017
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I just looked up amazon, and the automatic postage to australia is $65 US,
$140AUST, wow someone is making money. If someone has that book could they please scan a page for my serial number please. tks |
December 16, 2017, 04:04 PM | #4 |
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I don't know much about these but I would be surprised if the grips are original. All I have ever seen had the hard rubber with the owl on them. The way the owl faces tells you if its a smokeless powder or black powder frame.
The cylinder looks short so it may be a 32 short and not the 32 long chambering. Its a nice looking gun. I wish it were mine. I am a real fan of the 32 caliber in a handgun. |
December 16, 2017, 04:25 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: December 15, 2017
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I am fairly sure the grips are origional, they fit like a glove and the number is scratched on the inside of left grip
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December 16, 2017, 05:01 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
This is an Iver Johnson from the Black Powder era. Notice the direction the little owl is facing, and notice the shape of the cylinder locking slots. There is a hard edge on only one side. The hand kept the cylinder from rolling backwards. Around 1900 or so Iver Johnson completely redesigned their revolvers for Smokeless powder. In addition to using better steel, the little owl faced the other way, the cylinder locking slots had two hard edges so the bolt would be engaged on both sides, and the hammer spring was a coil spring. This is a Smokeless era Iver Johnson. Notice the direction the little owl is facing. Also notice the shape of the cylinder locking slots. Underneath the grips, the main spring is a coil spring. |
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December 16, 2017, 05:29 PM | #7 |
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yes it does have a coil spring.bottom of grip strap has following.
PAT NOV 17.08 PATENT PENDING. Im looking for someone to scan a serial number page for me, I have to prove it was built before 1946, re our Pistol Laws in Australia |
December 16, 2017, 06:45 PM | #8 |
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I don't know anything about I.J. revolvers, but I like a good Google challenge. From what I could find it looks like a 3rd model safety automatic. They were manufactured from 1909-1941. I could be completely wrong though.
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December 16, 2017, 07:06 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
I had forgotten about the bolt slots. And I used to know that factoid. I really like the gun though. Last edited by ThomasT; December 16, 2017 at 10:18 PM. |
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December 16, 2017, 09:26 PM | #10 |
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Hear are some more photo's
Last edited by tony.r; December 16, 2017 at 09:31 PM. |
December 16, 2017, 10:23 PM | #11 |
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Did you ever find out the caliber as to if it’s the short or long round? There was a very well written article on 32 caliber guns by Gil Sengel in Handloder magazine several years ago. It would be worth seeing if you can order a back issue of that article. Will it help you with determining what your gun is? No, it’s just a really good read on the history of the 32 round from ball and powder to metallic cartridges.
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December 16, 2017, 11:17 PM | #12 |
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Did you ever find out the caliber as to if it’s the short or long round? There was a very well written article on 32 caliber guns by Gil Sengel in Handloder magazine several years ago. It would be worth seeing if you can order a back issue of that article. Will it help you with determining what your gun is? No, it’s just a really good read on the history of the 32 round from ball and powder to metallic cartridges.
No im not sure, the measurements of the cylinder are 0.950'' length and 0.585'' to the step in the cylinder, if that helps, i dont have and 32 ammo to check |
December 16, 2017, 11:32 PM | #13 |
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I measured one of my 32 long round nose loads and it measure 1.265 so I think its safe to assume your gun is chambered for the original 32 short round.
Those are kind of hard to find around here but brass is available as are dies so reloading makes it an easy job. But if you don't reload and buy factory rounds whatever you do don't throw away the brass. You may not reload now but someday you might and brass is the most essential part of the round. Bullets can be cast, powder works across a broad range of rounds, primers are the same but brass can be tough to come by. A report when you do shoot it will be needed of course. |
December 16, 2017, 11:39 PM | #14 |
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unfortunately hear in oz the gun is held on a collectors licence and can only be shot at a official range.
we dont have the liberty to be able to carry and shoot handguns. |
December 16, 2017, 11:45 PM | #15 | |
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Quote:
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December 17, 2017, 12:18 AM | #16 |
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Your Iver Johnson was made in 1927 , and if in good mechanal condition is suitable for modern ammo.
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Ron James |
December 17, 2017, 12:29 AM | #17 |
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Great thanks Ron.
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December 17, 2017, 03:55 PM | #18 |
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And the grips are original.
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December 17, 2017, 06:06 PM | #19 |
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what value would this bring in the US.
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December 17, 2017, 08:53 PM | #20 |
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These are not high dollar items here because so many were made. Yours seems to be in very good condition, maybe 150 to 200 , maybe a bit more to the right buyer, Hope that helps, good luck and shoot safe.
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Ron James |
December 17, 2017, 11:08 PM | #21 |
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Thanks Ron, it appears unfired.
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December 19, 2017, 08:18 PM | #22 |
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So the government still lets you own handguns down under?
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December 21, 2017, 10:31 PM | #23 |
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The two best known of later "second tier" American gun makers, Iver Johnson and Harrington and Richardson, started out making guns that were pretty much "state of the art" at first. But both companies chose to "take the profits" rather than plowing some money back into R&D, so their designs eventually became obsolete and sales dropped in a vicious, downward, circle. Today, those guns are no better and no worse than they ever were, but when/where better guns are available, they have become of interest only to collectors.
Jim |
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