civil war revolver question

[docgoodluck]

anyone ever here of a revolver with the markings (SMOKER #3)? this is the only thing on the gun.

[St. George]

Made by Iver Johnson Arms Works - 244 Main Street, Worcester, Massachusetts after 1871.

In 1881 the company moved to Fitchburg, Massachusetts as the 'Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works'.

The series featured numbers 1 through 4, and came in rimfire calibers .22, .32, .38, and .41.

They're commonly called a 'Suicide Special', and are quite common, and of fair to good quality in construction.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Grizzle Bear]

Has anyone ever seen an Iver Johnson bicycle?



Grizzle Bear

[St. George]

If you do - they're worth picking up, since there seems to be a rarity factor in play for really early ones.

Apparently - more fakery goes on in the bicycle collecting world than anyone would imagine, and original examples are highly prized.

I've seen a couple of them - purportedly from the 'teens - in a museum collection some time ago.

Think 'paper-boy bike' and you have a good idea...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Delmonico]

Winchester also made bicycles between WWI and WWII as well as many other things including radiators and batteries.  I have a Winchester serving fork that came in a bundle of knives from a thrift store.  Walnut handle and carbon steel, it does not go into my regular cook gear.

[docgoodluck]

SMOKER BELONGS TO A FRIEND (SOME ASK IF I HAVE FRIENDS)  SO I GUESS HIS CIVIL WAR TALE IS IN QUESTION IF THE GUNS WERE MADE IN THE 80'S
  DOC

[St. George]

You could say that...

A lot of folks figure that 'old' equals 'Civil War', but the series was being made in the heyday of the post-Civil War era, and for quite some time afterward.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Gripmaker]

Speaking of odd items by gun manufacturers, has anyone ever seen a Mossberg ratchet? Have one in my toolbox that is stamped steel and still works great. Would sure like to know how old it is.

[Delmonico]

If I were to just take a guess I'd say between WWI and WWII, I don't know a lot of the history of Mossberg but Remington and Winchester both did a lot of expanding during WWI and then suddenly were left with more factory space and canceled Govt. contracts, both this and the crash of Wall Street in 1929 caused them to try about anything to stay alive.

[St. George]

Given that O.F. Mossberg didn't begin construction of their first firearm - the 4-barrelled 'Brownie' - until 1919 - the tool is at least pre-WWII.

They made a line of hand tools, scope mounts, gun racks and a whole host of odd things aimed at the economy-seeking buyer.

There's a new book out - 'More Gun for the Money' that gives a thorough history of the firm.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Forty Rod]

My kid sister had a pair of Winchester roller skates.  Folks couldn't afford new ones and Dad got these for a dime at a rummage sale and cleaned them up.