Iver Johnson Revolver

[Slowhand]

In case it's been missed Mr. Goforth passed away last Saturday

It hasn't been missed. There are several forums aware of his passing. Mr. Goforth will be missed. The Firearms Forum has a posting notice about it.

I've been reading his book this week. "Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Handguns 1871 - 1978" A very interesting history of the Iver Johnson Revolvers.

[Christopher Carson]

In case it's been missed Mr. Goforth passed away last Saturday

I hadn't realized, thanks for posting.  Yes, he'll certainly be missed...

-Chris

[Buffalow Red]

Howdy

Not quite sure what you mean by smokeless black powder, but your IJ is definitely a Black Powder version.

There are three ways to tell the Smokeless models from the Black Powder models. On the Black Powder models, the little owl on the grips faces toward the cylinder as he does on yours. Black Powder model Iver Johnsons had a flat spring for the hammer, and the Black Powder models had cylinder stop groves that were simply triangular in shape. The bolt only engaged one side, the hand held the cylinder from turning back.

Here is a photo of my IJ Safety Hammerless, a Smokeless model. The owl is facing away from the cylinder, underneath the grips there is a coil spring that powers the hammer, and the bolt fully engages the cylinder stop slots on two edges.

well mine has an owl facing the cly on one side & facing away on other side
says IVER JOHNSON'S ARMS & CYCLE WORKSPAT JUN16.96AUG2 & THE DATE IS DAMAGED
so i dont know if this is black powder only or not ser#23900's

[Buffalow Red]

so my boy has a s&W pocket pistol that was nickle but most is worn off i been thinking of getting one o them plating kits & replating it in nickle
so has anyone ever plated one of othese
if i do i might plate this one as the blueing is poor
7 they look so cool plated in nickle

[Slowhand]

so my boy has a s&W pocket pistol that was nickle but most is worn off i been thinking of getting one o them plating kits & replating it in nickle
so has anyone ever plated one of othese
if i do i might plate this one as the blueing is poor
7 they look so cool plated in nickle

I have several originals done in stainless, nickle and blued. I pretty much leave them in their original shape and don't do any restorations designed to put them back in the shape they were in when they were newly made.


I'm told that nickel cannot be plated directly on steel. You first have to copper plate it then plate the copper.  Have at it and let me know how it goes.

[St. George]

Stainless wasn't an option during the time - nor was chrome-plating.

Guns of the era were blued - blued and case-hardened or nickel-plated - and if South of the Border, sometimes silver-plated, but that was more of an electrolytic 'wash'.

Stainless would come about in the 1960's when S&W built the first of their Model 60's.

The big thing with re-plating is the metal preparation needed in order to make it look right, and by this time, many of those old guns have significan wear on them, enough that markings will be irretrievably lost if polished.

Instead - try Happich's 'Simichrome' and 4-0 Steel Wool - finish with a soft cloth.

It'll polish and clean up a dull finish and make the weapon look 'carried, yet well-maintained'.

That's better than 're-plated'...

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[GunClick Rick]

What is the cylinder diamater on these~Mine is a 38 BP...Got to fins some ammo too

[Major 2]

Slowhand said "...There's of course no Owner's Manual or PDF file available for these Old Gals"

Have you tried Cornell Publications , www.cornellpubs.com

I just got one for my Merwin & Hulbert and will order one for my S&W Lemon Squeezer.

[Books OToole]

Roger;

Is that the S & W you called me about last week?  It is a beauty.

Books

[Major 2]

That's it  turns out it has a box ...  Bore is mint , as are the grips , chambers are bright ..and locks up drum tight.

[Books OToole]

In that condition, with a box, you probably don't want to shoot it. (I know you want to, but you shouldn't.  It is worth too much.)  I have a shooter* 3rd model Safety Hammerless that I would consider trading.

Actually;  the 1st, 2nd & 3rd models have better sights than the 4th & 5th models.

Books




* It is in nice condition, but it has be re-plated.

[GunClick Rick]

I don't think the one i have has ever been shot.I traded a hammerless for it.

[Major 2]

Here you go Clicker...

Mike  here is the S&W

...the description is as advertised, the photos did not do it justice
The Box * may not be original to the gun, it is a correct box though ... I'll have read the inner lid label carefully, to make sure it matches the model.  

* It is a later Box , but it was not advertise as matching

Also came with a set of Pearls... 

[GunClick Rick]

That is way cool~Why do i like these styles so well,they should do them again..

[Blair]

Rick,

Who would you suggest "they" should be?

My understanding is that a 6 shot brake top, S&W type revolver in .38 cal. is being produced. Am I incorrect?
My best,
Blair

[John Smith]

Yes they make at least 3 so pies od S&W top break revolvers, the "Russian", "Schofield" and one called the "laramie". All are full size revolvers.  Ususally the pocket pistols held 6 in .32, and 5 in .38,

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

I'm in the process of acquisitioning this little beauty
according to the owls head looking at the barrel it is a second model
or could be a third model with the grips changed out
hope it is a third model but no biggie if it isnt.

[GunClick Rick]

My owl looks the same way also but it black powder loads only..Finnally got a little holster for mine from Johnny McCrea 

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

Love these old guns!
ya yours is a second model
the cylinder spins freely with the hammer at rest with the first and second models
the third models the cylinder stays locked in position with the hammer at rest
that is the easiest way to tell the diffrence between the two models
the third models were also beefed up to shoot the new (at the time) smokeless rounds.

[GunClick Rick]

What makes smokeless,smokeless,sure seems to me that black powder would be more combustable? It sounds meaner anyway

Thanks for the education,i did not know that,good info..