Any thoughts on make, model and year?
- Thread starter 357mag357
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AZAndy
Member
The owl logo says it's an Iver Johnson, but beyond that, I'm ignorant.
entropy
Member
Iver Johnson Old Model Safety Hammerless, hard to tell caliber from that pic, but most likely .32S&W.
Speedo66
Member
I believe the owl facing forward indicates it's a black powder gun, so I wouldn't shoot it with modern loads.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
You are correct, owl facing forward is a Black Powder revolver.
BUT, the grips for both are interchangeable so the most reliable way to be sure which you have are the number of cross pins in the frame above the trigger. Black Powder guns like yours will have two pins whereas the smokeless powder revolvers will have four pins.
BUT, the grips for both are interchangeable so the most reliable way to be sure which you have are the number of cross pins in the frame above the trigger. Black Powder guns like yours will have two pins whereas the smokeless powder revolvers will have four pins.
AZAndy
Member
All other considerations aside, it's interesting to finally see where Glock got the idea for that safety-in-the-trigger thing. 
MikeJackmin
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The shape of the cylinder stops is another indication that you have a black powder gun. No modern ammo.
As for the date, I think it can safely be called a pre-1900 gun.
As for the date, I think it can safely be called a pre-1900 gun.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
There are three ways to tell if an Iver Johnson is safe for modern Smokeless powder or not.
With the older Black Powder guns, as stated, the little owl on the grips faces forward. If the grips are removed, the main spring (hammer spring) will be a leaf spring. And the cylinder stops that receive the bolt only have one hard edge. In other words, the the bolt prevents the cylinder from rolling forward, but the hand prevents the cylinder from rolling backwards.
Sometime around the turn of the Century Iver Johnson completely redesigned their line of revolvers using better steel for Smokeless powder. They also instituted some easily observable changes in design.
The little owl faces backwards.
If the grips are removed it will be seen that the main spring is a coil spring.
And the cylinder stop slots have two hard edges, the bolt engages both edges, preventing the cylinder from rolling forward or backwards.
There are three ways to tell if an Iver Johnson is safe for modern Smokeless powder or not.
With the older Black Powder guns, as stated, the little owl on the grips faces forward. If the grips are removed, the main spring (hammer spring) will be a leaf spring. And the cylinder stops that receive the bolt only have one hard edge. In other words, the the bolt prevents the cylinder from rolling forward, but the hand prevents the cylinder from rolling backwards.
Sometime around the turn of the Century Iver Johnson completely redesigned their line of revolvers using better steel for Smokeless powder. They also instituted some easily observable changes in design.
The little owl faces backwards.
If the grips are removed it will be seen that the main spring is a coil spring.
And the cylinder stop slots have two hard edges, the bolt engages both edges, preventing the cylinder from rolling forward or backwards.
AlexanderA
Member
Wow. The amount of knowledge on this board is simply amazing!
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy Again
Iver Johnson incorporated a transfer bar inside their Smokeless models, to make them safer.
This led to their 'Hammer the Hammer' marketing campaign.
Iver Johnson incorporated a transfer bar inside their Smokeless models, to make them safer.
This led to their 'Hammer the Hammer' marketing campaign.
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