Date the Iver Johnson top break .38

[Five shot groupie!]

Definitely black powder based on leaf (non coil) spring under left grip. Serial number is 54196. No apparent prefix, might be an inspection stamp or something to the left, or maybe not. 5 shot chambered for .38 S&W

 

[Lyle Wyatt]

I have a Harrington and Richardson "Auto Ejecting" in.32 S&W short, looks just like that except it's a six shot. Last patent date on it is April 1896, someone who knows about such things told me the grips on mine dated it to 1903 or earlier. Serial number is 181xxx, I found it in a reproduction Sears 1904 catalog, sold at the time for like six bucks. I've only shot it a few times, the ammunition is a bit expensive like $30 a box.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

Looks like somebody took a can of krylon to it. What patent dates are visible? There should be text on the barrel rib though the "refinish" might have obscured it.

edit: I just noticed something very strange too. What's with the latch? Normally that's secured with a flat head screw which should be visible on the left side of the frame. It looks like yours has a pin there instead. Is that a camera trick or is that a pin holding the latch on?

If it's a pin, someone probably stretched the original latch screw shooting smokeless loads, and fixed it by drilling the hole wider and using a larger diameter pin to hold the latch.

 

[Five shot groupie!]

Looks like somebody took a can of krylon to it. What patent dates are visible? There should be text on the barrel rib though the "refinish" might have obscured it.

edit: I just noticed something very strange too. What's with the latch? Normally that's secured with a flat head screw which should be visible on the left side of the frame. It looks like yours has a pin there instead. Is that a camera trick or is that a pin holding the latch on?

If it's a pin, someone probably stretched the original latch screw shooting smokeless loads, and fixed it by drilling the hole wider and using a larger diameter pin to hold the latch.

Thanks. Since this my first antique revolver in 30 years of playing with guns, I was none the wiser about the latch pin. Without driving it out with a brass punch that I don't have access to right now I'd say you are correct. I agree the surface paint job is either that or Brownell's bake on coating. In any case someone put 'lipstick on a pig'. The barrel rib says "Iver Johnsons Arms and Cycle Works"
Fitchburg Mass

There are some patent dates in the bottom of the grip that are almost legible, some good daylight and a magnifying glass might better reveal the dates. Looks like May 10th 87 & Mar 13 xxxx.
I was hoping the serial number would give the biggest clue as to the manufacturer date.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

There is significance to the lack of dates on the barrel rib, and which specific dates are on the gun but I am not familiar enough with what is what to help you much. I'm certain the gun is as old or older then my Safety Hammerless old model which was made (according to help I received on dating) in 1898. I believe they started making them around 1891-1893 so yours is almost certainly somewhere within that range.

 

[Five shot groupie!]

^^^^^^^^^
Thanks, that's more information than I had. Maybe others can narrow it down some more if I can get a good look at the dates on the butt.

 

[rjcassara]

Looking for help in dating the manufacture of an Iver Johnson top break 38. Serial number is D 38017, butt inscription is PAT JUN 16 96 AUG 25 96 SEPT 6 04 PATS PENDING. Coil spring in the grip. Photos attached. Thanks in advance!