"Defender 89 (1875 - 1888)
Same as Defender except for improved lockwork and rounded grips. All four calibres."
www2.arkansas.net/~sws1/ijfaq001.htm#J&Brev1
"1871 - Formed partnership with Martin Bye as Johnson & Bye Gunsmiths in Worchester, Massachusetts
1873 - Company moved to new five story building on Central Street in Worchester, Massachusetts
1882 - Partnership with martin Bye ended; became Iver Johnson & Co., Revolvers, marked IVER JOHNSON, Maker Of Iver Johnson Arms Co."
[In a word or two, it's what's referred to as a suicide special - a very inexpensive gun. JBT]
"The Johnson & Bye revolvers were made on four frame sizes, corresponding to the four most popular calibres (.22, .32, .38, and .41), all rimfires. All are five-shot, spur-trigger, single action revolvers. This line was produced with many different brand names on them, some of which (the most popular or prolific) are listed below. Each frame size was serial numbered in its own series, regardless of the brand or trade names stamped on them. After number 99,999 had been reached, the serial would start over with 1. As J&B was capable of manufacturing several hundred thousand revolvers a year (yes, that's right - several hundred thousand a year, thus millions of these little guys were produced), pinpointing the exact year any given one was manufactured is an exercise in futility, as all will have serial numbers of five digits or less, with the same numbers used over and over and over again.
[I trimmed the list. JBT]
Defender (1875 - 1888)
2.25" barrel, octagon barrel, half-fluted cylinder; also they could be purchased with round barrel and bird's head grips (most common). All four calibres.
Defender 89 (1875 - 1888)
Same as Defender except for improved lockwork and rounded grips. All four calibres."
