Iver Johnson Automatic Safety Revolver

[Mountain Treker]

Hello,

I have an Iver Johnson Automatic Safety Revolver chambered in .38 S&W. I believe it to be a third generation based on the facts that: 1) it has four pins over the trigger guard, 2) the cylinder locks in place when at rest, 3) the owl faces away from the barrel and 4) it has a coiled spring inside the grip. I am trying to find out what year the gun was manufactured. The serial number inside of the grip matches that on the trigger guard, H548xx. I am trying to find out when it was manufactured and what variation it may be?

Thanks.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

According to W.E.Goforth's book yours left the mill in 1922. Have fun with it! (And post pix!)

 

[Mountain Treker]

Thank you so much for the info.

 

[mcb]

Now you have to share pictures of said revolver. Top break revolvers are one of my favorites.

 

[Monac]

The coil mainspring alone is a sure sign of a Third Model, Mountain Trekker. (At least as I understand things). 38 S&W is a decent cartridge, and somewhat more available than 32 S&W. The 38's have more kick, but I think they are easier to shoot well with than the 32's.

For variations, you are going to have to put up pictures, or at least copy the exact wording of the stamping on the barrel rib. I don't have a book here, but I don't think there was as many variations of the Third Model as there were of the First and Second.

BTW, if you are new to revolvers, 38 Special's original name was "38 S&W Special". This can be confusing, because 38 S&W and 38 Special are completely non-interchangeable. 38 Special is longer than 38 S&W, and 38 S&W is just a trifle fatter than 38 Special. In well made guns, you can't use one in place of the other.