Iver Johnson Champion in Attic

[DillHarris]

Hello all. My father-in-law recently found an Iver Johnson Champion 12 ga. in his mother's attic. Fairly rusty but it cleaned up well and locks up tight. The hinge pin has been rigged with a wood screw because it broke. After cleaning it up it looks like it has bluing on top of a brown finish (most of blue is gone). It has two patent dates (April of '01 and '02) and a patent pending on it. The only other marks are the word "Champion" on top of the barrel with the patent dates and the serial number #542xx on the forend cap and under the buttstock (on receiver). There are no markings on the side of the receiver on either side (such as "Iver Johnson Armsa and Cycle Works). The forend screws onto the barrel and lacks a plunger type mechanism. My questions are:

1. Does anyone know with these features an approxiamte date of production? I can provide more details as others inform me that they are relevant.

And

2. What is the proper way to measure chamber length? Using calipers it is only 2.640" from the ridge at the end of the chamber to the breech end of the barrel. Was this made for 2.5" shells?

Either way I will try to fix this up, either for the wall or for a shooter. Depends on what I find out. Thanks in advance for the help and have a good one. I can take pics of whatever may be helpful as well (but I'm not a great photographer).

 

[RetiredLawman]

These old guns were popular during my youth and I'm almost 70 years old now. They kicked like an army mule. I don't think their quality was too good as millions(?) of them were made and it is nearly impossible to find one now. They probably ceased production in the 1940's. Just guessing as I can't remember seeing any of them on the racks when I was a teen examining every gun rack in every store I went in. I had no money but I had the wants. When I started making a little money, I wasted a lot of it on guns.

I'd like to find an Iver Johnson Champion in good shape. I's try to snap it up just for old time's sake.

 

[elrod]

I don't have a serial# sequence, only that the "Champion" model was manufactured between 1909-56. Since IJ is out of business, there is no company source for history. Someone else may have a sequence for you. The gun was made in 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 ga.,or .410 bore, also in .44, .45, 12mm, or 14mm rifle caliber.
Blue Book places the value of a 70% gun at $100, so there is no collecter value.
Numrich does have parts:

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem.asp?chrMasterModel=0770zCHAMPION

Hope that helps.......Al

 

[DillHarris]

Thanks guys. I'm sure this would kick pretty hard. It is pretty slim for a 12 gauge and the "buttpad" is a thin piece of leather held on with a couple dozen tacks. Thanks for the parts guide. I checked them out before, no hinge pins. From looking at several examples on the auction sites, it looks like there were several types of hinge pins anyway. It seems like there at least a few Champions on the auction sites. Smaller bores seems to fetch higher prices. Thanks for the Blue book info elrod. The value is really just in the fun of getting fixed up and wondering where its been. Thanks again for the replies and the help guys.