Iver Johnson Champion

[GunTotinFool]

My grandfather recently asked me to find out about an old 12 gauge single shot his father gave to him and I've learned it's an Iver Johnson Champion. Now I'd like to know the year of the gun. The only numbers on the gun are a 146 on both the wood and metal pieces of the handguard and what appears to be the numbers 27146 just above the piece of the barrel that clicks into the stock. It appears as though the serial number has been rubbed off so I guess at some point in time somebody didn't want anyone to know they had it. Even so, is there any way to tell by these numbers what year the gun was made, or even a ballpark guess? Thanks.

 

[Jim K]

The Iver Johnson Champion was about the longest running shotgun ever made in the U.S., though it went through several internal changes. Literally millions were made and sold under the I.J. name as well as under the Mongomery Ward Western Field and other brand names. The gun was also sold in Canada under the Cooey name.

A few were made into the 1970's but the gun generally was discontinued in 1956. The serial number has not been removed, it was never there. It was not until 1968 that federal law required serial numbers on guns; up to that point, only the better quality guns had them, mainly for warranty purposes.

Value, if functional (many are broken) tops out at about $250, with a bottom figure of about $75. They are strictly shooters, there is no collector interest or value.

Jim

 

[GunTotinFool]

Ok, I figured as much about it not being a collector's item. I'd seen a few sites say the same. My comment about the serial was due to the fact that where a serial number would normally be on the underside of the barrel there was a long scratched out spot.

I know the gun was made sometime before the birth of my granddad in 1930 because my great grandfather bought it for five dollars sometime before my granddad was born.

Any-hoo, being that there really is no value to kill in the process, I'd like to have the gun re-blued and the stock refinished as my granddad asked me to do so. I suppose the gunsmithing forum would be a good place to look for a reputable gunsmith in my area?

Thanks again.

Clint