Iver Johnson revolver

[wep45]

a friend has an old iver johnson revolver, .38 caliber, 5 shot, marked "property of usa, opd dept" with serial number 17128.

date of manufacture, value and any type of information on this gun will be appreciated.

thanks

 

[Kiln]

They're decent older revolvers, I usually see them between $150 and $200 depending on condition.

They are chambered for .38 S&W and not .38 special. The .38 S&W round is expensive and normally only sold at gun specialty stores (Walmart does not carry them nor do many smaller gun shops in my experience).

My advice is that if you want it for any purpose other than a collector's piece, look for something chambered for a modern round that is easy to find and semi cheap like the .38 special. The guns are alright for what they are, which is an older revolver with some collector's interest building...still though I doubt it'll ever be worth too much.

 

[woad_yurt]

Tell him that Mag-Tech .38 S&W sells for about $20/box from Midsouth Shooters Supply. It's out of stock now but they get it in regularly. That's where I get mine. It's not too hard to find elsewhere with Google.

It's not loaded to original power levels, btw, so it won't blow up your gun. That is, if the gun's not flawed to begin with. I have a few old Ivers and the Mag-Tech does fine.

 

[SigShooter1975]

Iver Johnson .32

I'll put all the information I have found on my revolver and then ask the question. Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Fitchburg Mass. U.S.A. (Serial number under trigger guard) 382XX, Pat'd Apr.6.86 Feb.15.87 May.10.87 Mar.13.88 Aug.25.96 Pat's Pending. small fluted 5 round cylinder, .32 caliber, owl on handle facing the barrel, hammerless and safety trigger, single barrel latch, short barrel. Now the question, any idea what year this revolver was made? I have found all kinds of information about these revolvers but no exact year. Any help would be appreciated, thanks ahead of time.

 

[blakeci]

that Iver is a blackpowder version, don't shoot smokeless
It's between 1896 and 1909
the smokeless ones would have the owl looking towards the grip and have a few more patent dates, I think '08 is one