Iver Johnson revolver?

[robinkevin]

Are these revolvers any good? Looks like it may be a fun plinker due to the top break action.... But then again says it was made by a "cycle" company?

http://www.armslist.com/p/2757?returnurl=/posts/190064/kentucky-handguns-for-sale-trade--make-offer


Thanks for your input.

* After a quick research I found that Robery Kennedy was killed by a .22 Iver Johnson, and that President William McKinley was also shot by one... are they really small or something to be a choice of assassins?
** It also apears that they had made firearms for a long time, so it wasn't just a "cycle" company.

Seems I learn about a new firearm everyday, I love it.

 

[RUT]

Iver Johnson's were "price" guns....designed for those who couldn't afford S&W, Colt etc. They were never all that good, and the one shown is no $300.00 gun. In fact, I have one just like it. Funny thing, I drove tractor/trailer back in the early 60's, and the Iver Johnson factory in Fitchburg, MA was one of my stops.

 

[robinkevin]

So they were the Charter Arms of their time. The gent that has it listed must be trying to cash in on the age, thinking just cause something is old its worth more. Thanks for the advice.

 

[DrLaw]

Just because they made bicycles does not mean that they did not make a good gun. Iver Johnson guns were similar to the Charter Arms of their day. They had some innovations, like a selectable mainspring tension, the hammer the hammer safety that prevented the firing pin from hitting a cartridge unless the trigger was pulled, and they went on to make other guns later on that are still okay, such as the TP-22 (before they finally went out of business).

Most Iver's like that one can be found (try Gunbroker) for $125.00-$200.00.

The Doc is out now.

 

[damienph]

I have a blue one similar to the one in the pic (hammerless Safety Automatic) except mine is chambered in 38 S&W. If you look at the owl on the grips, if it is upright it is a later model intended for smokeless powder, if the owl's head is "sideways" (like the one in the ad) it is an earlier black powder gun. Either way, as others have said, not worth more than $150 in perfect condition.

 

[Ron James]

Iver Johnson made firearms for over 100 years, You don't stay in business that long by building junk. They were not S&W nor Colts, they also only cost about half as much. They were the working mans gun, every night guard, bank guard, depot guard, and many a small town policeman, all had a " Iver " in their back pocket or holster. Many a range rider at the turn of the century carried a Iver Johnson in their kit bag ( many large ranches forbid the carrying of hand guns. ) instead of a Colt or Smith that cost over half a months wages. Many a bad guy also carried a Iver Johnson in their back pocket rather than a large gun. ( which in most larger towns , firearms were a no no, so a small 32 or 38 in the pocket and you were ready to play ). Iver Johnson's were not junk guns, they were inexpensive working guns, at one time Iver Johnson was the largest gun manufacture in the U.S.. The reason these old Iver's look so bad is because they they were rode hard and put a way wet. Their owners were working people and their guns were tools to be used.

 

[Gordon]

Some are nice!


Top is a tiny 5 shot .32 S&W, bottom is the "Target" version in .32 S&W Long . They both shoot well, for their purposes.

 

[heyjoe]

the top gun, the short barreled top break is a harrington and richardson bicycle gun.

 

[Gordon]

SOMEBODY is paying attention! That gun is loaded as U can see . It wuz my wife's purse gun for many a year.
The lower IJ is the 3rd model with dual latches and made for smokeless powder. The tiny sights will put a .32 Long wadcutter right on at 50 feet and into a very small group with holes touching if I am very careful. The single action trigger is a crisp 2 pounds which helps alot. I like the Rococo style Gutta Percha grips on this biggest frame IJ top brake I've yet seen.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I saw both an Iver Johnson and a Smith & Wesson, both similar late 19th century black powder guns, similar condition, at a gun show a few years back. Each was marked $600. An antique S&W in really good condition might be worth $600, but just because the IJ was the same age and condition did not mean it was worth as much.

In the 1897 Sears and Roebuck catalog, the S&W hammerless top break was 12.50 while the IJ hammerless top break was 4.35. The S&W had a grip safety.