Old iver Johnson top breech 38, I think
- Thread starter Boydog
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kind of need pics and info stamped on the gun.....
RevolvingGarbage
Member
Blackpowder frame based on the cylinder cuts. The size leads me to guess it's a. 32S&W (not long). A Safety Hammer Old Model, I believe?
RevolvingGarbage
Member
Not true, they made 5 shot small frame .32 revolvers. They may have made a 6 shot. 32 Long on the same frame as the 5 shot. 38's. I feel like maybe that was H&R but perhaps Iver did as well.
I will double check when I get home, but I believe you can get a AAA battery in the chamber of a .38, but it should be a little too big (too wide) if you have a .32
Not 100% on that from the top of my head but I'll get back to you.
AK103K
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I went through this with a S&W top break we found in one of my dads drawers when he died. No idea where it came from. Gun was in real good shape, but there were no markings on the gun as to caliber.
I just took my calipers and started measuring. It was pretty obvious by miking the bore it was a .32. Just had to figure out which one. Check the OAL of the different rounds against what is going to fit in the cylinder. Shouldnt be to hard to figure out.
I just took my calipers and started measuring. It was pretty obvious by miking the bore it was a .32. Just had to figure out which one. Check the OAL of the different rounds against what is going to fit in the cylinder. Shouldnt be to hard to figure out.
mcb
Member
Measure the chamber diameters. A pair of standard calipers will get you close enough to determine if its a 38 S&W or a 32 S&W. If you're careful you could do it will a tape measure.
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Thanks
tightgroup tiger
Member
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/old-iver-johnson-manufacture-date.828320/
Post 5
https://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/iver-johnson-serial-numbers.100202/page-3
post 37.
Yours looks black powder to me.
Post 5
https://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/iver-johnson-serial-numbers.100202/page-3
post 37.
Yours looks black powder to me.
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Michael Tinker Pearce
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This is an Iver Johnson .32 Safety Double Action(1st Model) in .32 S&W. The size of the cylinder in relation to the trigger-guard is a dead giveaway. That and the fact that I own the hammerless version... It's identified as a first model by the lever top-release; later models had a T-shaped release like a S&W.
Looking at the two guns (.32 on the left and .38 on the right) you can see the difference in the size of the cylinder in relation to the trigger guard. The .38 shown is a 2nd Model- note the difference in the latch.
Looking at the two guns (.32 on the left and .38 on the right) you can see the difference in the size of the cylinder in relation to the trigger guard. The .38 shown is a 2nd Model- note the difference in the latch.
test drive
Member
Yes that is a first model. Swing by the gun shop they will be able to tell you if it’s .32 or .38 quickly. But remember it was made for black powder loads NOT smokeless !
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