So I found this ol Gun,

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

loudmouth

Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2010
Messages
31
In the process of going through some stuff for my father in law, he told me to get into his old gun cabinet. Nothing major, just a cheap sheet metal one from Wally World. Got the locks drilled and out of the way and turned this up,

IMAG0182.jpg
IMAG0183.jpg

I've found that is an Iver's Johson, I'm trying to determine it's age,
Here is shot of the SR#
IMAG0185.jpg
The only other markings I can find,
IMAG0184.jpg

The trigger will not function. I am hesitant to start disassembling as I'm not sure of parts availability or the value of this thing.

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated!
 
Most likely a Suicide Special, low value, non shooter, hang it on a shadow board for nostalgia. Interesting with the concealed hammer, though. I have been known to be wrong, so keep checking.
 
It's not eating anything, so until I can confirm more about it, on the shelf is where it stays LOL
 
It's a rusty IJ with a hacksawed barrel that's currently non functional. I'd seriously say value is about $30. Put it in a shadow box, take it apart and tinker with it, experiment with unusual refinishes, have fun with it. Collector value is virtually nil for what you have there. I love these old Suicide Specials myself as they're great Americana despite a near supernatural ability to shoot sideways. However, there's still an abundance of nice specimens out there.
 
The "Bicycle Works" on the top of the barrel definitely makes it an IJ, and has been noted, someone has lopped a few inches off. Based on the size, I'd guess the caliber as .32 S&W.
 
Thanks for all the info, I guess I'll give it the Kerosene soak and see what it turns out to be. At least I can monkey with it!
I do however have no intentions of firing it LOL
 
Soak it in vinegar over night first, itll take all the rust off, then soak it in kero overnight for a couple days....
 
Carefully remove the hard-rubber stocks (they are brittle) and see if the serial number is stamped on the side of the frame toward the bottom of the handle. Also look for a letter, and if there is one include it with the number. Maybe we can date it.

I expect it will be chambered as a 6-shot .32 or a 5-shot .38, and if it's a 5-shot .32 we start over.

Glock pistol fans should take a hard look to discover where the trigger-mounted safety lever really came from... :eek:

No, you don't want to shoot it, but it represents some interesting gun history.
 
Glock pistol fans should take a hard look to discover where the trigger-mounted safety lever really came from.
Click to expand...

You mean the 1907 Roth Steyr pistol?

That old I.J. is known as a belly gun or suicide special.
They worked well enough when new to do a robbery, assassination, or to kill ones self.
The ubiquitous house gun from the turn of the last century.

Parts can be made or obtained and there are some gunsmiths who specialize in repairing these old guns, David Chicoine comes to mind, though the price of repair can exceed the value of the gun.
 
You mean the 1907 Roth Steyr pistol?
Click to expand...

No they were pre-dated by Iver Johnson, who patented the system in 1886 (Pat. No. 339301). They were also the first to use a transfer bar safety which allowed a user to safely carry a revolver with the cylinder fully loaded (Pat. No. 566393, dated 1896).

Today it is used by Ruger, Taurus, Beretta/Uberti, Rossi and perhaps others.

As I said, a lot of firearms' history in those old top-breaks. :scrutiny:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top