Anybody Know Anything about Iver-Johnson Revolvers?

CajunBass · Oct 17, 2015

My LGS has this for sale. I'm thinking about buying it, but wondered if anyone would know when it was made or any other information. It's an Iver-Johnson Model 55, 22 LR. S/N is H177xx It seems to be in very good condition, with a box that seems more like something jewelry would have come in than what I would imagine to have been an inexpensive revolver.

Inside the box is an instruction book, and a screwdriver. Well it may not be a "screwdriver", I remember it being just a flat ended screwdriver shank, about 4-5 inches long with no blade. Maybe a cartridge ejector, or a tool to push out the pins. Or maybe just something that didn't go with the gun at all.

Also I noticed with the hammer down, the cylinder spins freely, but locks up tight with the hammer back. Normal? Something broken?

shotgun693 · Oct 17, 2015

Little pocket pistols are now collector items.We used to buy'm for $25 each and I haven't seen one for less that $150 in some time. Research yours before ya do anything with it.
And yep, cocking the hammer locks the cylinder.
Also, the little tab at the rear of the trigger guard is the sear.

nutsforsmiths · Oct 17, 2015

The Model 55 was made from 1957-1979 or so. It was the replacement for the IJ Target Sealed 8 revolver that had been made since the 1930s. I know the Target Sealed 8 I own made in 1947 has a free wheeling cylinder, so I would not be surprised if the Model 55 still has the same style of cylinder. From the information I can gather, a cylinder stop was not added to this model until the 1970s!

That one looks like an early one, since the front sight was changed to around half moon in about 1962. Also, in 1962 the model was changed to the Model 55A. I would think that pistol was made no later than 1959. These pull pin revolvers were well made up until the early 1970s, when quality started to decline.

I would agree that a price of $150-175 would be the going rate.

LEO918 · Oct 17, 2015

I've owned a coupe over the years - found them to be well made but rather clunky.

ColbyBruce · Oct 17, 2015

I had a similar I-J in .38 S&W that I found in the Chattahoochee River at Powers Ferry Landing when I was a teenager. It worked well enough, was about accurate enough to commit suicide with, and the price was right.

I would not spend much money for one of those.

hoc9sw · Oct 17, 2015

I own one in .22, just the pistol, no box / book / tool(?). It is a lot rougher condition. Mine was seized back in the day, and given to me by the judge. I won't say where or why. Don't remember when, maybe '65.

A little pill of knowledge - this was the style if not the model, of Iver Johnson used to kill Robert Kennedy. And people talk poorly of the impact of a .22. This style is infamous.

Anybody Know Anything about Iver-Johnson Revolvers?

CajunBass

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shotgun693

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nutsforsmiths

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LEO918

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ColbyBruce

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hoc9sw

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