I am trying to get information on my 5 round Iver Johnson Arms + Cycle Works handgun. The serial number on the bottom of the trigger guard is 45783. The serial number behind the left hand grip is G46768. The bottom of the hand grip has PAT Nov 17 and PAT S PENDING. Any way to get the history behind this weapon such as date of manufacture, where is was originally sold, caliber and value?
Would appretiate any help.
Thanks!

top break or a solid frame with a pull pin, hammer or hammerless?
If you carefully remove the grips-they are very prone to cracking- look at the hammer spring. If a flat spring the gun is designed for black powder cartridges and should not be fired. Coil spring guns were after 1904, (IIRC) and were made heavier and thicker for smokeless powder-modern- cartridges. IJ's were made in .22 rimfire, .32 S&W, .32 S&W long, and .38 S&W. Some old models were .32 rimfire. The coil spring models usually have the caliber designation on the right side of the barrel

Need a better description, more details. The number you describe is a SN, but really says nothing without knowing which gun you have...as a general rule, they are well made and interesting guns-they incorporated a rebounding safety hammer and hammer block-like Ruger-but they did it in the 1880's. Prices depend on what you have and the condition...blued guns are slightly less common-most were nickel plated with about a 3 1/2" barrel.
Records of sale, etc, are long gone.
Pics would be best, but any really detailed description would be a little help.

mark

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Liberals made the USA

I'm hoping someone could tell me what model/year/etc this firearm is and whether it is safe to fire with modern ammo. It has what looks to be a serial number "J14492" on one side between the trigger guard and the 5-shot "chamber" (whatever the part is called that holds the rounds, I don't know it's name, sorry.) On the other side, same location, it says "IVER JOHNSON'S ARMS FITCHBURG, MA., U.S.A" in two lines. It also has an "IJ" at the top of the grips where I've been seeing online most everyone else's has an owl head. This weapon does not break in half, has never been the "shiny" type (looks liked the trigger guard is/was blued,) and has the old-looking black hard plastic for the grips on both sides.

A picture of the weapon has been attached if needed for identification. Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

Attached Images

IJ handgun.jpg (66.6 KB, 165 views)

I'm no expert on IJs, but from the looks of it in your picture, it appears to be a later model one, probably made in the 1960s or later. The name Iver Johnson's Arms Co. started in 1978, so yours is probably from then or later. It would be perfectly safe to fire with new ammunition, provided it appears to lock up OK. You don't say the caliber, but the great majority of later IJs were in .22, but other calibers were made. Yours could be in .32 S&W Long.

From what I could find on the net, the Iver Johnson's Arms Company relocated from MA to New Jersey in '71. This is what's throwing me off, as well as the owner of it says it uses rounds for a .38 Special.

Could be the Cadet or similar model Iver Johnson. These are inexpensive modern revolvers that came in 22, 22 WMR, 32 S&W long and 38 Special calibers. I don't know the current value but these were valued at around $100. in excellent condition a few years ago. Alanfir.

I have never seen one, but the book says that some IJ revovers from the 1970s were chambered in .38 Special. Nearly all I have ever seen were .22s, sort of like Sirhan Sirhan allegedly used on Bobby Kennedy.

By the way, I re-checked, and the book gives the date of the "Iver Johnson's Arms Co." name as beginning in 1975, not 1978 as I first stated. Anyway, it's in the 1970s.