Iver Johnsons 1. The Beginning.

[Cyrano]

Occasionally there are questions about Iver Johnson handguns on the forum. Hopefully this brief survey will help answer some of them. Mods, if this takes up too much bandwidth (8 posts, with pix), please feel free to delete. In 1871 a Norwegian immigrant, named Iver Johnson, along with another former employee of the Allen & Wheelock Company, Martin Bye, formed Johnson and Bye, Gunsmiths. The company was later renamed Iver Johnson and Company, and then Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works. Iver Johnson died of tuberculosis in 1895 and his sons ran the company thereafter. The first product of the company was a 30 caliber single shot percussion pistol, the Hero. Small single shot 22 caliber derringver type pistols such as the Eclipse were also produced.

Then came a line of spur trigger revolvers. None bore the name Iver Johnson, in calibers 22, 32w, 38 and 41 rimfire. Another line was bulldog type solid frame double action revolvers made in 22, 32 38 rimfire and 44 Webley and 44 Bulldog center fire.

In 1879 Iver Johnson produced a double action revolver with a swing out cylinder in 38 S&W caliber. The cylinder was pivoted at the front, and it could be pushed down on the pivot for ejection. It was very advanced for its day but few were made.

Most Iver Johnsons are in far from prime condition. They were using arms and were rode hard and put away wet. The ravages of black powder residue and corrosive primers are all too visible.

Photo 1. Eclipse single shot 2 pistol.
Photo 2. Model 1879 revolver.
Photo 3. Model 1879 with cylinder swung out.
Photo 4. Model 1879 with extractor extended.

 

[Cyrano]

2. The First Top Breaks

Iver Johnson produced the model 1888 and Swift revolvers, both in 38 S&Wcaliber with a cylinder latch different from the standard top break. In 1894 they introduced the 'Safety Automatic Revolver' in three sizes: a small frame for a 7 shot 22 rimfire, a medium frame for a five shot 32 S&W (short) and a large frame 5 shot for the 38 S&W cartridge. Since these pistols were designed for self defense, few of the 22s were sold. The standard finish was nickle plating, wiich resisted rust better in a pocket pistol. Blue was optional at $1 extra.

The first production had a latch hinged at the extreme rear of the top strap with the thumbpiece forward on the left side of the top strap. There was only one locking lug on the frame. Forward of the thumbpiece is a small checkered button on the left side of the top strap; the cylinder release. The button was discontinued shortly thereafter. Iver Johnson produced two different models: a hammer and hammerless model with an internal hammer which could be fired double action only. These first hammerless models were made on the hammer frame with a shrould pinned in place concealing the hammer.

Since 1894 the Iver Johnsons had a transfer bar automatic safety as part of the lockwork. The transfer bar was pivoted on the trigger; when the trigger was held back the transfer bar was between the frame mounted firing pin and the hammer, transmitting the blow of the hammer to the firing pin. When the trigger was released, the tranfer bar moved down, and the hammer could no longer reach the firing pin. This was the famous 'Hammer the Hammer' safety. Hamerless revolvers also had this safety, but they had an additional safety in the trigger, a small lever that had to be depressed before the trigger could be pulled, Its descendant is found on the Glock trigger.

Barrel lengths were 2", 3", 3 1/4", 3 1/2", 4", 5" and 6". Standard for the 32 S&W was 3", and 3 1/4" for the 38 S&W.

Photo 1. Five inch barreled 38 S&W caliber revolver with pushbutton cylinder release on top. 32 S&W caliber, three inch barreled revolver on bottom.
Photo 2. Hammerless 32s, six and three inch barrels.
Photo 3. Lock in open position.
Photo 4. Trigger safety on hammerless revolver.

 

[Mike McLellan]

Hey, where's the pictures?

 

[Cyrano]

The 1896 Locking System.

Mike: be patient.

It became apparent that the single locking lug wasn't strong enough for continual usage, particularly in the 38 S&W caliber. The new system employed a 'T' shaped lock on the top strap, pivoted at the front, very similar to the S&W and H&R revolvers. The new lock had a lot more bearing surface between lock and locking lug and was much stronger. A new frame was developed for the hammerless revolvers: the sides were higher and covered the hammer, doing away with the separate hammer shroud. A variant was equipped with the Bourne Knuckle Duster; this was actually patented, not as a means of delivering a blow, but to aid in stability in holding the weapon.

The model with the 'T' shaped lock was the most popular of the Iver Johsnon revolvers. Between 1896 and 1909 incredible numbers of these revolvers, up into the millions of units were produced and sold world wide. The name Iver Johnson became world famous.

Photo 1. Top: 32 S&W caliber nickel finish, 6 inch barrel. Bottom: Hammerless model, 38 S&W caliber, 5 inch barrel, blued.
Photo 2. 32 caliber with Bourne Knuckle Duster.

 

[Cyrano]

4. The Changes of 1909.

The introduction of smokeless powder had made the early revolvers obsolete. In 1909 frames and cylinders were made of improved steel, and all springs were either coil or wire. Positive cylinder stops were added to the cylinder. There were four pins in the frame below the trigger guard instead of two previously: the front and rear mounting pins for the trigger guard, the trigger pivot and a thin pivot pin for the cylinder lock. ALL revolvers made before the 1909 change were safe for black powder ONLY. Anything more than a few rounds of smokeless was sure to stretch the fame and loosen the locking mechanism.

Serial numbers are found on various places: the bottom of the trigger guard, the bottom of the grip and underneath the top strap for instance. However the complete serial number, with letter prefix, is found on the left side of the grip frame. The left grip must be removed to see the number.

Photo 1. Detail of the frame of a pre-1909 hammerless revolver.
Photo 2. Detail of the frame of a 1909 revolver.
Photo 3. 1909 revolvers: top, 32 caliber, blue, five inch barrel. Bottom 38 caliber, hammerless, nickel, 3 1/4 inch barrel.
Photo 4. Serial number and letter prefix on the grip frame of a 1909 revolver. The adjustment for mainsprfing tension is also visible.

 

[Cyrano]

5. More on the 1909s.

A new caliber was introduced in 1909: the 32 S&W long was chambered in the large (38 S&W size) frame with a six shot cylinder. Even the direction in which the owl pointed on the top of the grip was changed. An oversized walnut grip was produced, called the "Western" grip. The previous models of top break were not particularly hard to reassemble but the new revolver was a bear to get back together; the problem was all the things that had to be aligned or in position before the two trigger pins could be put into place. Although the new revolver stayed in the line until 1941, fewer were produced than previous models. Most of this is due to the appearance of gun laws that prohibeted carrying firearms which up to that time had been habitual for many people.

Photo 1. Owl's head on grip of pre-1909 revolver.
Photo 2. Owl's head on grip of 1909 revolver.
Photo 3. 32 caliber revolver with four inch barrel and Western Grip.
Photo 4. 32 caliber, six inch barreled revolver with Iver Johnson holster. The holster is marked for a 38 caliber revovler but came with the 32 caliber revolver shown. Iver Johnson holsters are rare.
Photo 5. Markings on Iver Johnson holster. The 4756 is probably a model number.

 

[Cyrano]

6. The Model 1900, the US Revolver Company and the Secret Service Specials.

In an attempt to offer a less expensive revolver, Iver Johnson produced the Model 1900. It was a solid frame, double action revolver in calibers 22 rf, 32 S&W and 38 S&W. Huge numbers were sold. Standard barrel length was 2 1/2 inches although others were offered. Standard finish was nickle. It lacked the 'Hammer the Hammer' feature.

After the adoption of the 1909 changes, Iver Johnson continued to offer the older model top break revolvers, adapted for black powder only. They cost less than the 1909 model. To distinguish them from the newer model, they were marked US Revolver Company. They, too, lacked the 'Hammer the hammer" feature.

In the early 1900s, Fred Biffar of Chicago, with ties to Sear Roebuck, began to wholesale firearms under the name Secret Service Special. Needless to say, there was no relation between the revolver and the US Secret Service. He initially contracted with Meriden Arms Co and then with Iver Johnson who furnished their US Revolver Company weapon which were marked Secret Service Special. The grips bore the initials S.S.S. The top of the barrel was marked For 32 (or 38) Smith & Wesson Ctgs. Iver Johnson furnished both hammer and hammerless revolvers in both calibers. All were nickeled. Some, but not all, had a manual safety connected to the hammer pivot. Additional Secret Service Specials were made by Hopkins & Allen and Harrington & Richardson using their own designs.

Photo 1. A hammerless, 2 inch barreled US Revolver Company weapon.
Photo 2. Secret Service Special revolvers. Top: 38 caliber without safety. Middle: 32 caliber hammerless with safety. Bottom: Meriden Arms 32 caliber.
Photo 3. Secret Service Special grips.

 

[Cyrano]

7. Post World War II.

The top break revolvers were discontinued after World War II since sales in the 20s and 30s had been slow. However sales of 22 caliber revolvers for plinking and target shooting had been good; Iver Johnson concentrated on that market. A variety of full sized 22 caliber revolvers were produced, both solid frame and hinged frame. Many had ajustable sights, which some had an adjustable finger piece on the front grip strap. They were nowhere near as refined as the comparable Smith & Wesson or Colt models, but were sturdy and remarkably accurate. A few were offered with short barrels as 22 caliber pocket pistols.

Iver Johnson also imported a line of Uberti single action army replicas under the name Cattleman. They were offered in calibers 357 Magnum, 45 Colt and 44 Magnum with various barrel lengths including a 'Buntline". A 22 caliber version was offered under the name Trailblazer.

Photo 1. Iver Johnson Target, Model 57A, caliber 22, six inch barrel, solid frame, rear sight adjustable for windage, front sight adjustable for elevation.
Pnoto 2. Iver Johnson Cadet, Model 55 S. caliber 22, 2 1/2 inch barrel.

 

[Cyrano]

8. The Automatic Pistols

In 1973 the company was in bad financial straits, their product line had little customer appeal. The company was sold to Louis Imperato who also acquired the Plainfield Arms Company of Middlesex, NJ, maker of the Plainfield M1 carbines. The Iver Johnson firm was moved to Middlesex and production of the carbine continued under the Iver Johnson name. A pistol version, the Enforcer, was introduced.

After considerable negotiation, permission to manufacture the 380 caliber Star DK was also secured and they were named the Iver Johnson Pony, using steel frames instead of the Star's alloy frame. Just over 10,000 were made.

Iver Johnson also produced the TP pistol, a copy of the Walther TPH with some modifications by Erma. It came in two calibers: 22 LR and 25 ACP. These became quite popular.

The company also negotiated wih the Argentine firm TALA for a copy of the Colt 22 caliber Woodsman under the name Trailsman. Some were made in Argentina but the majority were produced in Jacksonville, AR where the company had moved from New Jersey.

The last pistol produced by Iver Johnson was the Compact 25. The company negotiated with Victor Bernadelli of Italy to buy parts of their Vest Pocket 25 ACP automatics which could not be imported due to GCA 69. Iver Johnson assembled the parts on frames made in Jacksonville; the pistols are identical to the Bernadelli version except the barrels are welded to the frame. Small quantities were produced until 1993 when the company went backrupt for the final time and all its equipment was sold.

The company's name has recently been resurrected and they are producing a small line of firearms. I don't know it's extent, but I've seen an IJ Government Model 1911A1.

Photo 1. Iver Johnson Pony in 380 ACP.
Photo 2. Iver Johnson TP pistols: 22 LR at top, 25 ACP below.
Photo 3. Iver Johnson Compact 25.
Photo 4. The best reference on these pistols: "Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works, 1881-1993". by the late W.E. Goforth. It contains tables of serial numbers vs dates.

 

[Mike McLellan]

Nice article. Nice slide show. Great collection. Thanks.

 

[turnerriver]

Very comprehensive survey, Cyrano. You mentioned Iver Johnson holsters- over the years I've picked up those I've run into, shown below. Most of course are made for pocket revolvers although one shown below was made for a .45 auto. Different stamps include both Boston & Worcester locations.
Thanks for taking the time & trouble to post this.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[Cyrano]

Thanks, turnerriver. Love the pictures of the IJ holsters. I'd sure like to see other Iver Johnson guns illustrated,besides the few I showed. I'll bet there's some interesting ones out there.

 

[Qball]

Thank you for the history lesson.

These where my "salt & pepper" Cowboy back up guns.

Unfortunatly had to sell the nickleplated one

 

[Schnard78]

Timely post! After I just showed off my SD40VE to my mom tonight, she pulls out this old Iver Johnson that was given to my grandpa back in the day.

 

[walter o]

thanks

thank you for the history lesson and information on another old firearm.
SO much information on this forum.

 

[JJEH]

Thank you very much for sharing this!

 

[darry22]

Hi

I'm new here,

but maybe can someone help me further.

can someone tell me more to this revolver please ?

what it is for a year of production,

a few people told me it could fire smokeless cartridges

but I do not really ?

Please apologizes my bad english

 

[darry22]

oh I forgot,
it is a .38

 

[mkk41]

They also made these ,

 

[darry22]

well,

but what has that to do with my question?