Iver Johnson .32 six shot-need help identifying

[Tsun]

Hello all, just bought an old Iver Johnson .32 six shot a couple days ago and am trying to pin down the year it was made. it's a top break double post latch, with the serial number C38605. At some point in its life it was cleaned up a lot, likely due to heavy rust. under the grip on one side it also has the number 1 stamped on the opposite side from the serial number. Top of barrel rib is marked 'Iver Johnson's Arms and Cycle Co, Fitchburg MA'. The action is free with no binding. I'd love to try shooting it, but I'm hesitant given its likely a turn of the century gun. at some point the initials R.S. were carved into the grip with a nail and hammer. Any help especially on date of manufacture would be much appreciated, as well as any advice on whether I should even try shooting it. Thanks in advance

 

[Zygodactyl]

Once you determine it's year of manufacture. You should know whether it has a smokeless or black powder frame. If it's mechanically sound I would try it with black powder .32 S&W shorts rather than smokeless especially if chambered for the 32 long. Starline carries the brass and Lee has the dies.

 

[MikeJackmin]

The shape of the cylinder notches suggest that it is a smokeless-era gun.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

That’s a fun looking gun. You don’t see many of the 6 shot .32s, or at least not in my part of the country. With the target grips and being a smokeless model as another poster mentioned evidenced by the cylinder stop notches, it should be a great shooter.

 

[Eugen]

The small rectangle locking slots on the cylinder suggest it's a 3rd variant model which would make it a smokeless powder design. If you remove the grips and see a coil spring (and not a flat spring) then you indeed have a third model. Those are nice wooden grips. Enjoy your IJ.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

The shape of the cylinder notches suggest that it is a smokeless-era gun.

That is correct. The shape of the cylinder locking slots says it is a Smokeless era Iver Johnson. When you remove the grips there will be a coil spring for the hammer, not a flat leaf spring, also an indication that it is a Smokeless era gun.

Around 1900 or so, Iver Johnson completely redesigned their revolvers for Smokeless powder.

This is an older Black Powder era Iver Johnson. Notice the shape of the locking slots. There is only one hard edge, the hand was what kept the cylinder from rotating backwards. Under the grips there will be a flat leaf type spring for the hammer. Also, note the little owl on the grips. Notice that he faces forward.






When Iver Johnson redesigned their revolvers for Smokeless Powder, they redesigned the lockwork so the bolt was trapped by both hard edges of the locking slots. Underneath the grips, there is a coil spring for the hammer, not a leaf spring. Along with redesigning the lockwork, Iver Johnson began using a better grade of steel at this time that could take the pressure of Smokeless powder cartridges. Note too, the little owl on the grips is now facing backwards.






The grips on your I. J. may or may not be original, so there is no little owl to help identifying it. But the shape of the cylinder locking slots says your revolver was made for Smokeless powder. It would still be wise to bring it to a gunsmith to make sure it is working properly, but if it checks out there is no reason not to fire modern Smokeless ammo in it. I am not sure if it will chamber 32 S&W Long, or only the shorter 32 S&W round, but whichever fits, you should be able to shoot modern ammo in it as long as everything is up to snuff.

 

[garandsrus]

Thanks for the information on the cylinder! I hadn’t seen that referenced before. I checked my IJ, which I had identified as a black powder version and confirmed it has one stop.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

...the hand was what kept the cylinder from rotating backwards.

Actually,no. The cylinder friction spring did that. It's a long slender flat spring with a bow-up in the middle that lives in a slot milled into the upper surface of the arbor. Wolff sells replacements if needed. Enjoy your "new" pocket gun!

 

[Comp_jas]

There's posters in the "ask the pros" forum that usually answer s/n questions....

I had the same concern about shooting my1920 but I got over it..........

 

[Gordon]

The gun above appears to be a "large frame" .32 S&W Long Target model Iver Johnson . I too have one and they shoot pretty well , surprisingly. They are weak tho, use factory loads and check for signs of loosening after each cylinder full . .