Iver Johnson .38 spl. S/N J09883 ??

[Carl Sommer]

Iver Johnson .38 spl. S/N J098XX ??

I was curious bout this old gun I just got on trade. It is an Iver Johnson .38 Special 5 shot revolver with a fixed cylinder and trap door loading, the serial # is J098XX, is there a way to know the age of this gun off the serial #?? and is it worth anything?

 

[Kernel]

I think what you're describing is what's called a topbreak revolver. Iver Johnson made many models which, due to their low cost and reasonable quality, sold very well in the first half of the last century. It's doubtful that it is .38 S&W Special. Most likely it is .38 S&W (no Special), an old black powder era round. Today cartridges are loaded with smokeless powder, but they are not always easy to find and can be kinda expensive. DO NOT attempt to shoot .38 Special in a gun marked .38 S&W.

As far as worth you'd have to post some in-focus pictures. Very hard to say without, but in general they are not highly collectible. Could be anywhere from $50 to $400. In shootable condition, they typically sell the $125 to $225 range. Condition is everything.

 

[Ron James]

Pictures are required, the J serial number was used twice on two different models. { the only time I J used the same letter prefix for different guns ) However, if it is in 38 Special, then it may be a post war Model 57, The 57 came in 38 Special and uses a loading gate. ( After 1958 ) No precise serial number records are available for the post war guns.

 

[Carl Sommer]

thanks guys, It is a .38 special, it says .38 spl on the barrel, and it does not break open, the cylinder just spins after hammer is slightly cocked and has a gate that opens for loading. a smaller trigger to lock the cylinder behind the firing trigger. I went to my local gun store and he said he thought it was the new american bulldog from the 1970's, but the J serial number is what was making me think it was older. did they still use that type of serial number in the 70's?

 

[Carl Sommer]

Oh, and I'll get some pics on here today.

 

[BobWright]

I have a catalog sheet from June, 1975 that shows a Model I382 as blue, 2 1/2" barrel, with fixed sights at the outrageous price of $59.75. There is a 4" Model R384, for $61.45. they are called the Cadet Model, while with adjustable sights are called the American Bulldog.

Incidentally, the "smaller trigger" to the rear is the sear that releases the hammer in single action fire.

Bob Wright