Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works 32 cal

[LostMountian]

I ran across a box full of old pistols in the attic and one of them is a Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle works 32 cal. pat date apr.6.86 mar 13 88,aug25.96
and has seperate the date 10.87 with 4 stars grouped 2x2.

I can not find any other markings except the manf name and address across the top of the barrel.

What I find is curious is I can not find this one listed in my gun books or anywhere online , it has a 5 in barrel and is a top break

 

[Steven Mace]

LostMountian, it looks like you have a large-frame Safety Hammer Model from Iver Johnson.

Steve Mace

 

[LostMountian]

Thank you for the reply and it surely does now that I put the pictures next to each other. Wish I had the original grips for it , Oh well still a great attic find

 

[Old Fuff]

I'm pushed for time, but I'll be back...

The revolver is built on Iver Johnson's small frame, and the cylinder is 5-shot chambered in .32 S&W.

Remove the stocks and see if the serial number is stamped on the side of the handle toward the bottom. It may include letter(s) as well as numbers, so be sure you get it all. The 5" barrel is unusual on small frame .32's.

 

[rmfnla]

Neat old gun; I wish I could find a box of old guns!

Is that a Dreyse .32 in the background of the second photo?

 

[LostMountian]

Thanks for the info Fuff and yep that is a Dreyse in the picture that was in the box also along with about a dozen other H & R,s and more I V . here are a couple more sorry for the bad pic

 

[rondog]

I ran across a box full of old pistols in the attic

Dayum! You lucky dog! How'd they get there?

 

[LostMountian]

From my wifes Dad is the only thing we can figure. When I found them they were in a crumbling cardboard box in the corner of the attic. and there are more boxes to explore but damn its hot up there right now.

 

[JohnBT]

The sun is down now. Get back up there.

 

[rmfnla]

I LOVE those old guns, probably because they were so affordable when I was a kid.

I remember picking up an H&R Young American .22 for $7 at a local flea market. You could buy .22 shorts at 7-11 for $.75 a box, easily raised by returning soda deposit bottles and good for a whole day of fun.

I feel sorry for kids today...

 

[Ala Dan]

Congratulations on the find, what a "classy" wheel gun for its day~!

Man, I wish I had your luck in finding a box full of old handguns stored
away somewhere; as there just might be an old 1877 Colt Lightning in
there? I know for a fact that there is one floating a'round in the upper
northeast quadraent of the U.S. that was once owned by Mr. Samuel
Colt himself; as it has the documentation to prove it~! Last account I
had, it wasn't for sale; I don't know if that may have changed by now~?

 

[Old Fuff]

Ah.....

The late, lamented Col. Samuel Colt passed away on January 10, 1862.

 

[Oyeboten]

Yes, but this did not stop admirers from presenting him with presents, in the form of various Colt Revolvers.

I once saw a Python which had belonged to Sam'l Colt himself...presented to him by a Gun Dealer, who later elected to offer it for sale.


( Lol...)

 

[rmfnla]

Ah.....

The late, lamented Col. Samuel Colt passed away on January 10, 1862.

Yeah, I always thought it was a real tragedy that he didn't live long enough to see the Model P.

 

[LostMountian]

Yeah these old wheel guns are great but my collection is a little newer not much but a little and I lean towards the combloc ,I have a couple Nagant pistols and several Tokarevs 4 russian and 6 from various other countries.

 

[Old Fuff]

I once saw a Python which had belonged to Sam'l Colt himself...presented to him by a Gun Dealer, who later elected to offer it for sale.

Are you sure that wasn't Wyatt Earp or Doc Holiday??

They seem to have had substantial collections...

 

[Oyeboten]

Well, over time, the Gun/Antique Dealer had Models having belonged to those guys also, yes indeed...Wild Bill Hickock, all the great names, and with grainy xerox copies of old photographs showing the famous person reliably holding something else.