Iver Johnson Cadet 55SA

[Mr. Mosin]

My father has an old Iver Johnson Cadet, model 55SA, chambered in 22LR. 8 shot, 2" barrel. It belonged to my great-great-grandmother. Never known him to carry it (it needs some serious gunsmithing done to it). I noticed that, on the forcing cone end of the cylinder, there is a notch cut in the shoulder. I learned to shoot on this thing, and it will eventually be mine. Would someone more knowledgeable than I enlighten me as to this little notches purpose ?

 

[montanaoffroader]

The notch is to allow the cylinder to clear the forcing cone when the cylinder is removed from the frame.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

The notch is to allow the cylinder to clear the forcing cone when the cylinder is removed from the frame.

Cool. Thanks. What is that little ridge for ???

 

[BobWright]

Cool. Thanks. What is that little ridge for ???

That ridge, or flange, was to deflect the blast from the barrel/cylinder gap forward away from possible bystanders.

Bob Wright

 

[montanaoffroader]

Not sure why they put the ridge there, maybe to mitigate the effects of the barrel cylinder gap? Just a guess on my part.

 

[montanaoffroader]

Bob beat me to it, lol.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

So... did IJ nake a decent gun and this one had a hard life, or was this thing just ramshackle to start with ?

 

[BobWright]

Iver Johnsons were well made, well fitted revolvers that lacked some of the finer points of revolver making. They were sturdy, dependable guns made at an affordable price. They were made for the bedside table, the cashier's drawers, or store keepers. And they fit that place pretty well.



Bob Wright

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Iver Johnsons were well made, well fitted revolvers that lacked some of the finer points of revolver making. They were sturdy, dependable guns made at an affordable price. They were made for the bedside table, the cashier's drawers, or store keepers. And they fit that place pretty well.



Bob Wright

Sorta like Charter Arms ?

 

[BobWright]

Sorta like Charter Arms ?

I don't think they would compare with the Charter line of revolvers. Same principles, but "clunkier" guns from Iver Johnson.

Bob Wright

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I don't think they would compare with the Charter line of revolvers. Same principles, but "clunkier" guns from Iver Johnson.

Bob Wright

I wish NAA would make their Ranger 2 the size of this IJ, w/ a 3" or 4" barrel. Meh.

 

[Waveski]

I don't think they would compare with the Charter line of revolvers. Same principles, but "clunkier" guns from Iver Johnson.

Bob Wright

I feel I must respond ...

Iver Johnson is from a different era. Comparing them to Charter Arms is definitely apples to oranges.

Is this a clunky revolver? I don't think so ; I do think it is a good representation of a 1930's era top break.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

"Clunky" ?? In my limited experience; no. I'd have no issue in the slightest carrying and using one of these in proper working order and in a semi-decent centerfire caliber. This particular copy needs a new firing pin, barrel/sights re-aligned, and the internals cleaned and looked over. And I'd prefer a DA/SA mechanism, not SAO. This piece is actually relatively slim and lightweight

 

[Coyote3855]

Iver Johnsons were well made, well fitted revolvers that lacked some of the finer points of revolver making. They were sturdy, dependable guns made at an affordable price. They were made for the bedside table, the cashier's drawers, or store keepers. And they fit that place pretty well. Bob Wright

Apparently I got a lemon. My very first handgun was an Iver Johnson Trailsman 66, purchased in 1958. Break top, nine rounds, adjustable sights. My Dad pushed for an IJ because he had a Sealed 8 when he was a kid. After 1000 rounds or so, the 66 stopped indexing correctly. It went back to the factory twice. After the second trip, it still hit the cylinder more often than it hit the .22 rim. I traded it for a Ruger Single Six which is what I wanted in the first place.

 

[BobWright]

O.K., maybe "clunky" was a poor choice of words. But the example shown is a later target .22 and not one of the bedside revolvers. So "clunky" is a poor choice of words, but look at the hammer and trigger, which lack the smooth contours of the Colts and Smiths of the day. Trigger guard pinned in place, lack of contours on the slab sided frame. It was of these features that I referred. Didn't mean to ruffle feathers.

Bob Wright

 

[Waveski]

I would never mistake an Iver Johnson for a S&W or Colt. Rather , it would be reasonable to state that the I.J. was built and marketed as a lower priced alternative to those premier gun manufacturers.

And my feathers are not ruffled. If they were I would have thrown in one or more exclamation points , maybe a bit of bad grammer. (!)

 

[entropy]

The Cadet I had, (and I suspect most of them) spit lead out the side to the point of having to wear gloves when shooting it. I let my kid carry it while trapping when he was in his teens. The major attraction of the IJ Cadet 55 was it was the gun Sirhan Sirhan used. The sealed 8 is a whole different animal. The Cadet is IJ's BodyGuard 38. (the plastic one) the Sealed 8 is their Model 17.
Waveski, that's a nice break top IJ!

 

[Waveski]

Thank you - and it is a Sealed 8.

 

[evan price]

I collect "low end" guns like Iver Johnsons...Cadets, Vikings, etc.
Also Harrington & Richardson.
While they are a bit crude by modern standards, they strike me as well made and good looking.