iver johnson top break .32 help

[Foadhagen]

Alrighty guys so years ago i did western shows at biker ralleys and i picked this little guy up, its sat for years and when i took it out the other day i noticed the trigger wasnt acting right. Ive got it all torn down and decided to do a little research on it but i cant see a seriel number under the grips to give me an idea what ive got here. There is a flat leaf hammer spring and the barrel reads "iver johnson arms and cycle works fitchburg mass. Usa patd apr 6 86 feb 13 87(?) May 10 87(?) Dec 26 98 pats pending" not 100% sure those are 87's but thats what it looks like, the butt is marked 38027 and above the chambers its pretty warn but i wanna say its 42088 thanks in advance for the help guys! And anyone know a trick for replacing a trigger spring without hunting a gunsmith down?

 

[RaceM]

You can make flat springs by cutting up one of those big spring type paper clips (black triangular clip with folding silver bails) with aviation shears. Might take several tries to get a good one but it's a cheap & relatively easy way to go.

 

[Radagast]

Definitely a black powder gun. See Driftwood Johnson's ID thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=738555

This page may help:
http://www.american-firearms.com/am... Works/Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works.html

 

[Jim K]

Those IJ's use a trigger spring that is a flat spring (only slightly curved) with a hole in it. Wolff has them but I don't think they sell individually, only as part of a spring pack. The paper clip idea might work, but it might take two layers to be strong enough.

Jim

 

[alexander45]

For a flat spring just canibalize a spring steel feeler gauge. The things are great for every thing from a needle post in a tattoo gun, a flap valve in a small engine or compressor, and a great many other things just pick the one of the correct and conveniently marked thickness and get to cutting

 

[Jim K]

Would a feeler gauge cheap enough to cut up for a $5 spring be of high quality spring steel?

Try www.gunpartscorp.com.

Jim

 

[alexander45]

The answer would be a great big maybe iv never payed much more than 5 bucks for one but I have definitely seen some I wouldn't give a dime for, that said if the spring is available from a parts shop I Really wouldn't bother making springs for it even if it was a $40 spring it's too much work if you have other options

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Garage sales are a great source for cheap items like feeler gauges. See them all the time for less than $1.00.

 

[Avenger]

A Grainger catalog is an absolute must-have for anybody doing home repair work on just about ANYTHING. They have all manner of useful little bits and pieces for mechanical tinkering.