Iver Johnson's 32 cal.

[Jrmurray75]

Just inherited an IJ 32 cal 5 shot revolver with great family history and I am hoping to find out a little info about it. Serial # is S324xx. Patent dates on butt of handle June 16, 96. Aug 25, 96. Top Break. 5 shot. Hammer. I'm looking to narrow down manufacture date. And any info on what I can use to try to unfreeze hammer and cylinder. I don't think it will ever shoot again (if it ever did) but it would be nice for the parts to function again. Thanks. Jonathan Murray

 

[rcmodel]

See this to help ID it.

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

Then take the grips off and soak in penetrating oil for a few days to cut the rust and crud and see if you can get it turning again.

http://www.amazon.com/Kano-Kroil-Penetrating-liquid-KROIL/dp/B000F09CF4

rc

 

[Jrmurray75]

Will the penetrating oil damage the areas where the nickel is flaking?
- Jonathan

 

[rcmodel]

Probably.

But if it does, the plating has rust under it and is coming off anyway.

You can't really have your cake & eat it too when it comes to unfreezing a froze up gun that old.

rc

 

[Ron James]

Your Iver Johnson was made in 1907 which makes it a black powder frame.

 

[Old Fuff]

Then take the grips off and soak in penetrating oil for a few days to cut the rust and crud and see if you can get it turning again.

Take the grips off, but do so carefully, and do not try to pry them off after removing the screw. With age they will have become brittle and chip or crack easily.

While you have the grips off inspect the side of the frame/handle. You should find the serial number and maybe a letter prefix. That letter is critical because Iver Johnson recycled numbers. Also look at the inside of the grips for a scratched or pencil-written serial No. If it matches the frame those grips were hand fitted to that revolver.

After a second look I see the letter might be a "S" that on my monitor looked like a "5".

 

[Ron James]

S is what I was going by, If it is an S then he already has the grips off. Also the patent dates he listed also date it to 1907/11 and the S dates it to 1907. Iver Johnson didn't go to a stronger " smokeless " frame until 1909.

 

[4v50 Gary]

It's probably locked up by gummed up oil or grease (or even worse, rust). Post a picture of it.

 

[Jrmurray75]

Trying to figure out how to upload multiple photos.

 

[Jrmurray75]

This one too

 

[Jrmurray75]

And here

 

[Jrmurray75]

Uno mas

 

[Old Fuff]

The very well done photographs show that the revolver has old-style (black powder) notches in the cylinder. For an over-a-century-old gun the plating is in pretty good shape, and a solvent-soak shouldn't hurt it too much. I use Marvel Mystery Oil, that is usually found at automobile service stores or departments. When you are done save it in the original container because it can be used over.

 

[JohnBT]

What happened to the front sight? Was there one? Here's my grandfather's 3" .32.



F69553, with "PAT'D.APR.6.86.FEB.15.87.MAY 10.87.AUG.25.96 PAT'S PENDING" on the barrel.

"manufactured from 1897 - 1899, serial number with A, E or F letter prefix"

I guess he bought it used - he was born in 1891.