Iver | Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database Best
If you have the left grip off to get the serial number, take a look at the hammer spring.
This comprehensive guide serves as your premier unofficial database and reference tool to accurately identify, date, and evaluate your vintage Iver Johnson revolver. 🔍 Crucial Step 1: Locating the Full Serial Number
Produced 1930s–1950s. Serial numbers often start low (1,000) and go to ~50,000 by 1940. Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database BEST
Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works, active from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, produced millions of affordable, reliable revolvers. Because of the sheer volume and lack of centralized documentation during the era, dating these firearms can be difficult.
A: This was a "trade brand" used by Iver Johnson for revolvers sold by large retailers like Sears & Roebuck from 1910 to 1935. These guns typically lack a letter prefix in their serial number. A .38 top break in this line with a serial number of 680, for example, dates to 1910. If you have the left grip off to
Identifying the serial number, including any letter prefixes, and noting the exact location of the stamp (such as the butt or the trigger guard) are the primary steps in using these databases effectively.
Unlocking the history of your Iver Johnson revolver requires a bit of detective work, but it is incredibly rewarding. While the "Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Serial Number Project" is the best online tool for a quick check, the ultimate best database is the human expertise found in collector forums combined with the unmatched research of Bill Goforth's book. Serial numbers often start low (1,000) and go
offer partial data, general patterns for later models (1909+) include: Serial Number Format Estimated Production Era No letter prefix 1909 – 1919 Single letter prefix 1920 – 1929 Two letter prefix 1930 – 1939 All letter serial 1940 – 1950 Example: A serial number starting with indicates a manufacturing run in followed by digits often corresponds to 4. Identifying Features for Quick Dating The Owl Logo
User interface & search features
Identifying and dating Iver Johnson revolvers is a specialized task because official company records are incomplete . The most comprehensive "database" for collectors is found in , Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Firearms 1871-1993 , which contains the most accurate serial number lists and design evolution charts available. 1. Locate the Serial Number
To get the "best" results from serial number research, you must look beyond the number itself. Here is how the experts use the database to identify a revolver:
