iver johnson 38

[serviceboy]

just bought an iver johnson handgun. i am trying to find out more info on this gun...
it is 38 caliber
top of barrel reads: "iver johnson's arms & cycle works" ( before the i on iver there seems to be a smaller less deep stamp maybe a lower case b or capital D)
second line reads "fitchburg, mass u.s.a."
under trigger says "15229"
i took off grip and inside on left of grip says "t15229"
the owl head on grip is pointing towards the barrel(i think this tells me its black powder)
i hear some talk about "double post latch" not really sure what this means...
it is a top break revolver, the cylinder does come off

on bottom of grip has "jun 16.96 aug 23" and cant read what year
under those says "pat's pending"
please help anything appreciated. this is my first old gun to start collecting so im very excited in its past! thank!!!

 

[Newbomb92]

Post some pics. How much did you pay for it? Cabela's has one in .380 for like $250.

 

[serviceboy]

My camera is broke or I would.
I bought it at auction for 40.
Can you offer any help? I've been very detailed

 

[sptland]

Try this website -- they do seem to have some info on what you're talking about -- American-Firearms or American-Firearm -- not sure what all you're looking for but may be a good start.

 

[serviceboy]

no that doesnt help at all. been there before.

 

[2cool9031]

My camera is broke or I would.
I bought it at auction for 40.
Can you offer any help? I've been very detailed

Buy a camera at the next auction

 

[bdj357]

Is it a break open in .38 S&W?

 

[serviceboy]

It is top break 38. I don't know about s&w.it doesn't say that anywhere.

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[hunter46140]

I have a break action 38 s&w. owl facing out not toward cylinder. I only know the cal because the previous owner told me it was a 38 s&w. I would like info also on these guns!!

 

[serviceboy]

i know, hopefully there is someone out here that can help. ive been very specific on all its marking and am not having any luck with help.

 

[snorko]

I have a copy of "IVER JOHNSON ARMS & CYCLE WORKS FIREARMS 1871-1993" by William Goforth. I will see if I can find first the book, then any info. Link to book below.

https://www.gunshowbooks.com/cgi-bin/webc.exe/st_prod.html?p_prodid=GS37205

 

[Koukalaka]

I wish I still had the Iver Johnson that I had about ten years ago. My grandmother gave it to me and it took me a while to figure out that it was a .38 S&W, NOT a .38 S&W Special (".38 Special"). At the time I recall it being pretty tough to find ammo...the first salesperson I talked to sold me a box of .38 Special, assuring me that it would work, as he clearly didn't know that there was any other kind of .38 caliber ammunition than the .38 Special. The guy felt bad and actually allowed me to return the ammunition, which of course they usually won't do. That gun just felt good in the hand...semiautomatics are cool, but there's just something reassuring about a revolver....