Iver Johnson Revolver Ad

[Jack Cronkhite]

This came in an email entitled "We will never see ads like these again" What era is this, when $6 got you a new pistol?

[Dean Romig]

I received that e-mail too. I don't know when Iver - Johnson started manufacturing firearms (they made bicycles first) but I would guess the ad is from the early twenties.

[Francis Morin]

Iver Johnson of Fitchburg, Mass had three production eras for their "Safety automatic" revolvers- both external hammers and also "hammerless"- shrouded hammers-

Those of us who collect and shoot sidearms, even w/o military experience with same, call revolvers "wheelguns" and not "automatics- such as the great Colt 1911-A-1 in .45 ACP designed by John M. browning. Iver Johnson revolvers ejected the shells (both fired and unfired) when the gun, a top breaking action, was opened. Hence 'automatic" as with a DHE- automatic ejectors, exception noted for the extraction of unfired shells with an ejector side-by-side shotgun.

The Safety was an interceptor bar- a transfer bar design. We all know (sadly enough) that safety and firearms mixed with young children (either boy or girl) is a serious misnomer.

Whoever designed that ad must have been a bachelor- what was the idea-? A "Boogey man" invades the little gal's bedroom (possibly a fan of the Jenny Lind styled bedframe) and she defeats the safety with her pudgy little fingers and blows a hole in Daddy's belly- as he was only going in to check on her? What nonsense.

Iver Johnson series revolvers- mainly .22 and .32 cal. and some of the later series in .38 S&W were made from aprox 1895-to 1941, three different post latching systems, basically the same firearm in function- I agree with Dean, WW1 to mid-1920's era ad--

I love the older second series Colt SA revolvers (as did Gen. Patton) but I would love to own and shoot a S&W Triple Lock in .44 cal. someday. My "House Gun"- there are NO children or grandchildren in my home on a day-to-day basic (and when there are, the Python is securely stashed away) is a revolver- either .38 Special or Full house .357- as no springs are under tension until you cock it (or fire it double actioned)- but I grew up shooting my Dad's collection of Colt SA's- so I favor wheelguns, as a also favor M12 pumps over autoloaders-

Iver Johnson revolvers were used in the assassination of both Pres. McKinley and Senator Bobby Kennedy-

[Jack Cronkhite]

Thanks for the history lesson Francis.

Cheers,
Jack

[David Hamilton]

Francis, You forgot to tell us about the "Cycle Works" at Iver Johnson? David

[Francis Morin]

A farmer friend has a three seater- from about the 1920's- but no trade mark, wonder if IJ made those. He also has some scarce John Deere bicycles from the 1950's era I believe- BUT not green and yellow in color scheme, alas.

I have a JD 318 lawn tractor and a 630 farm tractor with the old opposed twin cylinder engine and power steering and hydraulics. Almost bought a mint 1952 RA, but w/o power steering, you need arms like Arnold "Da Guv" to handle it. Only sound from any engine man ever built better is a Harley V-Twin (IMO) and when you say "Bike" to me, that means a made in Milwaukee "Iron Horse"- can't ride 'em anymore. but I still admire them.