Remove the left grip panel. The full serial number is frequently stamped on the grip strap.
The primary reason a dedicated database is essential is that Iver Johnson serial numbers are not unique across models. A serial number like "12345" could theoretically exist on a First Model Safety Automatic, a Second Model, and a bicycle gun, all manufactured in different years. Furthermore, Iver Johnson produced firearms under various trade names for large retailers like Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Montgomery Ward.
The Ultimate Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database: A Comprehensive Guide Iver Johnson revolvers, produced from the late 19th19 raised to the t h power century through the mid- 20th20 raised to the t h power
Often indicates 1920s production (e.g., C = 1926) .
The legendary top-break revolver was split into three distinct generations. Identifying your generation is critical because it tells you whether the gun is an antique and if it can safely fire modern ammunition. Dating an Iver Johnson top break. Got a Goforth's book? Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database BEST
Let’s return to that 1987 farmhouse.
To build an accurate historical database for your specific firearm, you must look beyond the numeric stamping and examine physical features like Step 1: Locate Every Hidden Serial Number
Once you have the letter prefix, you have the key to unlocking its approximate age. The table below compiles the most consistent and accepted serial number prefix data for Iver Johnson's popular Safety Automatic revolvers, which form the bulk of their production.
A 3rd Model with a hammer block safety is often marked on the left side of the barrel. Remove the left grip panel
3rd Model (1909–1941). These were redesigned for smokeless powder . 2. The Letter Prefix
| | Use this database... | | --- | --- | | The most accurate, scholarly year | Bill Goforth’s tables (via Internet Archive or PDF) | | A quick online lookup without downloading | Proofhouse.com | | Real human help with photos | Iver Johnson Collectors Facebook Group | | To see what others own with similar serials | GunValuesBoard.com | | Parts and repair instructions | Numrich Gun Parts (serial number helps ID the exact model) |
On top-break models, open the action and look underneath the top strap.
Maintenance & future enhancements
For firearms enthusiasts, collectors, and historians, few names evoke the image of early 20th-century American reliability quite like Iver Johnson. Known as the "gun that never jams," these revolvers were ubiquitous in the homes and pockets of everyday Americans from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century.
| Resource | Type | Strength | |----------|------|-----------| | Goforth’s book / serial charts | Printed/PDF | Most complete known data | | Iver Johnson Forum (Firearms Forum) | Online discussion | Real owner data points | | Gun Values Board (Iver Johnson section) | Online | Active collectors | | YouTube (dating guides) | Video | Visual identification help | | Auction archives (Rock Island, Gunbroker) | Database | Compare serials of sold guns |
Iver Johnson frequently used different serial numbers on various parts of the same gun. For accurate dating, the prefix letter is crucial. Left side of the grip frame:
: Some models used a letter-to-number code based on their hometown, Fitchburg, MA: F=1, I=2, T=3, C=4, H=5, B=6, U=7, R=8, G=9, O=0 Trusted Resources for Verification Expert Reference Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works 1871-1993 W.E. Goforth A serial number like "12345" could theoretically exist
Copyright © 2026 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes