Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database Best Link
Identifying the manufacture date of an Iver Johnson revolver is notoriously difficult because many official factory records no longer exist. However, by cross-referencing serial number prefixes, patent dates, and physical design changes, you can accurately narrow down your firearm's age.
If your Iver Johnson is a single-shot Champion shotgun, the dating method is different but even simpler. There is no need for a letter prefix. The format of the serial number itself tells you the decade of production. This system is widely accepted and originated with Bill Goforth.
| Letter Prefix | Caliber | Model | Year(s) of Manufacture | | :------------ | :------ | :------------------------ | :-------------------- | | (none) | .32 | 1st Model (Black Powder) | 1894-1896 | | | .22 | 1st Model (Black Powder) | 1894-1896 | | D, E, F | .32 | 1st Model (Black Powder) | 1894-1896 | | A, B, C | .38 | 1st Model (Black Powder) | 1894-1896 | | R | .38 | 2nd Model Hammerless | 1906-1908 | | C | .38 | 3rd Model Hammer (Smokeless) | 1909-1917 | Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database BEST
The Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database is a must-visit resource for anyone involved with Iver Johnson revolvers. We highly recommend it to collectors, researchers, and law enforcement agencies seeking accurate and reliable information on these firearms.
Based on collector Bill Goforth’s research (author of Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Firearms ): Identifying the manufacture date of an Iver Johnson
Provide the following for a free estimate:
Without the book, you can identify the general era of an Iver Johnson revolver by looking at the serialization format, particularly for the famous "Safety Automatic" revolvers. There is no need for a letter prefix
⚠️ : Iver Johnson reused serial numbers across different models. A serial number alone is useless without knowing the model and patent dates.
: Letter prefixes were introduced on the bottom of the grip frame to signal the frame size and caliber. Third Model (1909–1941)