Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database Best ((new)) May 2026

Dating an Iver Johnson revolver is notoriously difficult because the company often restarted serial number sequences annually or by model variation. To find the exact production year, you must cross-reference the serial number prefix with specific physical design features

that define the three major "Models" of the Safety Automatic line. Step 1: Locate the Full Serial Number The number on the bottom of the trigger guard butt of the frame

is often incomplete. For an accurate date, you must find the serial number with its letter prefix Under the Left Grip:

Remove the left grip panel. The full serial number with its identifying letter is usually stamped on the left side of the grip frame. Under the Top Strap:

On top-break models, open the action and remove the cylinder. The number may be stamped on the underside of the top strap. Step 2: Identify the Major Model Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database BEST

You must first determine which "Model" you have to know which serial database to use. Production Years Key Features Propellant First Model 1894–1895 Single top-post latch; owl on grip faces the barrel. Black Powder only. Second Model 1896–1908 Double top-post latch; owl faces the barrel. Black Powder only. Third Model 1909–1941

Owl faces the shooter; coil mainspring; 4 cross pins in frame. Smokeless Powder Step 3: Serial Number Database & Letter Prefixes

Iver Johnson used letter prefixes to denote specific years or frame sizes within these models. Second Model (Black Powder) If your revolver has a double top-post latch owl faces the barrel

, it was made between 1896 and 1908. Common prefixes include: No Prefix: Dating an Iver Johnson revolver is notoriously difficult

Often indicates the very early 1896 production or specific variations. Roughly corresponds to 1897, 1898, and 1899. Used for runs in 1898, 1899, and 1902. Indicates the 1906 manufacturing run (~100,000 guns). Third Model (Smokeless Powder) The Third Model (1909–1941) is the most common. If the owl faces the shooter , use these prefixes:

Need helping finding correct make and model of my iver johnson

The serial number on the bottom of the trigger guard has no letter prefix, but it does under the grip.

3.3 Safety Automatic (Third Model, 1909–1941)

• Serial range: 110,000 – approx. 270,000
• Coil spring (instead of leaf spring)
• Hammer block safety improved
• Often marked with patent dates up to 1906 or 1913

Chapter 2: The Birth of the Database

Enter Walter “Walt” Forgory (fictional character, but based on real collective efforts). A retired railroad dispatcher and obsessive self-taught historian, Walt spent 18 years doing what the factory never did: he built a serial number database from scratch. Serial range: 110,000 – approx

His method was brutal and beautiful:

• Thousands of gun shows. He carried a spiral notebook and a magnifying glass. He asked every dealer, “Can I log your Iver Johnson serials?”
• Auction catalogs. Every Rock Island, Morphy, and James D. Julia sale—he transcribed the serials, descriptions, and photos.
• Letters to collectors. He placed ads in Gun Digest and The American Rifleman: “Send me your Iver Johnson serial numbers and descriptions. I will send you a free approximate date.”
• Patent cross-referencing. He mapped serial blocks to known engineering changes (e.g., 1888 second model, 1894 third model, 1908 safety hammerless).

By 2005, Walt’s hand-typed, three-ring binder contained over 14,000 unique serial entries. He called it The Forgorian Ledger.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Don’t trust generic auction sites. A random eBay listing claiming "1903 Iver Johnson" is often wrong. Always verify via Goforth.
2. Model numbers are NOT the serial number. Many guns have a "Model 55" or "Model 66" stamped on them—that is the design revision, not the date code.
3. Beware of duplicate serials. Iver Johnson recycled serial number blocks for different models (e.g., a .22 Hammerless and a .38 Hammer L-frame could share the same number). Always match the model family first.

The Forgorian's Ledger: Unlocking the Iver Johnson Serial Number Database

3.2 Safety Automatic (Second Model, 1896–1908)

• Serial range: 30,000 – approx. 110,000
• Features: Transfer bar safety (hammer block)
• Patent dates: Sep. 6. 87 – Aug. 25. 96

The Challenge of the Serial Numbers

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.

Relying solely on the number stamped on the grip or frame often leads to misidentification. A robust database does not just list numbers; it cross-references those numbers with specific mechanical features to provide an accurate date of manufacture.