Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database Best Jun 2026

The most collected series is the Safety Automatic Revolver. These are break-top (top-break) revolvers. You must identify which "Model" you have:

He turned to his weathered copy of the Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works production records. In the world of "Owl’s Head" revolvers, a single letter prefix was the key to the vault. The early years (1909–1919). Single Letter: The roaring twenties (1920–1929). Double Letter: The depression era (1930–1939). Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database BEST

In the summer of 1987, a rusty Iver Johnson .38 S&W revolver was found inside a leather satchel in a condemned farmhouse outside of Des Moines, Iowa. The satchel also contained a faded photograph of a young man in a World War I doughboy uniform and a tattered train ticket dated April 12, 1919. The most collected series is the Safety Automatic Revolver

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: In the world of "Owl’s Head" revolvers, a

For further reading and research, here are some additional resources:

Unlike Smith & Wesson or Colt, Iver Johnson’s records have been incomplete, scattered, and often lost to factory fires and corporate closures. But don’t despair. This guide will walk you through the most accurate, vetted, and comprehensive resources available—the that collectors trust.

The letter prefix is the "secret code" for the year of manufacture. While specialized reference books like W.E. Goforth’s Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works 1871-1993