![]() ![]() These guns use a single top latch to hold the revolver together, a simple design which boasts four patent dates listed on the barrel with the last one being ’93. Some 250,000 First Model Iver Johnson Safety Automatics were made from 1894-96, a significant and brief production life if there ever was one. In short, they were the Kahr of the 1900s. A nice, safe, and (for the time) relatively powerful handgun with a fast reload for a price that almost anyone could afford made it a hit for the company. When introduced Safety Automatics retailed for $6, which in today’s money is about $150. With so many options you could buy a small concealable revolver for discreet carry or hiding in a cash drawer, or a larger piece for home defense. These guns were sold in both a small frame version with a three to six inch barrel in 22LR (7-shot) or 32S&W (5-shot), and a large frame 38S&W version that came in barrel lengths as short as 2-inches. Up until then you risked an accidental discharge from a dropped revolver if the gun was carried with a hammer down on a loaded cylinder, which as you may imagine, was a real concern at the time. Iver Johnson Ad explaining the safety hammerĭesigned by fellow Scandinavian immigrant Andrew Fyrberg while at Iver Johnson and patented in 1896 under #566,393, this ‘Hammer the Hammer’ action was positively revolutionary for handguns. The bar prevented the gun from discharging if dropped and only fell away when the trigger was depressed all the way. This safety consisted of a bar that rested between the hammer and the rear of the cartridge in the cylinder/chamber. What made the Iver different from the Smiths was in the fact that it had an internal transfer bar safety. Its a double-action top break revolver similar in layout to the Smith and Wesson hinge frames of the 1860s era. The Iver Johnson Safety Automatic neither has a manual safety, nor is it automatic. Just before Iver died in 1895, his company began to produce a new revolver that the late engineer had perfected late in life known as the Safety Automatic. The Fitchburg, Massachusetts based factory concentrated more on its bicycles than its firearms and employed many Scandinavian immigrants. Truth be told, it started as the Johnson and Bye Company, but eventually Johnson bought out Bye and went at it alone. Though in this case moderate would be too much.The Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works (yes, makers of handguns and fine bicycles), was started back in 1871 by a 30-year old Norwegian born inventor of the same name. ![]() I always keep my reloads on the moderate side of things. I do not hot rod any of my guns even the ones that can take it. Who knows maybe those days of finding them at gun shows is drying up? Good info though thanks. So not sure about what caliber considerations it would be either. I would post pictures but that is beyond my mental capacity.Well I do not have one at least not yet though I am on the look out for one that needs TLC like I have seen cheap at gun shows in the past. The original used soft lead hollow based bullits. Keep the pressure low, not only due to the age of the gun but the locking mechanism is relatively weak. Do not try 38 spl dies as they are too small and will damage the brass. Fun to shoot but you must have 38 s&w dies to reload. S&Ws, Forehand & Wadsworth, Ivor Johnson ect. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |