Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database Best Jun 2026

This is a report on the , focusing on what is available, its limitations, and how to best use serial numbers to date and identify these popular American top-break and solid-frame revolvers.

A community of experts who often reference out-of-print manufacturing data.

are the gold standard, you can use these general rules of thumb: Prefix Type Estimated Production Era 1909 – 1919 (or pre-1894 for Model 1) Single Letter 1920 – 1929 Two Letters 1930 – 1939 All Letters 1940 – 1950 3. The "Smokeless" Powder Cutoff

To get the best result, follow this protocol using the resources above: Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database BEST

Early models or specific utility lines often have numbers stamped here.

: Stamped with patent dates ranging beyond 1904, corresponding to their smokeless-powder era rebuilds. Post-WWII Solid Frame Models

Often seen on models like the "Champion" shotgun or late revolvers, made between 1940 and 1950 How to Find Your Serial Number This is a report on the , focusing

Typically denotes the decade of 1920–1929 .

Determining the precise manufacture date of an antique or vintage Iver Johnson revolver can be a complex task, as Because Iver Johnson restarted or duplicated serial sequences across different variations and models, a single serial number can match multiple firearms made decades apart.

Handling ambiguous or altered serials

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

For many Iver Johnson revolvers, the serial number is located on the bottom of the grip strap.

According to the serial number decoding experts, that "G" meant this piece of steel rolled off the line in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, right around . It was a "Third Model," designed for smokeless powder—the pinnacle of the company's famous "Hammer the Hammer" safety design. The "Smokeless" Powder Cutoff To get the best