Description
This is a solid example of an innovative internal hammer cartridge revolver circa 1897 made by the well known Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Iver Johnson cranked out thousands of these inexpensive small caliber revolvers from about the time of the pre-Spanish American War through the roaring 1920s. Your grandaddy likely had one if he went out carousing! It rotates the cylinder and fires the hammer but the action is sluggish–may benefit from a good cleaning. Iver Johnson directly competed with Smith and Wesson for a large market share and bulk sold their guns via Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward mail order catalogs. Many went overseas with WWI doughboy soldiers for backup weapons and they were popular with gamblers and drinkers!
As with any antique weapon, it is NOT warranted safe to fire! The famed owl head gutta percha grips are near fine! No permit required for transfer of ownership as the weapon was manufactured prior to 1898 and is exempt from Federal Firearms laws and regulations.
