If your top-break revolver has a flat leaf spring and matches these prefix runs, it was designed for black powder pressures: Dating an Iver Johnson top break. Got a Goforth's book?
Help identifying an Iver Johnson revolver - Northwest Firearms
Iver Johnson produced a more affordable line under the name "U.S. Revolver Co." These are mechanically similar to the Safety Automatics but often have fewer frills. They share serial number systems and can be identified using the same methods.
: Found on the left side of the frame under the grip. Letter prefixes were rarely used on the Model 1900 until late in production. How to Determine if Your Revolver is Safe to Shoot Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database BEST
The original Iver Johnson company went out of business in 1993. While they kept internal production records for many years, this data is not publicly accessible online. The vast amount of information available today comes from the painstaking work of dedicated researchers and historians, most notably the late W.E. "Bill" Goforth. His life's work is widely regarded as the ultimate authority and the best "database" available.
This guide outlines the best resources, including the Archival Research Group Database and expert references, to accurately date your firearm. The "Best" Databases & Resources for Iver Johnson Dating
, it was made between 1896 and 1908. Common prefixes include: No Prefix: If your top-break revolver has a flat leaf
Some sites provide a simple interface for a serial number search, though these are not official. With caution, they can be useful.
Enter (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.
If you cannot find your specific number, the following forums have experts who own the Goforth book and can provide an exact year: Revolver Co
🚫 : “Universal” serial lookup sites. They mix up Iver Johnson with H&R, S&W, or US Revolver Co.
Provide the following for a free estimate:
5/5 stars
| | Use this database... | | --- | --- | | The most accurate, scholarly year | Bill Goforth’s tables (via Internet Archive or PDF) | | A quick online lookup without downloading | Proofhouse.com | | Real human help with photos | Iver Johnson Collectors Facebook Group | | To see what others own with similar serials | GunValuesBoard.com | | Parts and repair instructions | Numrich Gun Parts (serial number helps ID the exact model) |