Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Hammerless (third model)
Action
Calibre
Magazine
32sw
Revolver
Five Rounds
Iver Johnson was an American firearms, bicycle, and motorcycle manufacturer from 1871 to 1993.
These early American companies were the basis of many modern us arms. Often establishing subsiduaries in various names, United States Revolver Company, a subsidiary of Iver Johnson
The company shared the same name as its founder, Norwegian-born Iver Johnson (1841–1895).
The name was resold and in 2006 Iver Johnson Arms opened, but does not have any parts or information relating to the pre-1993 company, and represents a continuation of it in name only.
Iver Johnson was born in 1841 in Nordfjord, Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. He was educated as a gunsmith in Bergen in 1857, and had a gun store in Oslo. Johnson emigrated from Norway to Worcester, Massachusetts, United States in 1863, and continued his work as a gunsmith by trade and an inventor in his spare time. Seeking new and creative uses for his partially idle manufacturing equipment after the American Civil War, he worked not only gunsmithing locally in Fitchburg, but also providing designs and work to other firearms companies; notably making pepper-box pistols for Allen & Wheelock.
Iver Johnson .32 Safety Automatic Hammer [3rd issue] (IWM) nickel plated, vulcanite grips, twin post latch, "long" rear sight.
The so-called 'Safety Automatic' revolver produced by the American company Iver Johnson, gained its name from its innovative safety-hammer mechanism, which the manufacturer introduced in 1894. The frame-mounted firing pin could only be struck if the trigger was fully pulled. This lifted a 'transfer-bar' into position, which transmitted the impact of the hammer-face to the rear of the firing pin. This was the most advanced safety feature of its day. Iver Johnson marketed these revolvers with the slogan 'hammer the hammer' - alluding to the fact the hammer could be safely closed on a loaded chamber. This specific revolver is one of a substantial quantity of Harrington & Richardson and Iver Johnson .32 and .38 revolvers bought in the United States for police use in Britain in 1940-42. Some 21,000 were issued to the Metropolitan police alone. The majority were the Harrington & Richardson 'Bobby' model, of which 23,782 were obtained, but around 4,000 Iver Johnsons were also purchased. The exact number is unknown, as some were acquired from the unrelated Iver Johnson Sporting Goods of Boston, which also supplied Colts revolvers.
The 'Safety Hammer' model name refers to the 'hammer the hammer' transfer bar safety mechanism, the earliest on this principle, and technically superior to others at this period. From 1940-42 substantial quantities of Harrington & Richardson and Iver Johnson .32 and .38 revolvers were bought in the United States for police use in Britain, c. 21,000 going to the Metropolitan police alone. The majority were the Harrington & Richardson 'Bobby' model, of which 23,782 were obtained. C. 4,000 Iver Johnsons were purchased, but exact numbers are unknown, as some were acquired from the unrelated Iver Johnson Sporting Goods of Boston, which supplied Colts as well.