Iver Johnson Serial Number History

IVER JOHNSON ARMS & CYCLE WORKS

Along with the company assets Imperato acquired the trade mark 'Iver Johnson'. Imperato eventually moved the company to New Jersey and began making M1 Carbines in the name of Iver Johnson in 1978. Due to a number of changes in ownership the history of Iver Johnson's can be a bit confusing.
Ever since our resident Iver Johnson expert, Mr. Bill Goforth passed any information on Iver Johnson shotguns it is anyones guess. Here is mine: If the gun has a serial number with no letter prefix, it was made between 1909 and 1919. If the gun has a single letter prefix, it was made between 1920 and 1929.
The one quirk I find interesting is that this gun has a serial number and all major parts of it are serial numbered ( stock, forend wood and metal, butt plate and the barrel). I was just curious if we have anyone on here that is expert in Iver Johnson shotgun history.

Iver Johnson died in 1895. In 1900 they bought the John P. And operated as Iver Johnson Sporting Goods. Then in 1902 they bought part of the Forehand Arms Co. In 1915 they were incorporated as Iver Johnson's Arms and Cycle Works Inc. With John P Lovell as President. SERIAL NUMBERS AND DATES OF MANUFACTURE FOR IVER JOHNSON.

Location: Middlesex, New Jersey

Established in 1883 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Company has produced a wide variety of firearms during its existence. In 1894, the firm became 'Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works.' It is perhaps best known as a major manufacturer of inexpensive but serviceable pocket-size revolvers in .22 rimfire, .32 S&W, and .38 S&W calibers, serving the same sizable market niche as Hopkins & Allen and Harrington & Richardson in the late-19th through mid-20th centuries. During that time, beginning in 1890, the Iver Johnson owl's head logo appeared on the grips of most of its revolvers. Its best-known marketing slogan, 'Hammer the hammer,' referred to a hammer-block safety and frame-mounted firing pin that prevented a revolver from firing accidentally if dropped on the hammer spur, introduced in 1904 on the popular Safety Automatic double-action revolver line. Iver Johnson continued arms production until it was liquidated in 1993. Many 19th century handguns made by Iver Johnson and its predecessor Johnson and Bye are difficult to identify due to the lack of a maker’s name on the gun.

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