Please help! Can't date Iver Johnson top break

Garrettporter · Aug 19, 2017

Hello, I bought an I&J top break at a local pawn shop earlier today. I am having a really hard time dating it.
It's plastic owl grip, hammerless, no safety, Nickle plate, 3 large pins and one small pin on lower, 3.25 barrel. I was told it's a .38 s&w. Serial number D646xx.
Thank you!

bolus · Aug 19, 2017

Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works

About 1/2 way down they have some details about the top break hammerless versions with a "d" prefix on the serial number

Remember if you shoot this one, only use black powder cartridges. smokeless powder is too strong and will damage or destroy the gun

Garrettporter · Aug 19, 2017

I have researched like crazy and from what I've found. It all points away from being black powder. That's the issue I'm having. Black powder top breaks don't have coil spring, owls head isn't straight, and the cylinder is a smokeless cylinder. I understand how the cylinder and grips could have been switched, but the cylinder fits nicely (no wiggle and spins easy) and the coil spring

Deavis · Aug 19, 2017

I dated one on this site and some members helped with posting info from the Goforth book. It is apparently the definitive source.

I am in search of a firing pin nut and some dies to load some weak trail boss plinkers. I was also thinking of shooting some primer powered paraffin bullets in the garage with it.

bolus · Aug 22, 2017

Garrettporter said:
I have researched like crazy and from what I've found. It all points away from being black powder. That's the issue I'm having. Black powder top breaks don't have coil spring, owls head isn't straight, and the cylinder is a smokeless cylinder. I understand how the cylinder and grips could have been switched, but the cylinder fits nicely (no wiggle and spins easy) and the coil spring

No I mean the steel that was made late 1800's isnt strong enough for modern smokeless powder. If you want to fire it, use a cartridge that has black powder in it like this one

38 S&W Black Powder Ammo .358" 150 Grain RN Hollow Base Bullet (THIS IS NOT 38 SPECIAL) Box of 50