Today, the Iver Johnson Serial Number Database is considered the gold standard for three reasons:
It has helped:
Databases are only as good as their human interpreters. The BEST live resource is the private Facebook group: Iver Johnson Collectors, History & Value. With over 5,000 members, including authors and antique gun dealers, this is where Goforth’s legacy lives on. Iver Johnson Revolver Serial Number Database BEST
The primary reason a dedicated database is essential is that Iver Johnson serial numbers are not unique across models. A serial number like "12345" could theoretically exist on a First Model Safety Automatic, a Second Model, and a bicycle gun, all manufactured in different years. Furthermore, Iver Johnson produced firearms under various trade names for large retailers like Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Montgomery Ward. Today, the Iver Johnson Serial Number Database is
Relying solely on the number stamped on the grip or frame often leads to misidentification. A robust database does not just list numbers; it cross-references those numbers with specific mechanical features to provide an accurate date of manufacture. It has helped: Databases are only as good
| Feature | Details | |---------|---------| | Years of production | 1871–1970s (revolvers primarily 1880s–1940s) | | Number of models | 50+ revolver variants | | Serial location | Bottom of grip frame, rear cylinder face, inside grip panels | | Numbering system | Inconsistent; often restarted at 1 for each model | | Hammer the gun | Hammer the gun → Hammer (internal vs external) | | Top-break vs solid-frame | Top-break serials are better documented |
⚠️ Important: Iver Johnson reused serial numbers across different models. A serial number alone is useless without knowing the model and patent dates.