Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Hammer Revolver, Second Model Small Frame, .32 S&W, 1.5-Inch Barrel, Nickel, 5-Shot, 1908 Production
This 1908 Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Hammer Revolver is a Second Model small-frame top-break chambered for .32 S&W black-powder cartridges. Built in Massachusetts during the final year of Second Model production, it features the double-post latch, early transfer-bar safety, and owl-head grip medallions that collectors look for. A period-style barrel reduction to 1.5 inches gives the revolver a distinctive profile while preserving the original nickel finish on the frame and cylinder.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good
Bore Condition: Fair – Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Specific Condition Notes: The nickel finish shows scratches, blemishes, and scattered minor rust, with areas of finish loss from normal handling and age. The bore exhibits moderate lead fouling and worn rifling but remains serviceable for black-powder loads.
What’s Included
- Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Hammer Revolver (Second Model Small Frame)
Manufactured between 1895 and 1908, the Second Model introduced Iver Johnson’s transfer-bar safety, preventing discharge if the revolver was dropped—an innovation that set it apart from many contemporaries. The “S” serial prefix confirms 1908 production, placing this revolver at the end of the Second Model run and making it one of the last small-frame black-powder examples produced.
The original 3-inch barrel was professionally shortened to roughly 1.5 inches, creating a compact, easily carried revolver while retaining the integral half-moon front sight and top-strap groove rear sight. Despite its age, the action operates in both double-action and single-action modes, and the tight top-break latch maintains solid lockup.
Constructed entirely of carbon steel, the revolver retains its factory nickel plating on the frame, cylinder, and receiver. The black hard-rubber grips display the classic owl-head logo and present sharp checkering with only light wear, underscoring the revolver’s collectible appeal.
This five-shot revolver is rated for black-powder .32 S&W cartridges only; it is not intended for modern smokeless loads. For collectors and historians interested in early 20th-century American pocket revolvers, this piece offers an authentic, mechanically sound example from Iver Johnson’s innovative Safety Automatic line.