Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Second Model .32 S&W Top-Break, 3 inch Nickel, Small-Frame Hammer, 5-Shot DA/SA (1896–1908)
This Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Second Model is a small-frame, five-shot top-break revolver chambered in .32 S&W with a 3 inch barrel and nickel-plated finish. It features automatic simultaneous extraction, a double-post top latch with an integral rear-sight notch, and black hard-rubber grips with owl-head medallions. Produced during the 1896–1908 era, it carries the period patent legend on the butt strap and the manufacturer address on the top rib.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: The action is not fully functional. When the action is not engaged, the cylinder can rotate freely. Scratches, blemishes, and areas of finish loss are present. The bore is generally clean, though the rifling shows visible wear and blemishing.
What’s Included
- Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Second Model small-frame hammer top-break revolver, .32 S&W, 3 inch barrel, nickel-plated finish
The Second Model small-frame configuration pairs a compact five-shot cylinder with a 3 inch barrel, making this a classic .32 S&W top-break from Iver Johnson’s Safety Automatic line. Its DA/SA operation and automatic simultaneous extraction define the model’s quick-loading design.
The revolver’s construction is all steel with a nickel-plated frame, cylinder, and receiver. A robust double-post top latch secures the action and incorporates the rear-sight notch, paired with a half-moon front sight for a fixed-sight setup tailored to its era.
Ergonomics and period styling are evident in the bird’s-head grip, fitted with checkered black hard-rubber panels bearing owl-head medallions. The exposed hammer sports a checkered spur for positive control.
Safety and internal features include a transfer-bar and hammer block system, a frame-mounted firing pin, and two lower frame cross-pins. Factory legends include the 1896 patent marking on the butt strap and the Iver Johnson address on the top rib. No lanyard ring is observed.
Made in the United States between 1896 and 1908, this Safety Automatic Second Model reflects the hallmark design elements of Iver Johnson’s late-19th-century small-frame revolvers.