Old Iver Johnsons, What Gauge?

A friend has given me what use to be two shotguns. Two receivers with stocks attached. No barrels. Poking around, it seems they were made by Iver Johnson a long time ago. Very rusty and dirty, but both actions seem complete and both do work. Shame no barrels though. Anybody know a way to determine what gauge these things might be? Finding a barrel might be a chore, but they might be salvageable.

 

Found this online,
Manuals

 

Check out Gun Broker.

Iver Johnson firearms are rarely worth enough to spend much time on.

Don't get me wrong : I own a small collection of Black Powder era Cartridge revolvers made by them.

I like the brand, as it is affordable. Unlike most Colt, S&W, etc.

But they're not worth fixing unless you do it yourself.

 

Thanks Highlander, I'll follow up on that. True enough, not really worth getting crazy with. But I've got plenty of sandpaper, some extra time to kill, a Mossberg I'm restoring at present etc....got to get some Oxpho Blue too.

Heck, for a couple of bucks, even for wall hanger decorations, and there's two of them I could clean up to match, well, why not, they are antique. Somebody would go for them. I'll stick a couple of jpgs in here.

 

I had to get some picture of the bolt head on my SMLE anyway, so took some of my "junk". I know they look awful.

 

Probably 12 ga. but I'd be surprised if they used a different frame for 16, 20, or 28 or any of the others. It was cheaper to make the frames the same size and just fit the barrel fit the receiver. I have heard that they did make two different frames (strength wise) one large one smaller, but never confirmed that.

 

I did think that too. You know, for cheap shotguns they did have a bit of elegance. The trigger guards are quite fancy as is the way the pistol grips are made. I wonder if these were blackpowder guns?

 

Grandfather had one looked similar, had Damascus double barrel 12 ga on it.

 

Iver Johnson "Champion".

 

More info, thanks man! I am going to clean these up and keep an eye out for the front ends.

 

I took a ride into Albany, went to the state library, and looked up a publication on taking these thing apart. Scanned the info and thought I was in business. And I was until trying to remove the barrel release lever. It is held by a small screw that would not budge...fought with it and quit. So, poking around the web, some guys says that screw is left handed...righty loosey. What the hell?

I'll try again. I had to shape a screw driver blade even to get at it. Anybody ever heard of this?

 

Left-Handed ? Nope.

But shaping the blade to fit PERFECTLY is always critical with any collectible.

That is why I treasure my Harbor Freight freebies. They ain't bad to begin with, and I don't mind modifying them.

BTW, many top-class gunsmiths have special vise-like apparatus that forces the blade in just so - making cam out and marring impossible.

No precaution is extreme with a $10K+ Colt or Winchester.

On the other hand, an Iver Johnson - the TAURUS OF 1910 ?



Aye, IJ's are all I can afford, too.

 

My thought was to get both receivers apart, clean, polish, cold blue, bling 'em up, and make something decorative. Maybe book ends or just conversation pieces...doodads for the mantle. So I watched a guy on YouTube take one apart, simple, and when he get to this one screw, he mutters this one is a pain, left-handed, and he struggles with it. I could not tell exactly how he got it out. Surprisingly nothing has been really rust bound.

I see that Numrich buys stuff, maybe I'll give them a call and see if they're interested.

 

Well guess what, that screw was left-handed! Came right out.

 

Cool !

The Internet is neva wrong.

 

Funny though, the guy in the vid basically muttered "left-handed", but know he did. The info I got from the state library, a publication by GUN DIGEST, said nothing about it.

I did send an email to Numrich, or Gun Parts Corp, with the above pictures attached, and asked if they were interested.

 

I'm interested on how much they low-ball you.

In their defense, those parts are surely in very low demand.

It stands to reason that the very parts that wear out most often are the ones everyone wants but never have spares of to sell to Numrich.

 

No doubt.

I checked their online parts inventory for Champions though, they got next to nuthin. To be honest, the receivers and parts are mostly just dirty; finish is gone, and some surface rust but no pitting. And they do work.

 

They sound perfect for someone who's looking.

 

Have you checked Gun Broker to see what they sell for ?

 

Quick reply from Numrich. Twenty dollars for all, they pay the shipping. Yup, I've checked GB a couple of times. Folks are asking for around $50 for receivers with stock. I think if you add up Numrich retail prices for all the component parts you're north of $100 for each receiver.

 

$20 is fair for someone who just wants to get rid of them. But it's light all right.

Depending on my mood I might take the $20, or more likely GB them for $75 for both.

BTW, these are Long Guns and can be mailed through USPS.

I'd put them in a LONGGGGGG box, tho. Less likely to raise eyebrows.

432 Mailability | Postal Explorer

Make sure you're mailing to an FFL and get the Paperwork beforehand.

If you know their date, they are likely old enough to be C&R and could go to a C&R FFL-03.

 

I have my Dads' old single barrel, 12 Ga. shotgun. The receiver looks just like those but the name on it is EXCEL. Probably made by Johnson for Western Auto or the like.
Robin

 

Twenty bucks doesn't motivate me, and ef all that ffl crap anyway. I'm going to stick with my plan and spif them up. The stocks are shot, I'll use them to make some sort of stand, and cut down the stock bolt for attaching the receiver. Or, use the receiver as a cigar ashtray! $100!