Fixing to fire the old Iver Johnson but...

Shrpshn, do you shoot the thing?

Joab, I checked the link, but it doesn't help much. Been to that page many times before, all it shows is a large list of parts. I still have no idea what specific part to order or what it is called, if someone could help me with that I would appreciate it.
 
I wouldn't guarantee that the following parts are correct for your revolver, but they are the type of parts you need: (from the Gun Parts list previously posted) part # 101 Barrel Catch Bolt and part #111 Barrel Catch Spring 22 & 32 caliber. The problem is that your IJ has a rotating type latch and the one in the picture is a "T" type. These parts may be interchangable, but I expect not. If you are at all handy with a file, you probably could fabricate them. All you have to do is analyze how they work to hold the latch closed.

Dean
 
Sorry, you are going to have to figure that out for yourself. Take the latch out and try to imagine what the part that would hold it closed (under spring power) should look like and then make one. Or, take it to a gunsmith and convince him that you are willing to spend $50 to $100 for him to make the part.
Another choice would be to haunt the gunshows and auction sites for another IJ like yours , buy it and copy the part. I doubt if you could get the owner to let you take a $20 gun apart to see what the part looks like, but you could try.

Dean
 
Sum1_Special

I have a pile of the top break revolvers. I fix them,
I shoot them, I collect them. If you have to take
it to someone, a lot of them are not worth fixing.
if you know what you are doing, they are fixable.
They can be made safe to shoot. If you shoot them
a lot, you will repair them a lot. The small ones are
light duty guns.

I don’t have a gun that has a latch like that. I am
sure that it would have a spring and detent like
Deadin said. If not the lever itself on the latch may
be the spring but I don’t think so. Look in the center
of the barrel strap on the breach end.

Anyway I’m retired. I fix that type of thing. I do it
for fun and something to do on cold winter days.
I got seven guns last month, guns that weren’t worth
fixing for $15. for all of them. Some of the guns are
simple to fix but like the Jennings j-22 they are light
duty guns, if you are going to use it a lot, you will be
tinkering with it a lot.

I have a lot of parts, if you can tell what size spring
and detent you need I will send them to you for the
postage if you like. Maybe shrpshn will take his apart
and give us the size of them?
If I can help I will.
 
Tinker, thank you very much. but I am not quite sure how to determine the size of the part I need.

I have looked at the gun for quite some time and finally found an indentation of where the spring might go. I can't seem to get a good picture of it so I guess this will have to do...

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/9965/latch8cy.jpg

I'll see if I can get a better one tomorrow, but the indentation the triangular blotch next to the hole.
 
You'll find a small slot in the right side bolt portion of the latch. A tiny, fragile, flat spring fits in there and flexes in the notch on the right side of the latch recess in the topstrap. When mine snapped, I replaced it with a small straight section of a safety pin. The latch now works.
 
Sum1_Special
I have a lot of tiny, fragile, flat springs. If you can tell me
The approximate size, a good guesstamation maybe, I will
send you a couple for postage.

Maybe G I Gold can tell us the size flat spring?
I can see maybe the small slot in the barrel strap.
I think? I know how it works and keeps the latch
Locked and keep it in the barrel strap.

Good luck
Keep us informed how it goes
 
G I Gold, can you help me out with a rough estimation on the size of that little flat spring?

I've never seen it before but measuring the inside of the latch, i would say close to half an inch... maybe a millimeter less. I would guess it is the same size and type as the other 32 S&W iver johnsons, so if anyone could confirm the size I would really appreciate it.
 
"Shrpshn, do you shoot the thing?"

No Sir! It is a 1st Model as you said, manufactured around the turn of the century; good possibility before 1900. Don't really feel that I have a need to shoot it. I have a couple of later model top-breaks, both IJ & H&R, that I think are shootable.

"Maybe shrpshn will take his apart and give us the size of them?"

I will have to check it again; I don't have many tools, or the skill to use the ones I have. If I can find out, I will get back with you.

John
 
G I Gold, can you help me out with a rough estimation on the size of that little flat spring?

It's been some years since the flat spring broke and was replaced with a piece of safety pin. I'm reluctant to pull the latch because the ersatz spring will have to be refitted. Near as I can determine, it's about .4" long. You can figure the width by measuring the depth of the slot in the latch bolt.

As for shooting, try a .315" round ball over 1.5 gr of Bullseye: deadly on cicadas and grasshoppers.
 
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