Iver Johnson Indentity ?

[fitzz]

Hi,

I have a Iverson Johnson .32 cal 5 shot. Owl grips, break action in great condition. After reading tons of things on the net, I can't put my finger on when it was built.

Free wheeling barrel
Leaf Spring
When I remove the grip I see a number on the left side the looks like:
P 30 between the P and the 3 it looks like a backwards C
on the bottom of the hammer guard is 530
The name of the company is on top but no patent dates
There are patent dates on the bottom of the grip:
PAT. June 16 96 / Aug 25 96 Patent pending (3rd line)

I see one or more of these things on some identified system however never all of them.

I would really appreciate the help in letting me know when it was made.

Thanks so much,

Fitzz

 

[Clark]

I have these books
http://www.gunshowbooks.com/cgi-bin/webc.exe/st_prod.html?p_prodid=GS37204&sid=Is3wBKxN

http://www.amazon.com/Johnsons-Cycle-Works-Handguns-1871-1978/dp/0941540189

You would be amazed at how much a guy has to pay attention with that book to figure out the date of manufacture of an Iver Johnson. They made zillions and the serial numbers kept starting over, every time there was a design change. And the changes can be small. Good thing the books have pics.

My grandfather had an Iver Johnson hammer less 38 S&W in the Alaskan Gold rush.
Unfortunately, one of my relatives lost it in the 1990s.
I can buy a box full of old Iver Johnson revolver, they are so cheap, but I wanted that one.

The reason the books could be important, is the pre 1899 can be sent across state lines to a non FFL address.... not that I have ever sent one.