LSB#: 180221MG66
Make: Iver Johnson & Co.
Model: American Bulldog 1st Model (“Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works” by W.E. Goforth)
Serial Number: 8053
Year of Manufacture: 1885-1886
Caliber: .442 Webley, .44 Bulldog
Action Type: Double Action Side Loading 5 Shot Revolver
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “AMERICAN BULL DOG”. The left side of the grip frame is marked “8053”.
Barrel Length: The octagon barrel is 2 ½” in length.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are black checkered hard rubber on a round butt grip frame. There is a dog’s head molded into the grips around the grip screw in each grip. The smooth borders show a few marks. The checkering is mainly sharp with a few lightly compressed checkers. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rate in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: The finish is nickel plated. The hammer is case colored.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is sharp. There are spots of light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 75% of its metal finish. The balance of finish shows flaking with erosion present throughout. Scattered handling and storage marks are present as well. The cylinder shows heavy finish loss and erosion. The markings are light. The screw heads are disfigured with usable slots. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fair condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, the lockup shows about a 1/16' of play. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The “American Bulldog” revolver was the 2nd attempt by Johnson and Bye to produce a successful double action revolver. The first gun, the American Eagle had a few problems, mainly in that its double action mechanism was complicated and fragile. In 1882, they produced their second double action revolver, the “American Bulldog, which was an adaptation of a design patented in England in 1856 by William Tanter. The action on this pistol was both simpler and more rugged. In 1883, Iver Johnson bought out Martin Bye, and changed the name to Iver Johnson & Co. and then later in 1891 to Iver Johnson’s Arms & Cycle works. The Iver Johnson name became synonymous with top break revolvers employing transfer bar safety mechanisms. This is an American Bulldog 2nd Model Large Frame revolver, manufactured in either 1885 or 1886, the first two years of production, as determined by its low 4-digit serial number. It has a 2 ½” octagon barrel, solid frame and a five-round cylinder chambered for .442 Webley. The pistol is in about Fair condition, with about 75% of its original finish remaining. The grips are in Good condition for their age, and have a dog’s head molded around the grip screw in each grip: the detail in the dog’s face and his collar is clear and crisp. The Iver Johnson revolvers never achieved the collectability status of the early S&W revolvers, possibly because they made so many of them. Still, these old guns are still a lot of fun to collect and shoot. Someone with some time on their hands and little knowledge of these vintage revolvers could probably fix the binding problem in no time, and either add it to their collection or sell it at a fantastic profit. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This Antique handgun CAN be transferred/sold in California. This does not apply to out of state residents.
Make: Iver Johnson & Co.
Model: American Bulldog 1st Model (“Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works” by W.E. Goforth)
Serial Number: 8053
Year of Manufacture: 1885-1886
Caliber: .442 Webley, .44 Bulldog
Action Type: Double Action Side Loading 5 Shot Revolver
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “AMERICAN BULL DOG”. The left side of the grip frame is marked “8053”.
Barrel Length: The octagon barrel is 2 ½” in length.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are black checkered hard rubber on a round butt grip frame. There is a dog’s head molded into the grips around the grip screw in each grip. The smooth borders show a few marks. The checkering is mainly sharp with a few lightly compressed checkers. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rate in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: The finish is nickel plated. The hammer is case colored.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is sharp. There are spots of light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 75% of its metal finish. The balance of finish shows flaking with erosion present throughout. Scattered handling and storage marks are present as well. The cylinder shows heavy finish loss and erosion. The markings are light. The screw heads are disfigured with usable slots. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fair condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, the lockup shows about a 1/16' of play. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The “American Bulldog” revolver was the 2nd attempt by Johnson and Bye to produce a successful double action revolver. The first gun, the American Eagle had a few problems, mainly in that its double action mechanism was complicated and fragile. In 1882, they produced their second double action revolver, the “American Bulldog, which was an adaptation of a design patented in England in 1856 by William Tanter. The action on this pistol was both simpler and more rugged. In 1883, Iver Johnson bought out Martin Bye, and changed the name to Iver Johnson & Co. and then later in 1891 to Iver Johnson’s Arms & Cycle works. The Iver Johnson name became synonymous with top break revolvers employing transfer bar safety mechanisms. This is an American Bulldog 2nd Model Large Frame revolver, manufactured in either 1885 or 1886, the first two years of production, as determined by its low 4-digit serial number. It has a 2 ½” octagon barrel, solid frame and a five-round cylinder chambered for .442 Webley. The pistol is in about Fair condition, with about 75% of its original finish remaining. The grips are in Good condition for their age, and have a dog’s head molded around the grip screw in each grip: the detail in the dog’s face and his collar is clear and crisp. The Iver Johnson revolvers never achieved the collectability status of the early S&W revolvers, possibly because they made so many of them. Still, these old guns are still a lot of fun to collect and shoot. Someone with some time on their hands and little knowledge of these vintage revolvers could probably fix the binding problem in no time, and either add it to their collection or sell it at a fantastic profit. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This Antique handgun CAN be transferred/sold in California. This does not apply to out of state residents.
IVER JOHNSON ARMS & CYCLE WORKS gun model and pricing information. SERIAL NUMBERS OFTEN ALLOW YOU TO DETERMINE YEAR OF MANUFACTURE. Knowing the year your vintage firearm was made makes it easier to decide which gun catalog we sell. 161215RH03 Make: Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Model: Champion Serial Number: 85 Year. Action Type: Single Shot, Top Break Shotgun with Ejector. Of course, this “small gun so you’ll actually carry it” concept is old news, which leads to the subject of this TTAG gun review: the Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Third Model “Safety Automatic” break-top.32 S&W double-action revolver.
![Johnson Johnson](/uploads/1/2/6/1/126123190/401989121.jpg)
Cycle Works Of Larose
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Iver Johnson Champion Shotgun History
Iver Johnson 410 Shotgun
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