.38 Iver Johnson "Suicide Gun" from the late 1800s - early 1900s

[Engineer245]

I found a pistal that looks just like this in a box of junk I purchased at an estate sale around 32 years a go. It was in a very nicely tooled leath houlster. It is a 32 caliber and it has been fired a lot! It has a heavy nickel plating and some of the nickle is flaking off arround the cylinder to barrel area where the gases excape. It still has the original IJ grips. Are these worth anything? Since it has been shot so much it needs to be tightened up !

[adam3176]

Can i borrow it?

[HeinzVonHans]

I think I'm a little late, but any cheap revolver .38 caliber or higher was called a "Suicide Special" because some people bought them specifically to kill themselves.

[motlencore89]

its not called the suicide gun for blowing apart in the hands of the person using it, it was called this because how cheap and easliy obtainable the weapon is.

[1Deejay7]

I feel like killing myself, any recommendations on what gun I should use and why?

i tried using a paintball gun, but that just left a welt

[Reynard13Fuchs]

I believe the stigma of the Safety Hammer and Safety Hammerless Iver Johnson revolvers comes from the fact that at the time black powder was being replaced by smokeless powder, the 1st and 2nd models of these pistols could not handle the pressures of the smokeless powder charges and a 3rd model was made to update to this new standard.

If someone were to shoot a smokeless powder .38 S&W from a 1st or 2nd model, the likelihood of a kaboom would increase to near 100%.

I got a 2nd Model for $100.

[WOLFCO08]

Ty Reynard

[itachi1303]

@Reynard13Fuchs Wait so if I bought .38 S&W, but changed the powder to black powder, then I'd be good?

[Reynard13Fuchs]

@itachi1303 Winchester and Remington both make black powder loads for old .38 S&W and .32 pistols. mainly just for target practice with about the same energy as a .380 ACP. Prices aren't too bad, and recoil is a little less snappy than comparable smokeless powder loads.

I have shot both through my Iver, both are smokey, but I prefer the Winchester over the Remington as it seems to be a tad less dirty. Both shoot straight, I was hitting in the liver area aiming center mass at simulated 50 yards.

[bowmanrand]

@Reynard13Fuchs - where can you find black powder 38 S&W or 32 S&W ammunition? My research has found none available new, and it seems you can only buy old boxes from private parties if you can find it (or reload your own). I have recently acquired both an old 38 break top (copy of the S&W by Howard Arms) and an old 32 S&W lemon squeezer and would like to shoot both but need the black powder ammo.

[Reynard13Fuchs]

@bowmanrand Go to the Remington(.)com site, go to Products>Ammunition>Handgun>Re­mington Express Handgun Ammunition>Express P and R and then click the Specifications tab. They are indexed as R32SW(.32S&W) R32SWL(.32S&W Long) and R38SW(.38S&W)

For Winchester, go to Winchester(.)com, select Choose Your Ammo>For Shooters>Target>Centerfire Handgun and then the rounds you need, click the Submit button.

MidwayUSA(.)com also carries a variety of brands for both calibers.

Good Luck and Steady Shooting.

[bowmanrand]

@Reynard13Fuchs Thanks for the info. I found these calibers on each site, but I see no indication that they are black powder loads. The only reference to black powder I found was on Winchester, which has a blank black powder round in 32. Midway USA also has the blank black powder 32 S&W Winchester ammo shown. I've read the smokeless is too hot for the old guns. I have seen these calibers available in smokeless elsewhere too.

[Reynard13Fuchs]

@bowmanrand Yes, it is very difficult trying to squeeze powder info from manufacturers, but my personal experience is that either Remington loaded with black powder, or very dirty smokeless powder with a very low charge.

The only brands I can back with approval is Winchester and Remington. Magtech might be a good alternative as well, but I have not shot anything other than the first two.

If in doubt, and the money is available, buy a 3rd Model of both calibers as a safety measure.

[rokinchair]

I hope you know that "drill in the middle" of the bullet is called a hollow point

[WOLFCO08]

Yes & Thanks

[DarkAssassinTy]

still prefer the schofield lol

[WWIIboy]

So Basically a S&W Model 3 in .38 S&W

[IverDaBest]

hehehe my first nam is Iver!!!

[ChromeGhost0219]

@IverDaBest intresting

[trigonome777]

that the gun that opens to shoot .... only happens when you have poorly maintained .. as is the case with this weapon, I am fan of this model of S & W. .. till now I had no problems with my gun ... and that which is already pretty old.

[CanadianReich]

"Now, I know what you're thinking. 'Did he fire six shots or only five?' To tell you the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement. But being as this is a .38 Iver Johnson, its only got 5 rounds"

[motlencore89]

yah thats more of a last resort weapon.

[rebelraider5]

I just want to say I've had my Iver Johnson for almost eight months, shot it on ten seperate occasions and it was flawless. In my reasearch in my research I've never heard of one exploding. As for Ammo I find it no problem finding it. Winchester, Fiochii [sp?], and Mag Tech still currently make it. My local store stocks 146 gr. Mag Tech for $30. I've had the Fiochi and ordered the Winchester on lay away. I also have a box of old Remington.

[ARTONY92]

have you shot it yet?

[WOLFCO08]

@ARTONY92 yes check out my other video. I have actually fired it many times now.

[blackwoodjankins]

@WOLFCO08 i have a forehand & wadworth and a iver & johnson, both are nice revolvers, yours is in better condition though, i had to refinnish mine

[keco28]

want to know wat would be cool it being shot

[paraman90]

Your gun is either a second or third model.

[keltecfan1]

Can you still purchase any ammunition for that gun? It uses the 38 S&W and I think it's discontinued. Do you have to reload cut down 38 special cases?

[WOLFCO08]

@keltecfan1 I was not able to find it locally . After 2 years of trying I came across this man.

Contact Bob Shell @

Shell Reloading

1485 S. Lawson

Apache Junction, AZ 85120

480-983-7078

He makes ammo and has for mine. They work flawlessly. He is the best source of information and reference and writes for gun magazines as well.

[nu407]

@WOLFCO08 , Why the name "suicide gun" uh?

[WOLFCO08]

@nu407 It has been known to break apart when fired which has killed people.

[nu407]

@WOLFCO08 Ok, Thanks.

[WOLFCO08]

Those were on it when I got it but you can Google Tombstone Gun Grips or just Iver Johnson .38 grips.

[837bunny]

ive got an old iver johnson .38 too. but mine has the small hand grips. where did you get the larger full size ones?

[SharpestKnife95]

my grandpa inherited an old iver johnson

[AA550cord]

It's a beauty.  If you wanna sell it. I.M. me.

[mp5masta]

hey my dad has an old iver johnson 16 guage champion shotgun any idea how much these things are worth

[TheTripking]

it can befrom $150 to $245