Silver Rings SASS # 27466 Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 I originally thought this was a S&W,but on closer inspection it isn't. Marked Secret service special, 38 s&w. See pictures for more information. Gun cocks either in single or double action but the hammer doesn't fall. Silver Rings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Curly Strait Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 It looks like an Iver Johnson, which means it may also be a US Revolver company product as IJ made both. But it could also be one of the similar variants made by H&R, Hopkins and Allen, or Meriden Firearms, and/or a Spanish company who’s name I’ve forgotten. If it’s the Spanish version, it should have a Spanish proof mark on the frame somewhere, possibly under the grips. Are there any other markings you can see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 That is the Meriden Fire Arms Co logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Curly Strait Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 A quick online search shows similar models from the aforementioned companies, but only one with the MFCa logo on the grips. Here’s the link: http://meridenfirearms.com/pistol.html Looks like PaleWolf Brunelle beat me to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Rings SASS # 27466 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 The only other marking are a serial number on the butt and what looks like a $ with 2 bars instead of 1. No other markings. Silver Rings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Rings SASS # 27466 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 Any ideas about the $ with 2 bars? Silver Rings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Curly Strait Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 25 minutes ago, Silver Rings SASS # 27466 said: Any ideas about the $ with 2 bars? Silver Rings Not a clue. But I’ll dig through my reference materials. Could you post a picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Rings SASS # 27466 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Captain Curly Strait said: Not a clue. But I’ll dig through my reference materials. Could you post a picture? Thanks everyone for your help. Don't worry about the symbol, it's not important. Silver Rings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Both Captain Curly and Pale Wolf are right! A Meriden Firearms wholesaler, the Fred Biffar Company, issued an order to Iver Johnson to make a better quality revolver than what Meriden was making. The Secret Service Special was a model made by IJ with Meriden 's marked grips on them, starting in about 1912. The unique front sight identifies this gun as an IJ made Meriden marked gun. Generally this model is almost the same as a US Revolver (a house brand used by IJ for lower quality guns) large frame gun. One reason that the hammer may not be falling is that there is a hammer blocking safety that in installed in some of the IJ/Meriden revolvers. As W E Goforth describes it in his book on IJ guns, the hammer pivot screw serves as a hammer block. "When the "pin" is flush with the right side of frame, the hammer cannot be cocked. When pushed the other way (so it's flush with left side of frame, it can be cocked" Might try putting some WD-40 on that hammer pivot and see if it can be loosened up and then pushed from side to side. If you have the serial number, I can look it up in Goforth's book and find year of manufacture - most of IJ's production records are in good order. Good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Rings SASS # 27466 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 Thanks for the info GJ. I will check out to see if there is a pin. Silver Rings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I can see the letters C F M A O on the grips, but not a clue what order they should be in - I reckon Palewolf nailed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 That's CMFAO - coughing my frizn @$$ off. An early application of web acronyms. Cough, cough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.