They made a lot of interesting revolvers. They were not high quality guns but built to sell cheap. They generally built them as small and as cheap as could be done. Those two things, small and cheap, combine to make them popular but not very durable. Most of the old Iver Johnsons found today are pretty much used up. The top break models seem to shoot loose pretty quick, the solid frames are often a bit better since there is not so much to go wrong but their lock work is soft and not well fitted up to start with. I'd not recommend you pay much for one but if you get a good one cheap it will probably be satisfactory for a while. Iver Johnson, Harrington & Richardson, Forehand & Wadsworth, Hopkins & Allen and The U.S. Revolver Co. were all pretty similar. The first handgun I ever fired was an H&R nine shot .22 which was my dad's only handgun.
