Iver Johnson Serial Number Database: Table and Date of Manufacture

Iver johnson’s arms cycle works began the production of firearms in 1894, and since then, they have produced over 500,000 firearms. Having a serial number on a firearm is very crucial. It links the firearm to the original manufacturer and owner, who is required to have a license.

This article will look at the Iver Johnson serial number database and help you understand what the prefix means for the different serial numbers. Let’s dive into it.

What does the letter sequence number mean, and how can I read it?

The gun serial number represents the unique identifier assigned to the firearm.

To comply with regulations set forth by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Bureau, firearm gun values must be a minimum of.003 in (0.07620 mm) deep. With this much opacity, the mark will still be legible after the pistol has been subjected to everyday use. Because of its thickness, it prevents identity theft by thieves who try to grind down the cards.

Letter	F	I	T	C	H	B	U	R	G
Number	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Part Manufacture Dates and Serial Numbers

The M1 carbine and the single-barrel shotguns have many moving parts because their components are made and assembled independently.

Before world war 2, Iver Johnson’s arms cycle works produced three models.

• First Model was produced from 1894 to 1895 and featured a single post-latch system. For the hammerless Model, there was no external hammer protruding from the gun on this first Model.
• Second Model (1896–1908), double post latch system, The second Model has a safety lever added to the trigger face on the hammerless shotgun.
• Third Model (1909–1941) featured a double post latch system adapted for smokeless powder.

The SN is usually located at the bottom of the barrel rib or the bottom of the trigger guard. The gun has a serial number with no letter prefix; it was made between 1909 and 1919. If the gun has a single-letter prefix, it was made between 1920 and 1929.

If the gun has a two-letter prefix, it was made between 1930 and 1939. If the gun has an all-letter serial number, it was made between 1940 and 1950. If the word CHAMPION appears above all other markings. The gun was made before 1925, and the word appears below all other makings; the gun was made after 1925.

Understanding the Meaning of “Date of Manufacture”

The date a firearm is manufactured is often the first day it is ready for sale after all its components have been assembled.

The Charts

Instead of guessing a specific year for a specific number, the charts present a serial number range and the years that range started and ended based on the markings and additional resources. 

They narrow the time frame to a period of 4 years or less. Conclusions about the specific year in which a particular number was manufactured are left for the reader to decide.

AA Prefix

The AA prefix represents the military and paratrooper model with a blued steel finish. The AA serial numbers were recorded between the years 1978 to 1992.

Middle-sex New Jersey – AA00001(1978)- AA41046(1983).

Jacksonville, Ar – AA44763(1983) To AA64781(1986).

Few receivers with the markings of Iver Johnson over New Jersey have been observed among the M1 carbines manufactured in AR by both Iver Johnson Arms cycle works and AMAC. 

Amac – AA64991(1987) to AA73377(1992)

BA Prefix 

The BA prefix on the Iver Johnson arms represents the Enforcer model with a blue steel finish.

Middle sex, New Jersey – BA00001(1978) To BA05567 (1981).

In Jacksonville, the only serial number was BA05708, Recorded in 1983.

4,524 Enforcers were manufactured and sold between 1978 and 1981. 

The higher SN quantity may include rejects and leftovers sold to the Jacksonville, AR, investors.

BS Prefix 

If your Enforcer has a Bs serial number, it has a stainless steel finish.

Iver Johnson arms cycle works began selling stainless steel carbines in 1978, two years after they acquired Plainfield Machine.

These came in various configurations, including a stainless steel military-style carbine, a paratrooper model, an Enforcer model (with a BS s/n prefix), and a 5.7mm variant (with an ES s/n prefix).

It seems that production was limited to under 5,000 units. All of these were made in Middlesex, NJ. However, they were not included in the later Iver Johnson catalogs. Those produced in Middlesex, NJ, and marketed by Iver Johnson in Jacksonville, AR had serial numbers beginning with the letter A. Part II includes a mention of Iver Johnson in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

The serial number runs from BS00001 through BS00306 (1980)

CA Prefix 

M2 select fire models with various types of finishes.

DD Prefix 

A D-Day commemorative model is the second Model having a blued steel finish.

Only 10,000 of the D-Day Commemorative were made, and each serial number began with the initials DD. All of these were manufactured by Iver Johnson Arms in Middlesex, NJ.

The only distinction between the D-Day Commemorative carbines and the normal Iver Johnson M1 Carbines was the stock and the things supplied with the D-Day Commemorative that were not available with any other carbine.

Middlesex New trip – DD00001 to DD09977 in 1980

EA Prefix 

The EA designation represented the blued steel Carbines and chambered for the 5.7mm Johnson.

Melvin Johnson, who also developed the M1941 Johnson Machine Gun and the 1940 Johnson Rifle, created the 5.7mm Johnson cartridge as a wildcat. The 5.7mm cartridge fires a.222 caliber bullet housed in a. 30-carbine shell. This carbine’s bore and chamber are slightly larger than those of.

Thirty caliber carbines, but that’s the only discernible change. Other than the receiver, all other components are designed for a. 30-caliber carbine. They are externally and internally identical to an M1 Carbine, except with a 5.7mm caliber barrel rather than a.30 Carbine barrel. A firearm’s caliber must be stamped on the receiver under federal law.

Plainfield Machine manufactured numerous sporting-style carbines in this caliber. Iver Johnson was still making this caliber of carbines. Model M5 (EA serial number) and Model ES (s/n) are both available, with the former having a blued finish and the latter being made of stainless steel. The production was limited to under 500 units. All of these were made in Middlesex, NJ.

Serial numbers for the EA-prefixed Iver Johnson firearms range from EA00001 to EA00621.

EAA Prefix 

Enforcer model with a blue steel finish.

The E was added before the AA to signify the Enforcer model. The numbers should not be viewed as a sequence. These were built into Enforcers in the months before the Bankruptcy in October 1986.

EF Prefix 

Enforcer model with a blue steel finish.

Jacksonville – EF00001 (1983) to EF00364(1986)

AMAC, Jacksonville – EF00338(1987) To EF00754(1988)

ES Prefix 

The ES Serial represents a 5.7 mm Johnson with a stainless steel finish.

Runs from ES 00001A – ES00072A 

Date of manufacture – 1983

All carbines having the markings of Middlesex, NJ, are stainless steel. 

The A suffix indicates they were surplus obtained from New Jersey and sold by Jacksonville, AR.

FF Prefix 

The FF serial numbers represent French shorts with a blued steel finish.

In the early 1980s, when the business was still based in New Jersey, it appeared to have experimented with and begun manufacturing an M1 Carbine chambered for the.30 M1 Short cartridge for export to France. This rifle’s components were identical to those of the iver Johnson M1 Rifles. To prevent the use of the.30 Carbine M1 cartridge, the chamber was finished and reamed to be slightly shorter to accept the.30 M1 Short cartridge.

Possessing a rifle that could fire a military cartridge was illegal in France. For those in France who want to own an M1 Carbine, the legal.30 M1 Short was developed. The case was reduced by 1.25mm, but the cartridge was identical in size to the.30 Carbine M1. The overall cartridge length was identical to that of the.30 Carbine M1. In both cases, the bullet was identical.

Receivers meant for export to France were marked with the caliber and serial numbered with an FF prefix.

The.30 Short caliber cartridge was utilized, and it was manufactured with French exportation in mind. Numrich Gun Parts acquired receivers with these markings during a bankruptcy auction held by Iver Johnson.

They run from FF10548 to FF11940.

J Prefix 

The J letter prefix serial represents M1 carbines with a blue steel finish.

Warwick Vermont – J900001 to J900127 in 2007

JJ Prefix 

It represents a 9 mm parabellum with a blue steel finish.

Date of manufacture – 1985

Place – Jacksonville, Ar

JJ0001 to JJ02137 

SS Prefix 

Military and paratrooper model with a stainless steel finish.

Recorded in Middlesex, New Jersey, and Jacksonville, Ar, from 1982 to 1983.

In Middlesex, the serial number runs from ss00001 to ss04465 

While in Jacksonville, the only serial number recorded was SS04535A 

WW Prefix 

The WW letter prefix represents the WW 2 commemorative model with a blue steel finish. 

The prefix was recorded on Iver Johnson arms in Jacksonville, Ar, from 1985 to 1986.

It runs from WW0001 To WW1945.

Is There a Database of Gun Serial Numbers? 

No. Each manufacturer maintains the serial numbers for its products. Just like toaster manufacturers. I may be assuming as to why you are interested. I guess that you want to know whether it can be tracked. A manufacturer could only tell you what retailer bought it and when.

Since they sell in quantity to other companies who will ultimately sell to the individual buyers, they wouldn’t be able to tell you who the ultimate owner was. It would be best if you questioned the retailer to find out who they sold it to.

Other Ways to Get a Gun’s Serial Number

The serial number can be found in many different locations.

Typically the serial number can be found on the handle, barrel rib, trigger guard, or receiver. A serial number is stamped in metal, so it doesn’t wear quickly. If a serial number is worn, try looking for the serial number in a different place on the gun (some guns will have more than one serial number).

Contact the Manufacturer

Call the gun manufacturer or go to the manufacturer’s website to access their online search tool. You can view Resources from the gun manufacturer’s online directory of many websites.

Gun History

Check the search tool in the state where you purchased the gun. Some Law Enforcement departments agencies provide a free online search tool. The search tool will display that information if that gun is reported stolen. You can search online for checking firearm serial numbers in your state or go directly to the police department.

Visiting Your Local Police Department

Give the officer the gun’s serial number and ask him to run a check on the gun. If the gun were ever reported stolen anywhere, the officer would be able to tell you. The police department will run the gun’s serial number through the FBI’s NCIC database, which records all stolen guns reported in every state.

Iver Johnson Serial Number Database – FAQ

Conclusion

Helping you understand your Iver Johnson firearm serial number was our primary goal. We looked at all series from AA Prefix to WW Prefix. We hope you have got it right. 

Do you have an Iver johnson? What is the serial number? Please share it with us in the comments section.