Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:59 pm

Hey i just recently got an older style iver johnsons single shot 20 gauge champion and im looking to sell it but im not sure on when it was made or what the value of it is its manufactured number is FCUC and stamp is a L if i could get a date and value on it it would be much appreciated..

Post subject: Re: Iver Johnson's Champion

Does the gun have a serial number and please describe its condition and if possible post a photograph.

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:14 pm

Theres no serial # on it that i can see its in great shape except for a chip on the plastic pad on the butt

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:06 am

When our resident Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works expert Bill Goforth passed most of our information about Iver Johnson Champion shotgun markings was lost. There are markings other than serial numbers that will tell when one was made but my reference does not list them. All it has to say is that before 1925 the word CHAMPION was stamped above all other markings and after 1925 the word CHAMPION was below all other markings. I can see that the word is above all other markings so this gun was made before 1925. Value of one of these old guns depends on its condition, the amount of original finish remaining on the metal and wood as well as the mechanical condition. A prime condition example (rare) that appears to have come out of the factory yesterday afternoon might bring as much as $125 at auction while a rusty metal, rotten or broken wood and missing parts piece of junk fit only for parts salvage or as a whiskey still stirring stick might fetch as little a $10. Most I have seen sold on the various gun auction sites have sold for between $50 and $100.

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:11 am

Post subject: Iver Johnson's Champion

Ned,
I have a couple of Champions and both have the word 'Champion' below all other wording.
Awhile back I ran across some information while searching
for dates of manufacture. It was the following :
1909-1919..... No letter suffix.
1920-1929.....Single letter suffix.
1930-1939.....Two letters suffix.
1940- 1956....All letter.
I may be mistaken but I thought this information was from old post or question answered by Mr. Goforth. (Not sure.)
If true, it dates my .410 between 1909 & 1919 and my 16 between 1920 & 1929. Again ' Champion' is below all wording.
Do you have any other information that might back-up these dates?
I think your price was about right.
I'm expecting a friend to bring me another Champion and he described it as 'very good condition'. Not sure what this means until I see it but the price is around $100.00.
Thanks
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:02 pm

Wildwood
My information came from Joseph T/ Vorisek's book ' A Short Illustrated History of Iver Johnson'd Arms & Cycle Works' In it, Joe lists only all numerical serial numbers for Iver Johnson shotguns. I know Bill Goforth had lists of alpha-numerical or numerical-alpha serial numbers that varied by year made . Somewhere I remember that there was a publisher listed for Bill Goforths research but I can't find that information right now. Does anyone have the source or name of that publisher.
Ned Fall

Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 4:14 pm

Ned,
On Gunbroker.com on 7/21/09 Bill Goforth replied in part with this information:
1909-1917 Champion model 36= numbers only from 1 up to 99,999
1917-1921 Champion= numbers and a single letter suffix.
1921-1939 Champion= numbers and two letter suffix.
1939-1956 Champion= letters only.
1971-1978 Champion= unknown.

Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 6:40 pm

Thank you Wildwood. That agrees with information I received from another source.