Ground Hog with 1889 Defender Handgun

[CMDiamonddawg]

Hi T Net, Ground Hog Day 2011 Wed. was the meltdown here in Jersey , just enough to get rid of the remaining white stuff . Temps were up in the high 50's and the pesky groundhog varmit did his thing . A short hunt was the best medicine for cabin fever . Started out at a nearby old reliable corn field area and found some nice iron relics , horse shoes , and two more ax heads . Then after nothing but shell tops for an hour I dug some ammo for small caliber gun. I was ready to call it when I dug this pistol at about six inches near the brass and lead . I was sure it wasn't a toy and cleaned it up back at the house . Turns out to be a Ivers Johnson , 1889 Defender pocket pistol, 22 cal. five shot revolver . Pictures are what it used to look like when first made 1889 -1895. I have been finding some gun parts lately but this is the first complete one in years. 8) Not a large cal. bad boy but still in fair shape . Last picture is the ground hog . Lil varmits packin' heat Thanks for taking a look , CMDdawg

 

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[DigginThePast]

Awesome find. Congrats.

I'm amazed at the condition of the grips. I've seen several over the years that weren't buried in the ground for years and the grips are usually chipped badly or at least cracked.

 

[BobinSouthVA]

wow thats a cool find. WTG

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Awesome find. Congrats.

I'm amazed at the condition of the grips. I've seen several over the years that weren't buried in the ground for years and the grips are usually chipped badly or at least cracked.
[/quote Thanks DigginThe Past , The grips are exceptional . I am not sure if they are bakelite or a hard rubber no cracks . Makes me wonder when this pistol was lost . Exciting dig

wow thats a cool find. WTG

Thanks Bob

 

[txconservative]

Woo Hoo sweet find Diamond !!

-Tx

 

[DigginThePast]

Grips will be hard rubber. The gun was produced prior to Bakelite being introduced.



edit to add: Wanted to double check my memory. Bakelite was invented in 1907 and introduced to the general public in 1909. Your pistol was last produced in 1895.

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Grips will be hard rubber. The gun was produced prior to Bakelite being introduced.

Thanks , helpful info

Woo Hoo sweet find Diamond !!

-Tx

Thanks Tex , sweet of you to stop by .This one is just a little ol peashooter

 

[Westfront]

Wow! Love something like that more than a coin... There is always a story behind such a find....

 

[Wldbil]

Now that is a cool find!!! Congrats

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Sweet find

 

[EagleDown]

From the looks of the area and finds, it looks like the groundhogs were being used for target practice.

A little more information on your "Birds Head Grip" revolver:

The Defender was manufactured by Johnson & Bye (later Iver Johnson) from 1873-1888. There were three different frame sizes for both square butt and birds head grip models. The small frame was chambered for .22 rimfire; the medium frame was chambered for .32 rimfire; and the large frame was chambered for .38 or .41 rimfire. Serial numbers for each frame size and model started at 1 and ran to 99,999, then started over again. These were all smooth bore guns. Defender is the most common brand name, but Johnson & Bye also made the same guns under other names, including Eagle, Encore, Eureka, Favorite, Favorite Navy, Lion, Smoker, Old Hickory, and Tycoon. Pearl and ivory grips were available by special order, as were longer barrels.

There was a second series of guns made by Johnson & Bye from 1889-1899 that had rifled barrels and redesigned and improved lockwork. These were sold as the Defender 89. “Defender 89” was stamped on the topstrap and molded into the hard rubber grips.

 

[Damon64]

Cool pistol!

 

[VOL1266-X]

You have done it again Super Dawg!! Excellent find. I have never dug a complete gun. HH, Quindy.

 

[fir469]

Where in Jersey are you to have no snow on the ground lol... You're only 30 mins from me and we still have snow cover!! Arg!! Nice find on the pistol, I'd love to find an old handgun!!

-Jason

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Where in Jersey are you to have no snow on the ground lol... You're only 30 mins from me and we still have snow cover!! Arg!! Nice find on the pistol, I'd love to find an old handgun!!

-Jason

Why would you say I live 30 minutes from you when you are asking where I am in NJ . The state is over 200 miles from N to South and a 100 mile e to West Well there was still this amount of snow left

Wow! Love something like that more than a coin... There is always a story behind such a find....

Thanks Westfront

Now that is a cool find!!! Congrats

Thanks Wildbil

Sweet find

Thanks Blind Squirrel

From the looks of the area and finds, it looks like the groundhogs were being used for target practice.

A little more information on your "Birds Head Grip" revolver:

The Defender was manufactured by Johnson & Bye (later Iver Johnson) from 1873-1888. There were three different frame sizes for both square butt and birds head grip models. The small frame was chambered for .22 rimfire; the medium frame was chambered for .32 rimfire; and the large frame was chambered for .38 or .41 rimfire. Serial numbers for each frame size and model started at 1 and ran to 99,999, then started over again. These were all smooth bore guns. Defender is the most common brand name, but Johnson & Bye also made the same guns under other names, including Eagle, Encore, Eureka, Favorite, Favorite Navy, Lion, Smoker, Old Hickory, and Tycoon. Pearl and ivory grips were available by special order, as were longer barrels.

There was a second series of guns made by Johnson & Bye from 1889-1899 that had rifled barrels and redesigned and improved lockwork. These were sold as the Defender 89. “Defender 89” was stamped on the topstrap and molded into the hard rubber grips.

Thanks dude , great info Eagle, birds head 8) 8)

Cool pistol!

Thanks Damon 8)

You have done it again Super Dawg!! Excellent find. I have never dug a complete gun. HH, Quindy.

Thanks Quindy ... # 2

Where in Jersey are you to have no snow on the ground lol... You're only 30 mins from me and we still have snow cover!! Arg!! Nice find on the pistol, I'd love to find an old handgun!!

-Jason

Jason , it's all gone here in the Cape, except this

 

[goldgrubber]

Very cool find!

 

[Bank Runner]

Awesome whole gun find

 

[ModernMiner]

Way to go Defender Dawg! What a cool old pistol. I bet you weren't expecting that one.
Congrats,
MM

 

[KRAZYHORSES]

makes ya wonder about it's history.... AWESOME find dawg !! gangster related ? ya find any bones by it ?? LOL again nice find scott

 

[umrgolf]

Pea-shooter held up really well.. early spring thanks to your buddy there