Iver Johnson firearms were low cost, but not necessarily low quality. The most common of which were Eclipse, Favorite, Ty Coon and Encore. They were sold by various hardware and sporting goods outlets throughout the U.S. Most of Iver Johnson’s production was low cost revolvers and shotguns. Recently the Iver Johnson name was resurrected as the Iver Johnson Arms, Inc. At the time of final closure of operations in 1993 the company was owned and operated by American Military Arms Corp. In 1971 Iver Johnson Arms moved to Middlesex New jersey. The “& Cycle Works” was dropped in 1940 when that part of the factory was closed. The firm also dabbled in motorcycles for a short time.
At this time, as the name states, Johnson was indeed also engaged in the manufacture of bicycles. and became known as the Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works. In 1891 the company was relocated to Fitchburg Mass. In 1883 Bye left the firm and it became known as Iver Johnson & Company. In 1871 Johnson teamed with Martin Bye and formed Johnson Bye & Company in Worcester Mass. Johnson’s gunmaking career began with the famed New England maker Ethan Allen. One in particular was the use of a “safety” on numerous Iver Johnson revolvers. Johnson’s innovative designs lasted the test of time. Iver Johnson was a Norwegian immigrant that left a century long imprint on the American gunmaking landscape.