[DAHoyle]

Anybody have any experience with Iver Johnson. I ran across a Thrasher (3.125 inch barrel) for $500, and I am considering it. From looks alone (fit and finish) it looks like a quality base gun. I would probably upgrade the ignition, and possibly the safety, as well as just a basic reliability package.

Has anyone owned one. What problems did you run across, and were they fixable?

 

[Mike A]

Iver Johnson Thrasher

An entry in the “value” segment of the mini-1911 market, the Iver Johnson Thrasher is truly a mini 1911 and extremely at home in a small (albeit experienced) hand.

With a 3.125-inch barrel, the Iver Johnson Thrasher measures 6.93 inches overall — almost a half-inch shorter than the Taylor. The reduction in length correlates with less overall weight: The Thrasher is a 1.9-pound gun, just more than a half-pound lighter than the Taylor. Other than those specs, the two guns are very similar. In its matte-blued finish, it retails for $636, making it a veritable bargain in the 1911 world.

Firing a .45 ACP 1911, especially in these smaller variants, creates a lot of drama. A lot of bark. A lot of recoil. It’s not unmanageable by any stretch, because the 1911 platform — with its grip angle and high hold — is eminently shootable after you grow accustomed to it. So, don’t let the name intimidate you. That said, the Thrasher has a few sharp edges, so don’t plan on putting dozens and dozens of rounds downrange. Your thumb will take a beating as you manipulate the safety on and off, and you’ll feel the hot pricks of exhaust gas getting thrown back in your face every now and then. But this is the gun you choose to carry because it is a workhorse and because it can take a beating; your end of the deal might involve a little of the same.

 

[Colorado Sonny]

Interesting. I have never heard anything about Iver Johnson pistols. They do have a full line up of pistols. $500 seems like a decent price. https://iverjohnsonarms.com/index.html



Thrasher is matte blue in finish. This model comes with Walnut large diamond grips. It has the following features:

- Barrel length: 3 1/8" black bull barrel
- Frame and slide are 4140 CNC machined steel
- Capacity: 7 + 1 (45acp)
- 2 stage recoil spring system
- Military style trigger
- Beavertail Grip Safety with memory
- Military style fixed front and rear sights
- Thin line, angled serrations in the rear only
- Round, combat style hammer
- Military style thumb safety
- Ejection port lowered and flared
- Slightly beveled magwell
- Weight: 34oz.
- Overall length: 6.93"
- Overall height: 5"

 

[Karsten]

Humm, Iver Johnson went broke long ago....They made some okay to decent revolver, an M1 Carbine pistol sorta looking thing and I forget what else. They went the same way as High Standard way back when. That was well before the 1911 fad and all the clones so I would assume someone bought the rights to the name....Rock Island Arms comes to mind. They are making 1911 clones American Tactical and a few other these days.

Karsten

 

[Mike A]

Made in the Philippines.


1911 Pistols
Iver Johnson Arms is a premier importer of 1911 pistols. We have a full line of 1911s in all different sizes, calibers, and finishes. All of our 1911s are Series 70. Our 1911s have a finger relief cut near the trigger guard for a more comfortable shooting experience. Iver Johnson 1911s are manufactured in the Philippines by Shooters Arms Manufacturing. They are made to our specifications and our design, using parts approved by Iver Johnson.
Any existing Cerakote or Hydrographic finish that you see on our website can be applied to any of our pistols, if it is not shown as an in stock item. Email us for pricing and availability.
The porting on our slides and barrels are machined by Iver Johnson in the USA.
All 1911 models have a slide machined from bar stock and a cast frame machined on CNC, then the slide and frame are hand fitted. Each slide is fit to an individual frame to give it a tight out of the box fit.
Every pistol comes with one magazine, gun lock, manual, and a hard black plastic lockable gun case.

 

[KS95B40]

https://iverjohnsonarms.com/1911-pistols.html

I have no experience other than handling a 5” GI looking model at a gun show a few years ago.

The are made by SAM in the Philippines and imported under the Iver Johnson name. They have as much in common with the defunct Iver Johnson company as the new Springfield Armory has in common with the now closed federal Springfield Armory - Name only.

 

[Dallas Knight]

From Wikipedia:
In 2006 the name was reused as Iver Johnson Arms Incorporated in Florida as manufacturer and importer of firearms (from Philippines, Turkey and Belgium), including 1911-style semi-automatic pistols, but not related to the old Iver Johnson lines. The new firm was renamed from Squires Bingham International, founded in 1973.

 

[Dallas Knight]

Iver Johnson pistols {original company} have been around a long time. Used to assassinate Italy’s king in 1900. And here in the U.S., used to assassinate President William McKinley and presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy.

 

[limbkiller]

Well at least they killed worthless people!!