Iver Johnson Defender 89 Revolver Gunsmithing

Parts and notes: https://firearmusernetwork.com/working-the-iver-johnson-defender-89

Working the Iver Johnson Defender 89. The Iver Johnson Defender 89 revolver is a small five-shot chambered for .32 Rimfire intended as a last-ditch pocket pistol. The Defender 89 series was made between 1889 and 1899. Although not very valuable on the collector market, they remain collectible and are getting scarcer. While you won’t find many disassembly instructions, this little revolver is simplicity itself and fairly easy to figure out.

Disassembly
Remove the cylinder release lever pin at the front of the frame from either direction and then the lever and lever V-spring. Push the fairly flexible curved hammer spring to one side and remove it out of the groove in the bottom of the grip frame. The hand spring with a small 90-degree bend is removed next from a cutout on the left side of the grip frame. Remove the hammer screw from the left side of the frame. This is a 6x48 screw.

Rotate the hammer down into the grip frame area until you can fully expose the cylinder hand and remove it from the left side of its hole in the hammer. The hammer can now be taken out of its slot in the top of the frame. Remove the cylinder stop pin at the bottom of the frame just forward of the trigger front, from either direction.

Parts are getting scarce. Here, a cylinder pin is being manufactured on the lathe. Made from a 2 1/4 inch piece of 7/32-inch drill rod, the same diameter as the original pin.