Section I	Section II	Section III	Section IV	Section V	Section VI
History of Iver Johnson Arms 1977-2012	Models	Serial Numbers & Dates of Manufacture	Receivers & Markings	Parts	Brochures, Price Lists, Fliers & Manuals (Downloads)

This Section is divided into two parts. Part 1 (previous page) is devoted to presenting all of the model numbers/names for the M1 Carbines manufactured under the Iver Johnson name with brochure/catalog information regarding each model. Part II (this page) is devoted to more specific information pertaining to each model. Given the volume of model numbers over the years these pages do not include the handguns, custom ordered high power sniper rifles, or the rimfire rifles other than .22 rimfire M1 Carbine look-a-like.

Part I Model Numbers

Part II Model Details

Introduction

The model numbers used by Iver Johnson over the years were frequently based on the type of stock as opposed to the carbine in the stock. Each carbine model experienced one or more model number changes with the change of company ownership, management, and/or marketing ideas.

To avoid redundancy and confusion the models presented on this page are based on the carbine in the stock, with examples of the different stocks. Model numbers can be determined by comparing the carbine's serial number to the chart on the page devoted to Serial Numbers & Dates of Manufacture then examining the page listing all of the model numbers together and chronologically by year.

To keep this particular page manageable, some of the models presented below have a link to a page devoted to that specific model with far more details and photographs.

Please note this page is a work in progress and additional information, photographs, and web pages dedicated to a particular model will be added over time.

The Military Carbine

The basic M1 Carbine offered throughout the production of carbines by Iver Johnson's Arms. For the first couple years these were referred to as Iver Johnson's Plainfield Carbine as they were manufactured at the old Plainfield Machine facility in Middlesex, NJ on the equipment used by Plainfield by prior Plainfield Machine employees.

Stocks were hardwood, walnut, the paratrooper stock, and the black Zytel survival stock. Parts fully interchangeable with their GI counterparts. The receiver, slide, bolt, trigger housing and other parts were made from investment castings. Finish was consistently described as "blued" in marketing material though some were parkerized.

This model was offered primarily in semi-auto though a select fire version was marketed and sold to law enforcement and foreign governments.

Hardwood Stock

Walnut Stock

M1 Carbine
Caliber:	.30 carbine
Barrel:	18 inches
Weight:	5 1/2 lbs
Length:	36 inches overall
Stock:	hardwood or walnut
Sights:	blade front, adjustable rear
Finish:	blued or parkerized

The Paratrooper Carbine

The only difference between the Paratrooper models and the Military models was the stock. The stock was designed and used by Plainfield Machine for many years and inherited by Iver Johnson when they acquired the assets of Plainfield Machine. Although the Paratrooper model was offered in the brochures of Iver Johnson after the company was relocated to Jacksonville, AR in 1983 very few were actually manufactured and sold in Arkansas. By 1984 this model had been discontinued. This model was also referred to as Iver Johnson's Plainfield Paratrooper carbine.

The stocks were made of walnut and by the end of their production were prone to cracking. Whatever was changed that caused the stocks to fail is unknown. Most of the paratrooper stocks manufactured by Plainfield did not have this problem.

This model was offered primarily in semi-auto though a select fire version was marketed and sold to law enforcement and foreign governments. For law enforcement and foreign governments it was also available with a 12" barrel in place of the standard 18" barrel.

Paratrooper Carbine
Caliber:	.30 carbine
Barrel:	18 inches
Weight:	5 1/4 lbs
Length with stock retracted:	36.5 inches overall
Length with stock extended:	27 inches overall
Stock:	walnut
Sights:	blade front, adjustable rear
Finish:	blued or parkerized

The Super Enforcer Pistol

Initially introduced under the name of Plainfield Machine as the Model PP (Police Pistol) when Iver Johnson acquired the assets of Plainfield, the name of this model evolved quickly from the Enforcer to the Super Enforcer to avoid confusion with the Enforcer model being sold by Universal Firearms. This model was also offered throughout the production of carbines by Iver Johnson's Arms.

The Super Enforcer was offered primarily in semi-auto though a select fire version was marketed and sold to law enforcement and foreign governments.

Further details regarding this model and it's variations over the lifespan of Iver Johnson can be viewed on the page devoted to the Super Enforcers by clicking here.

The Stainless Steel Carbines

From 1978 through 1984 all of the Iver Johnson carbine models were offered in a stainless steel version. All of the stainless steel carbines were manufactured in Middlesex, NJ between 1978 and 1982. Those sold by Iver Johnson after the company moved to Arkansas in 1983 have the markings of Middlesex, NJ with the letter A added to the end of the serial number. One stainless steel carbine manufactured during 1991 and mounted in a commemorative Stars and Stripes stock has been observed, the serial number beginning with the AA prefix instead of the standard SS used for stainless steel. This was likely part of the inventory clearance in the company's final days.

All of the receivers, slides, bolts and trigger housings in stainless steel were made by investment casting. All of the parts are interchangeable with their blued steel equivalents and surplus GI parts.

The stainless steel carbines manufactured by Iver Johnson of Middlesex, NJ have been one of the most durable commercial carbines made to date. They generally have been superior in quality to the stainless steel carbines made by Universal Firearms and sold by Iver Johnson 1985-1986. Further details on the stainless steel carbines manufactured by Universal Firearms and sold by Iver Johnson can be found on the page devoted to Universal Firearms.

Iver Johnson's stainless steel carbines can be found throughout this website with their blued steel versions. Their weight, length, etc. was the same as their blued steel counterparts.

The Survival Carbines

Survival model carbines were the standard military carbine, 5.7mm carbine, and stainless steel carbine mounted in either a fixed or folding polymer stock. Both stocks carried the Iver Johnson name and logo.

The stocks for the Survival Model carbines were manufactured by Choate Machine and Tool in Bald Knob, AR under contract to Iver Johnson's Arms 1983-1984. The stocks were made using a Dupont patented high strength, abrasion and impact resistant thermoplastic reinforced with fiberglass that Dupont had trademarked as Zytel. These stocks are the most durable M1 Carbine stocks ever made with similar versions still available from Choate as of 2013.

       

The 5.7MM Johnson caliber Carbines

The 5.7MM Johnson cartridge was invented in the early 1960's by Col. Melvin Johnson (ret). The casing is a .30 caliber carbine casing necked down to accommodate a .222 caliber bullet. The Iver Johnson carbines chambered for this cartridge were simply M1 Carbines with a barrel chamber reamed for the 5.7MM Johnson cartridge. The receiver and all of the parts were the same parts used on the Iver Johnson .30 caliber M1 Carbines. The 5.7MM Johnson cartridge is also referred to as the .22 Carbine and/or .22 Spitfire. The cartridge is obsolete but reloading dies are readily available.

While offered in the Iver Johnson marketing material 1982-1985 this model was manufactured only in Middlesex, NJ. Those sold by Jacksonville, AR were acquired from the purchase of Iver Johnson's Arms of Middlesex, NJ.

The offset A at the end of the serial number indicates this carbine was sold by Iver Johnson's Arms in Jacksonville, AR. The receiver is marked Middlesex, NJ.

The .30 Short caliber Carbines

In the early 1980's while the company was still located in New Jersey they experimented with, and appear to have begun production of, an M1 Carbine chambered for the .30 M1 Short cartridge for export to France. All parts of this carbine were the same as the standard model Iver Johnson M1 Carbines. The only difference was the chamber was finish reamed slightly shorter to accommodate the .30 M1 Short cartridge and prevent the use of the .30 Carbine M1 cartridge.

French laws prohibited ownership of a rifle chambered for a military cartridge. The .30 M1 Short was designed to allow French M1 Carbine owners a legal means of owning an M1 Carbine. All dimensions of the cartridge were the same as the .30 Carbine M1 cartridge, with the case length shortened by 1.25mm. Overall length of the cartridge was the same as the .30 Carbine M1. Both cartridges used the same bullet.

In October 1982 Iver Johnson's Arms of Middlesex, NJ invoiced R&H Manufacturing of Wayne, NJ for the production of 3,800 .30 Carbine Short cartridges and 1,000 5.7MM Johnson cartridges.

.30 Short on left, .30 Carbine on right

Only a few of these carbines have been observed to date. Included have been one with the markings of Iver Johnson in Jacksonville, AR 1983-1984 and another with the markings of Iver Johnson in Jacksonville, AR 1985-1986.

   
Markings consistent with Iver Johnson of Jacksonville, AR 1983-1984.

Markings consistent with Iver Johnson of Jacksonville, AR 1985-1986. Iver Johnson Jacksonville, AR and the caliber appear on the receiver ring.
(as better photographs become available they will be placed here)

It is not known how many of these carbines were actually manufactured and exported to France. Serial numbers observed so far have been in the FF10500-FF12000 range. If Iver Johnson followed their normal protocol of starting the sequence with 00001, obviously the quantity manufactured was over 12,000. Information that production started in Middlesex, NJ coupled with the receivers above indicate this model was likely produced approximately 1982-1986.

The .30 Short cartridge was commercially manufactured in Germany by RWS (Rheinisch-Westfalische Sprengstoff A.G.) of Nuremberg as the .30 Court.

The 9mm Parabellum caliber Carbines

Manufactured 1985-1986 using receivers, handguards, barrel bands, and other parts obtained from the acquisition of Universal Firearms, these carbines are presented on their own web page that can be accessed by clicking here.

The Commemorative Carbines

Iver Johnson's Arms manufactured four different Commemorative models between 1980 and 1991.

Iver Johnson's Universal Carbines

Universal Firearms of Hialeah, FL was purchased by Iver Johnson's Arms investor Phillip Lynn Lloyd in 1982. The facility, equipment, and employees continued operation as Universal Firearms in Hialeah until 1984, when the Hialeah facility was closed for good and the assets of Universal Firearms were relocated to the Iver Johnson's Arms facility in Jacksonville, AR.

When assembly was started in Arkansas in 1985 only a few models remained and production was halted permanently in late 1986 when Phillip Lynn Lloyd filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

For the sake of organization and continuity Iver Johnson's Universal Carbines are presented on the pages devoted to Universal Firearms.

The Iver Johnson .22 Carbines

Import of the Erma Werke Model EM1 to the U.S.A. started in 1967 when it was imported and sold by Louis Imperato as L.A. Distributors who continued it's import until 1972. From 1972 through the end of production at Erma Werke in 1996, the EM1 was imported by a number of companies in succession one at a time.

In 1985 and 1986 the EM1 was manufactured by Erma Werke under contract to, and imported by, Iver Johnson's Arms who sold the rifle as the Iver Johnson Model EW22HBL and a .22 magnum version as the Model EW22HBP. The Iver Johnson name and logo was added to the existing Erma Werke markings, otherwise the two guns were the same as their Erma Werke counterparts manufactured 1967-1996.

All information on the .22 caliber M1 Carbine manufactured by Erma Werke, including those manufactured for Iver Johnson, is presented in detail on the pages devoted to The Erma Werke Model EM1.