Iver Johnson Eclipse
Iver Johnson Arms · Pistol · Discontinued · 1875
Also known as: Iver Johnson Eclipse Derringer, Eclipse Single Shot
Overview
The Iver Johnson Eclipse is a single-shot, spur-trigger pocket pistol chambered in .22 rimfire, produced by Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works of Massachusetts from roughly the mid-1870s into the 1890s. It uses a sheathed-trigger sidearm layout with a short swivel barrel that pivots aside for loading a single rimfire cartridge, a hammer set at half-cock, and a one-piece bird's-head grip. Typically finished in nickel with a barrel of about 2.5 inches, it was a cheap, easily concealed defensive arm sold during the post-Civil War boom in inexpensive American rimfire pocket pistols.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 140 g (4.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 114 mm (4.49") |
| Barrel Length | 64 mm (2.52") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 250 m/s (820 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 60 J (44 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 10 m (11 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Nickel |
Calibers
- .22 Short · primary — also known as .22 Short, .22 Rimfire, .22 RF
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Swivel Barrel, Spur Trigger, Single Shot, Bird Head Grip
Service history
Operators
- Civilian market
Production
Production years: c. 1870s-1890s
Exact production totals are not documented; the model was one of many low-cost pocket arms of the era.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Iver Johnson
Discontinued: 1895
Notes
The Eclipse name was applied to small single-shot and revolver pocket arms of the late 19th century; the single-shot .22 RF version is fairly rare and surviving examples sometimes have loose swivel barrels. Not to be confused with later 20th-century Iver Johnson firearms.
Background
Iver Johnson, a Norwegian immigrant gunsmith, founded his firm in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1871; the company became famous for inexpensive 'Owl Head' pocket revolvers and budget single-shot pistols like the Eclipse before moving on to its better-known safety-hammer revolvers.