By: John Hackett

This old gun is kind of a re-run of last month’s “Smoker” revolver (see article below).  This “Defender 89” revolver is also a brand name revolver from the 1880’s.  This Defender 89 has a 2 ¼” barrel, is 7-shots, and chambered for.22 short.

The Defender 89 and the Smoker look eerily similar.  There is a good reason for that; they were both made basically by the same company.  Last month’s Smoker was made by Johnson Bye & Company Worcester MA.  This month’s Defender 89 was made by a successor company, Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Worcester MA.  The records of the Defender 89 are a little clearer.  They were made under contract for J.P. Lovell Arms Boston MA c.1889-95.

Even though we know a little more about the Defender 89 it doesn’t necessarily mean its worth more.  It would still sell for around $50 to $150.

The single barrel address of “Defender 89” on this 1880 period revolver doesn’t leave much of a clue as to its actual origin.