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Make: Iver Johnson
Model: Champion
Serial Number: 97469C
Year of Manufacture: 1920-1929
Gauge: .410 Bore, 2 ¾” Shells
Action Type: Break Action, Single Shot with ejector
Markings: The left side of the frame is marked “Champion / IVER JOHNSON’S / ARMS & CYCLE WORKS / FITCHBURG,MASS.U.S.A. CHAMPION”. The bottom of the tang is marked “97469C”. The top of the barrel is marked “-410 BORE FULL CHOKE-BARREL AND LUG FORGED IN ONE-”. All parts are serial matched.
Barrel Length: 26”
Choke: Full, Fixed
Sights / Optics: Bead front sight. The top of the chamber is serrated for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with semi-pistol grip, straight comb, Iver Johnson serrated hard rubber buttplate with an Owl Head Motif, and semi-beavertail forend. There are scratches, scrapes, nicks, and compressions throughout. There are no cracks, but there are some minor chips. The LOP measures 14” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. The stocks rates in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Case Colored frame, Blued barrel
Finish Originality: Original.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. There is no erosion in the bore but there are some light scratches and fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 75% of its metal finish. There are scratches, nicks, thinning, and spots of rust throughout along with spots of patina. The case color on the receiver has faded some. The screw heads are tooled. The markings are legible though a bit faded on the receiver. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Fair to Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The ejector is strong. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Iver Johnson Champion was one of the most popular single-shot shotguns in early 20th-century America, known for its affordability, ruggedness, and reliability. Produced between 1909 and the 1950s, the Champion was marketed to farmers, ranchers, and working-class Americans who needed a dependable utility shotgun for hunting, pest control, and general purpose use. This example, chambered in .410 and manufactured between 1920 and 1929, represents one of the lighter, more user-friendly variants in the line—offering low recoil, ease of handling, and classic break-action simplicity. This shotgun retains solid mechanical function, with a tight lockup and strong ejector, while maintaining approximately 75% of its original blued and case-colored finish. The 26” barrel is marked as full choke and retains a bright bore with minimal fouling and sharp definition, rating 8.5/10. The walnut stock set, featuring Iver Johnson’s distinctive Owl Head buttplate, is free of cracks but shows honest wear from a life of field use. Dings, scratches, and minor chips are present, adding character but not compromising structural integrity. The receiver retains some fading case color, and the markings, while soft in places, remain legible.
This is a great representative example of a true American working gun—an unpretentious, reliable, and well-used shotgun that helped feed families, guard homesteads, and train generations of new shooters. Whether added to a collection of vintage utility firearms or kept as a functional and nostalgic piece for the field, this Iver Johnson Champion in .410 is a charming reminder of a bygone era of simple, effective gunmaking.