Iver Johnson .38 S&W

[Jody13]

I just got an Iver Johnson .38 S&W top break serial # D666##. After doing something research, I found out the orientation of the owl's head on the grips were either facing the barrel, or like mine, facing the butt of the gun. Can anybody explain the difference and tell me the DOB?
Thanks ---Jody13

 

[moonsinger23]

facing down towards the butt is the 3rd production of this type of gun. the first had the owlhead looking towards the barrell

 

[Bellman2]

I havr an old I/J 16 ga single shot that has the owls head on the butt stock. One way you look at it, it's an owl head, turn it upside down and it's an old man. Had this thing for fifty years, came from Dad and was my first gun.