Info on old S&W Break top ?'s

[cmichini]

Hi S&W Forum:

New member, first post, referred from folks at calguns.net.

My wife has an older S&W breaktop that used to be her great-grandmother's. I don't know much about these older pistols and was hoping I could learn a bit.

It is a 5 shot, 38 S&W caliber break top.
Hammerless, DA only, with a grip safety.
Finish is mirror bright, very few blemishes (one good sized one on cylinder). Looks like pearl handles.
Cylinder is numbered to frame.
Front sight is integral to the top rib.


Not knowing much I obviously have lots of Questions:
Is that finish nickel/chrome?

Probably safe to shoot, but any words of warning?

Any idea as to value?

I want to give it a cleaning since it's been hiding in a t-shirt at her father's house for a few years. Any suggestions/warnings about what not to do/use? I was going to run a few patches of hoppes down the barrel / charging holes, a little CLP after and on pivot points, and a wipe with silicon cloth.

History / story about these (or where can i find more)?

I attached a couple of pix to provide visual guidance.

Thanks for any info offered up.

[Dosgatos]

You have a .38 New Departure/Safety Hammerless (aka: Lemon Squeezer) 5th Model, manufactured from 1907 to 1940. The finish is nickel and does not appear to have been redone. The grips are probably pearl but probably not S&W, but aftermarket. I think all the S&W pearls for this gun had the S&W monogram, but someone more knowledgeable about grips may come along from the Forum. As you noted, it is chambered in .38 S&W, not .38 Special. I would check timing and lockup before firing it, but it will probably be OK considering how little this gun appears to have been used. A fun gun to shoot, and being in such nice condition and part of the family makes it still better! Enjoy.

[opoefc]

Welcome to the Forum! As Peter says, you have a Safety hammerless , 5th model. It's nickel plated ( original finish) and the mother of pearl grips could be factory. If so, the serial number of the gun will be penciled on the backside of the right grip panel, however many of these revolvers had their pearl grips added by the distributer and were shipped from S&W with the standard black hard rubber grips. These guns are often found in the condition you have as they were purchased as personal protection/household firearms, put away in a drawer,seldom fired, if at all, and descended to to today's generation, as yours did. The gun looks safe to shoot with modern .38S&W ammo, as it's probably in excellent mechanical condition. Be carefull what you use to clean or oil the gun, as some things, like Hoppe's, will get under the nickel plating and cause it to lift off in spots. Not good. Ed #15

[cmichini]

Thanks for the replies.

Grips have no markings, so assume non-original.

If Hoppes is bad ju ju for cleaning, any suggestions? Will Breakfree be OK to use near the nickel plating?
Thanks again,

[jsmith]

I never had any problems with using Breakfree on nickle plated guns.

NEVER use any kind of gun cleaning solvent on a nickel plated gun, especially Hoppes. To nickle plate a gun, it is coated in a copper powder to allow the nickle to bond to the steel. A lot of gun solvents out there are formulated to dissolve copper fouling out of barrels. But if it gets under the nickel, such as through a scratch or a thin spot, it will dissolve the copper under the nickel causing the nickel to flake off.

The old recomended way is soap and water, dry, then oil.

Personally, I use Outers's Gun Wipes on all my guns, including the nickeled ones. They are saturated in gun oil and come in a pull-up dispenser. I cut mine to size and clean the bore and charge holes. They pick up all the dirt and leave a coating of oil behind. I keep doing it till they come out clean. The're also great for wiping powder residue off a gun and also lubricates it as well.

The nickel-plate on your gun is in excellent condition. Silicon polishing cloth would be the way to go on this one.

We could probably tell you more about the gun if we had the serial number.

jsmith

[mmaher94087]

Cmichimi,
As you stated: "My wife has an older S&W breaktop that used to be her great-grandmother's." I'm curious; was she left handed? I'll bet she was left handed, her husband worked nights or at least the Swing shift and she carried this revolver in her apron pocket around the house. How did I do? Mike #283

[cmichini]

Hi all. Thanks for the info, especially WHY certain gun cleaning products are bad for nickel.

Mmaher - I'm not sure if she was left handed (!?), etc.

The only historical note I have is that my mother-in-law, while living in Atlanta in the late 50's emptied it through her kitchen door when someone was trying to break it down.

I'm at work so I don't have exact S/N but it was in the 219xxx range.

Any idea of value?

Thanks again,

[Dosgatos]

Any idea of value?

Thanks again,[/QUOTE]

I've bought guns in similar condition for $450-500. Your region may vary.

[cmichini]

Thanks for the baseline. I'm not looking to monetize it, just wondering about some relative value.

Cheers