Looking for info please.

A friends father passed away and left him several old handguns and long guns. One was a "lemon squeezer" 38 S&W that he said belonged to his grandfather. It has a 1 7/8 barrel that may have been cut and re-crowned for pocket carry. It's blued with pearl grips. Serial #2558XX.

Will try to post pics tomorrow.

Thanks all, Mike.

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Isaiah 41:10

2558XX is a fifth model .38 Safety New Departure, amd would place the gun as approx. a mid 1920s production gun. It could be a factory original barrel, but only a factory letter will tell. S&W would make you about any barrel length your wallet could afford. Let's see the pics of the barrel. Ed.

Thanks Ed...



On top of my 640:

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Isaiah 41:10

I had heard in another forum that these were referred to as bicycle guns. Because of the popularity of bicycles at the time people wanted to arm themselves from wild dogs and muggers, imagine that.

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Isaiah 41:10

From the photo's it would appear to be a factory original "Bicycle Gun" configuration. With it looks like pearl grips, which may be aftermarket. A very desirable little safety hammerless.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I agree with H. Richard. That has all the earmarks of a factory original barrel. A factory letter will probably say it was shipped with a 2 inch barrel, regardless of your measurement of 1 7/8th inches. Nice little specimen. Did your friend also get the bicycle that went with it? Ed.

That is a sweetheart! Has he shot it yet? It looks like it is original and I would letter that one for sure. Kyle

Thank you all for your comments.

If you look on the top of the barrel you can see where the name and location have been mostly cut off and all that remains is "ss USA". Top of barrel should read "Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass USA".



He hasn't shot it yet, or at least in the past few years. His father kept it loaded and ready under his bed just in case. I've talked to my friend and told him he needs to have a display case built for it and a few other things his father left him.

Thank you all again, Mike.

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Isaiah 41:10

That changes things a bit. Definite sign of it probably having been a 3 1/2 or 4" gun originally. From the side it looked very well done, but the factory I don't believe would cut a barrel, even on a special order.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244