Hi this is my first post on this forum. I have read some similar posts but I was hoping to find the actual ship date of the gun I recently inherited.It is an top break S&W 38 serial # 86509 I was wondering the age of this pistol.

If you want an actual shipping date you will have to pay for a factory letter from Mr Jinks. Instructions are somewhere on the board.

It is a Safety Hammerless .38 Third Model, they made a bunch but only from 1890-1898

Thought I would share some pics.

After cleaning out the garage I found my grandfather's gun cleaning kit and inside was some .38 ammo, seems he used to shoot the Lemon Squeeze. The ammo appears to be modern, REM-UMC 38 S&W, stamped. Any help identifying this ammo would be appreciated.

That sounds like correct ammo. I would have the gun and ammo checked over by someone knowledgeable before shooting it. It could probably stand a good cleaning and lube first.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I cleaned and lubed it up good today. Cylinder locks up correct, tight, and the trigger pulls through smooth. After a good rub down with gun oil the finish looks much better. I was hoping someone could give me a more accurate date the gun was manufactured (serial # 86509). I don't know if my grandfather bought it new, I don’t think so he was born in 1905, and that would put it on the self for 7 years, best case scenario. Maybe his father bought it, I don't have anyone left alive to ask. I was wondering if a letter from S&W would be worth the investment. Any help would be appreciated.

I have inherited a 38 Lemon Squeezer with a 3 1/4" barrel. The serial number is 148995. Can anyone give me an estimated manufacture date for this and what model it is.

These guns were not shipped sequentially, so the only way to get an exact shipping date is to have it lettered. But, the data base will provide an approximate date:

#86509 around 1894
#148995 around 1901-02

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Peter #2091

Very cool , Thank You very much!

The REM-UMC ammunition could be old or not so old. If the original box were present, dating would be much easier. The REM-UMC headstamp was used from before WWI up until the early 1960s when it was changed to R-P. So yours is at least 50 years old. Appearance of the ammunition doesn't mean much regarding dating. If well-stored, it could look shiny and new even if it was 80 years old. Poor storage could make new ammunition look grungy after a few years.

Your squeezer looks to be in good condition. It remains a good nightstand or personal protection revolver. One nice thing about it is that is classified as an "Antique" under BATFE federal regulations (pre-1899), so most states do not consider it a firearm. Shooting it with modern .38 S&W ammunition is OK, but it is a little difficult to find, as most retail outlets will not carry it as it is a slow seller. Most any gun shop can special-order it for you, and there are internet sites that sell it. It can frequently be found at gun shows. Not necessarily cheap when you find it. Most afficionados of the .38 S&W reload their own ammunition.

I ordered some ammo off the internet since my LGS did not stock the S&W38 ammo, I plan to spend some time on the range with this old timer, should be fun!

Safety Hammerless .38 No. 41xxx dates to 1890

.38 S&W ammo is required by the SAAMI standards to be safe in guns chambered for that round. There is a little variablity in bullet weights. I might just go with the one with the least recoil.
I have an old beat-up First Model from 1880, and it still shoots, no sweat.

The s&w historian advises against shooting modern 38s&w ammo(smokeless) in any s&w revolver made prior to 1900,because the conventions on ammo were not yet established,hence the term conventional ammunition,these guns stretch and creak under modern ammo pressure curve,the sample s&w letter states that you should never fire modern ammunition in any gun whose caLibur designation is not marked on the barrel,as did many manufacturers warnings on ammo boxes up until the late 80,s winchester western states use only in modern firearms in good condition originally chambered for modern conventional ammo and so marked on the barrel.o