Help With Info On Two Old 'Lemon Squeezers'

erikpolcrack · #1 02-21-2021, 10:32 AM

I'd like to find out the manufacture/shipping dates on both of my 'Lemon Squeezers'. The first is a 38 S&W, blued, 5-shot, with a 3-1/4-inch barrel. The SN is 2515XX. There is a 5-pointed star stamped right after the last number. The other is a 32 S&W, blued, 5-shot, with a 3-inch barrel. SN is 1252XX. I'd appreciate any help anyone can offer.

Wiregrassguy · #2 02-21-2021, 11:26 AM

Your .38 Safety Hammerless is a 5th Model that could have shipped as late as 1940. The star indicates work done by S&W. Carefully remove the grips and post any numbers in the format MM.YY you see on the left forward toe of the grip frame.

Your .32 Safety Hammerless is a 2nd Model that shipped between 1902 and 1909.

erikpolcrack · #3 02-21-2021, 11:41 AM

Thanks, Guy! The numbers where you said appear to be 5.51. There is also what appears to be a small stamped diamond shape at the heel of the left grip frame.

Wiregrassguy · #4 02-21-2021, 11:49 AM

Ok. The .38 SH went back to S&W in May 1951 for some kind of service. Look on the barrel assembly and cylinder for another diamond which could mean replacement. I believe the diamond, when accompanied by an N or B, indicates a refinish. There are a number of threads about service stamps and what they mean. You might want to do a search.

Here's what the Standard Catalog of S&W, 4th Edition, says about diamonds.

Quote:

Diamonds/circles were stamped on replaced parts or heel of grip frame on left side for refinish. Th ey are followed by letters, sometimes in a rectangle or diamond, B (blue), N (nickel), or S (standard/blue) with an R (for refinish), on ‘heel’ of left side of grip frame. A circle under the barrel can also indicate that the barrel was replaced. A diamond can also mean:

• “Parts on Hand”- i.e. replacement parts sold out the door.

• Parts modified by the factory on a new gun like a shortened barrel BEFORE originally being shipped can have a diamond stamp sometimes with an S inside indicating service dept. work, but w/o a rework date like guns returned to the factory!
• It can mean a gun that had service work done, just like the star was used.

(Page 495).

glowe · #5 02-21-2021, 01:13 PM

As Guy hinted, late serial numbered 38 Safety revolvers were not shipped in any kind of order. As gun buyers migrated away from top-break revolvers, sales fell off dramatically. With the advent of the Great Depression, gun sales in general fell off significantly. So there were so many of this model in inventory, it took until around the advent of WWII to sell off the last ones. Also, the factory sold out of inventory with no regards to serial number order after 1930.

Good news is that your 38 Safety, 5th Model was sold before those times. It appears that your gun would have left the factory in the early 1920s when sales were still relatively strong, but by the 1930s the wheels fell off all serial number chronology associations.

Your 32 Safety, 2nd Model is much older and sold when there was still a strong market for top breaks. Database shows a strong chance that it shipped from the factory in 1905. Hope that helps.

erikpolcrack · #6 02-21-2021, 04:08 PM

Thanks again Guy. Thank you Gary. I appreciate your help and am really happy to get so much great info so quickly.