Are all 1st Model .32 cal Lemon Squeezers considered antiques?
Are all 1st Model .32 cal Lemon Squeezers considered antiques?
- Thread starter Drifter721
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Hi Drifter, The .32 S&W Safety Hammerless, "New Departure" was introduced in 1888 and was manufactured until circa 1937 with some 242000 being produced. In 1900 a manufacturing change took place at approximately sn 91500. Collectors call these original design revolvers the "First Model" (S&W nomenclature doesn't differenciate between designs). Ergo, "most" early .32s are antique and no FFL/CR is required. My lettered .32 lemon squeezer is sn 283xx and was shipped in January, 1891. Give the guys on this Forum a hint at your serial number and, I'm sure, someone will get you a date upon which to base a license/transfer decision.
If my rambling is a little obscure, what I am trying to say that of a total of 242,000+ manufactured, the "First Model" ( a collectors term - not S&W's) was mostly produced prior to January 1, 1899. The design change models (2d &3d models to collectors) were all produced after 1900.
Simply check the characteristics to determine your "model". Aletter from S&W would be definite as to date.
Regards, Ray
If my rambling is a little obscure, what I am trying to say that of a total of 242,000+ manufactured, the "First Model" ( a collectors term - not S&W's) was mostly produced prior to January 1, 1899. The design change models (2d &3d models to collectors) were all produced after 1900.
Simply check the characteristics to determine your "model". Aletter from S&W would be definite as to date.
Regards, Ray
OP
looking for value and dates
This is my first post on this site and I am looking for information regarding a .32 caliber S&W squeeze handle that has been in my family since 1969. It has black handles and is in excellent condition. The sn is 123XXX and has "32 S & W CTG" engraved on the barrell. All of the engravings are in excellent shape also. Can anyone enlighten me as to maybe when it was manufactured and also the approximate value at this time?
Thank you!
This is my first post on this site and I am looking for information regarding a .32 caliber S&W squeeze handle that has been in my family since 1969. It has black handles and is in excellent condition. The sn is 123XXX and has "32 S & W CTG" engraved on the barrell. All of the engravings are in excellent shape also. Can anyone enlighten me as to maybe when it was manufactured and also the approximate value at this time?
Thank you!
cflier
Member
Drifter721,
Safety Hammerless 1st model revolvers were actually manufactured until 1902. Any one made before 1899 is an antique as RayJ stated. Those made after 1888 are Curio and Relic firearms and if shipped across state lines must be shipped by and to someone who has a C&R license or an FFL. Your gun is very close to the cut off date for antique status but should be fine.
RayJ,
Last time you reported your gun on this site, #283xx I recorded the shipping date in my data base as 1/1892. Did I transcribe it wrong? Is it 1/1891 as reported this time? By way of explanation, I record the number and shipping date of every lemonsqueezer that I can find. It goes in a personal data base without the name of the person who owns the gun. It is possible that someone else has a #283xx that was shipped a year later. But more likely I blew it.
mommab,
Your Safety Hammerless is an early 4th model. My data base shows #122xxx as shipping on 4/1904. Yours probably shipped within a few months of that gun. The value depends on a lot of things. If it is one of the common barrel lengths, 3 or 3.5 inches it can be anywhere from $100 in very poor condition to $4 or 500 for near mint. If it is a scarce barrel length or has special order features the value can go way up.
Mark
Safety Hammerless 1st model revolvers were actually manufactured until 1902. Any one made before 1899 is an antique as RayJ stated. Those made after 1888 are Curio and Relic firearms and if shipped across state lines must be shipped by and to someone who has a C&R license or an FFL. Your gun is very close to the cut off date for antique status but should be fine.
RayJ,
Last time you reported your gun on this site, #283xx I recorded the shipping date in my data base as 1/1892. Did I transcribe it wrong? Is it 1/1891 as reported this time? By way of explanation, I record the number and shipping date of every lemonsqueezer that I can find. It goes in a personal data base without the name of the person who owns the gun. It is possible that someone else has a #283xx that was shipped a year later. But more likely I blew it.
mommab,
Your Safety Hammerless is an early 4th model. My data base shows #122xxx as shipping on 4/1904. Yours probably shipped within a few months of that gun. The value depends on a lot of things. If it is one of the common barrel lengths, 3 or 3.5 inches it can be anywhere from $100 in very poor condition to $4 or 500 for near mint. If it is a scarce barrel length or has special order features the value can go way up.
Mark
Hi Mark, I mistyped the date regarding my First Model ND .32 "lemon squeezer".
The letter from Roy says that sn28306, my gun, was shipped on January 1, 1892 to E.K. Tryon Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 3.5" bbl, nickel and black rubber grips. FWIW, Jan 1, 1892 was a Friday. Regards,Ray
The letter from Roy says that sn28306, my gun, was shipped on January 1, 1892 to E.K. Tryon Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 3.5" bbl, nickel and black rubber grips. FWIW, Jan 1, 1892 was a Friday. Regards,Ray
1st Series .32 New Departure
I have been given a S&W .32 New Departure first series with serial number 123XX, can you tell me the aproximate date of manufacture and a value range for this weapon? It has the 3" barrell and has a (rather poor) nickle finish. I don't really see any rust and it functoions perfectly, but the finish is warn and there is two small pieces broken on the black grips at the base (only noticable if you turn it upside down). Would it greatly depreciate the value if I had it re-finished and can I purchase a set of date appropriate grips? Thanks
I have been given a S&W .32 New Departure first series with serial number 123XX, can you tell me the aproximate date of manufacture and a value range for this weapon? It has the 3" barrell and has a (rather poor) nickle finish. I don't really see any rust and it functoions perfectly, but the finish is warn and there is two small pieces broken on the black grips at the base (only noticable if you turn it upside down). Would it greatly depreciate the value if I had it re-finished and can I purchase a set of date appropriate grips? Thanks
cflier
Member
Hello Detheaton,
Your 1st model Safety Hammerless probably left the factory in the fall of 1890. In the condition you describe your gun is worth about $100 to $150. Refinishing it will bring the value up to people who just want to shoot it, like cowboy action shooters, but it won't bring the value up much. You will never make up the cost of refinishing it unless you are able to do the work yourself. 32 Safety grips come up for sale on ebay a couple of times a year, but usually the people selling them don't know what they have, so you have to know the measurements. They typically sell for about $40 to $45 dollars plus shipping. You might also be able to buy them from someone on this sight. Go to the want to buy section at the bottem and put in an add. Be sure to stipulate 32 Safety Hammerless because there are 3 32 caliber top breaks and all use differant sized grips. You can also buy aftermarket grips, but they look like aftermarket grips and are not as desirable to a buyer. The cost of good grips adds about the cost of good grips to the value of the gun. In other words if you pay $45 the value of the gun at least in the condition of yours goes up about $45. But, if or when you want to sell the gun it will sell much better with unbroken grips.
Mark
Your 1st model Safety Hammerless probably left the factory in the fall of 1890. In the condition you describe your gun is worth about $100 to $150. Refinishing it will bring the value up to people who just want to shoot it, like cowboy action shooters, but it won't bring the value up much. You will never make up the cost of refinishing it unless you are able to do the work yourself. 32 Safety grips come up for sale on ebay a couple of times a year, but usually the people selling them don't know what they have, so you have to know the measurements. They typically sell for about $40 to $45 dollars plus shipping. You might also be able to buy them from someone on this sight. Go to the want to buy section at the bottem and put in an add. Be sure to stipulate 32 Safety Hammerless because there are 3 32 caliber top breaks and all use differant sized grips. You can also buy aftermarket grips, but they look like aftermarket grips and are not as desirable to a buyer. The cost of good grips adds about the cost of good grips to the value of the gun. In other words if you pay $45 the value of the gun at least in the condition of yours goes up about $45. But, if or when you want to sell the gun it will sell much better with unbroken grips.
Mark
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My S&W .32
Hello, I also have one. I am guessing by the serial number that is a 1st generation. My serial number is 386XX. Anyone have an idea of when it was made?
Hello, I also have one. I am guessing by the serial number that is a 1st generation. My serial number is 386XX. Anyone have an idea of when it was made?
I've got a first model .32 with a S/N of 49,1xx. Going by SCSW 3rd,
I'm interpolating (guessing) about 1895 for shipping. It's in overall
good condition with some nickle loss on the cylinder. Still shoots and
functions well. TACC1
I'm interpolating (guessing) about 1895 for shipping. It's in overall
good condition with some nickle loss on the cylinder. Still shoots and
functions well. TACC1
My dad also has one
it is serial number 26846. It's a .32 lemon squeezer. Any idea about details about this pistol? What year was it manufactured etc... It's a cool little pistol...if it's in good shape is ok to carry now as a conceal carry?
it is serial number 26846. It's a .32 lemon squeezer. Any idea about details about this pistol? What year was it manufactured etc... It's a cool little pistol...if it's in good shape is ok to carry now as a conceal carry?
ncreb
Member
Thanks for all the great info on this thread. I acquired sn 213xxx today. From reading the thread, I'm assuming circa 1935. Condition is same as Detheaton described, but has no grip damage so I'm guessing value of $150-$200. Any corrections appreciated.
opoefc
US Veteran
Group, For what it's worth, the early .32 Safety Hammerless production records are contained in the Floor Foreman's day books. The guns were made on a "piece rate payment" program, wherein a Floor Foremen kept a record in his Day Book, often by serial number, of the progress of the manufacturing, assembly and completion of each gun that his workers produced each day and they were paid according to how many pieces they made. These books for the Safety hammerless models, from the first guns in the late 1880s to the early 1900s were in a deceased S&WCA members collection and were set to come up for auction a few years ago. The member's heirs and the auction house did not realize the importance of these books to collectors, so with Charlie Pates andRoy Jinks help, I arranged for them to be donated to the CVHM collection of S&W archives, where they are today. Perhaps in the future, the S&W Historical Foundation can arrange to have the books digitized and the information made available to all our members. Perhaps then a factory letter can not only include when a Safety Hammrless model was shipped, but also when it was made and put in the vaults for future orders. Currently the BATF uses the ship date to determine whether a Safety Hammerless model is an antique or C&R, however if a factory record can indicate when a gun's frame was made, that date can become the date by which the BATF detrmines the gun's classification, such as is currently done with the .44DA models. Ed.
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ncreb
Member
I notice my ND sn D213xxx doesn't have the S&W logo on the frame. Any idea as to why this would be? Thanks
opoefc
US Veteran
ncreb, S&W was never very consistant about putting the logo on their guns, or where they put it when they did put it. No big deal, it's either there somewhere or it isn't. What is rare is a gun with two logos stamped on it, one on each side. Ed.
.32 safety hammerless were mfg. quite late, this one, S/N 224934, a 3rd. model, was shipped Mar. 1921.
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179593
My S&W has a serial # that looks to be 179593. It has pearl grips. Any info would be appreciated. It was handed down to me from my late grandfather.
My S&W has a serial # that looks to be 179593. It has pearl grips. Any info would be appreciated. It was handed down to me from my late grandfather.
