Lemon Squeezer

Pilgrim · Dec 12, 2009

Just picked up this safety hammerless 38 Mod 5 #2366xx.

It is mint original..not a scratch or sign of use on it anywhere. Unfortunately there are a couple of small 'freckles' on the right side barrel from sitting on a towel or something for umpteen years. My photography skills don't allow me to take a pic of them so they show, as they are that small. It's really too bad as without them this would be a shiny as new perfect gun.

The SCSW doesn't say much about them date wise. Can anyone zero in on a date for this? thanks.

Anything you see in the pic that looks like a flaw or rust around the hinge screw isn't, it's just crappy picture skills.

(corrected description due to posting below)

Alk8944 · Dec 12, 2009

It is a 5th Model .38 Safety dated about 1907-1908. It really looks like it has been refinished as the sideplate seam is more prominent than it should be and the hammer stud nut hole looks slightly rounded or washed out. If it is it was probably done at the factory. Look by the serial number and the back of the cylinder, if there is a 5-point star that would be a correct factory re-work mark.

Pilgrim · Dec 12, 2009

Sonovagun, I looked at this thing in the shop, top to bottom and never noticed it was a 38 ! I've been looking for a squeezer for a while and when I saw this I came home, looked at SCSW, saw that it looked just like the 32 and ASSumed it was a 32 without even looking at the barrel marked 38. DUMB ME !

There is no star as you mentioned but the number on the cyl matches the butt. If it's reblued, the roll marks don't show it as they're all crisp and deep and the screws are all perfect, not a mark on/in the slots.

Re: hammer stud hole, I don't know what you mean but I see nothing that looks "slightly rounded or washed out" looking at it in hand.

But what do I know, I didn't realize it was a 38 !!!!

Thanks for picking up my error.

Think it's worth $250?

cflier · Dec 12, 2009

Hello Pilgrim,
I've got your old 38 squeezer as probably shipping in early 1913. My data base has 23280X shipping on 6/1912. Number 24139X shipped in 3/1914. Yours should be somewhere in between. The only way to tell for sure is a factory letter from Roy Jinks.
I think you got a steal at $250. That's a nice looking old gun. It is hard to say about the side plate gap. It looks like it is excessive compared to original factory work, but it's really hard to tell from a photo. It's especially hard on a gun that was photographed with a flash at an angle like that. Anyway it's a fine old gun. The trigger looks like it has great case color which is a sign of a gun that hasn't been fired much.
enjoy,
Mark

twaits · Dec 13, 2009

My vote is also that it has a refinish. But it looks like it was very nicely done and I would say well worth $250.

Cruiser RN · Dec 13, 2009

That is a very nice old gun.Refinish or not it is well worth the money spent

twaits · Dec 13, 2009

Note the almost same exact gun in this thread for comparison:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-antiques/64156-s-w-38-new-departure-red-box-question.html

The one in this thread looks like all original finish. Everything looks flat with nothing rounded anywhere.

Not trying to diminish your gun in anyway Pilgrim. Its a very nice piece. I just wanted to show an example of why some of us here think it may be a refinish.

Pilgrim · Dec 14, 2009

No offense taken twaits.

My old eyes just can't see much difference in the side plate between the two. I do notice the screws are buggered in the other pic where mine are perfect.

If I do decide to sell it (most likely won't), I will mention that it's a possible reblue, so the buyer can make up his own mind.

Reblue or not, I'm happy.

Thanks for the comparison pic.

zoom6zoom · Dec 14, 2009

never noticed it was a 38 !

.38 S&W, not .38 Special.

Lemon Squeezer

Pilgrim

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Alk8944

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Pilgrim

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cflier

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twaits

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Cruiser RN

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twaits

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Pilgrim

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zoom6zoom

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