Newbie researching a 38 'lemon squeezer'

[de Graauw]

Hi,

I am looking for info on a 38 that was given to me. The serial number is 8358. Pics included as attachments.

Thanks in advance. Joe

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, Joe! You have a second model safety hammerless from around 1887.

Guy

[kraynky]

Welcome from Ky! Is that one all there, & good to shoot? I've always thought that I would pick up one of those one day, just for plinking around, not as a collector grade. I don't know much about them, but I'll be watching for the smart guys to show up with more info.

[de Graauw]

Originally Posted by kraynky

Welcome from Ky! Is that one all there, & good to shoot? I've always thought that I would pick up one of those one day, just for plinking around, not as a collector grade. I don't know much about them, but I'll be watching for the smart guys to show up with more info.

I have not shot it. It certainly appears to be all there. It was my dad's but I hadn't seen it since the 70's. Thought it had disappeared but my mother found it the other day. I need to purchase some ammo. It had a box of unopened ammo with it but that has to be at least 50 years old too.

[Patton1970]

What the heck, try the ammo, you might be surprised in a good way.

[Patton1970]

Can you show us some photos of the old ammo also?

[Wiregrassguy]

Old ammo is collectible. Post some pictures of the box and someone with knowledge about this will give you some feedback.

Guy

[Patton1970]

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

Old ammo is collectible. Post some pictures of the box and someone with knowledge about this will give you some feedback.

Guy

Good point, may not want to try and fire them off.

[de Graauw]

Pic of the box and ammo. I stated that the box was unopened but I should have said unused.

[leonardocarrillo]

Hello, you have a second model S&W Safety Hammerless, caliber .38 S&W (not special .38) with a 3.5 "barrel, I have one with the serial number 10XXX made in 1888, so I think yours is from the same year, I shoot my revolver from time to time, keep in mind that they are 130-year-old weapons and were made to shoot cartridges loaded with black powder, the only ammunition I get in my country (Argentina) for this caliber is Magtech and if you want to shoot with his gun, I recommend that you clean it very well first and then check that all its mechanisms work properly, use ammunition with soft loads to take care of the integrity of the gun and for your safety, the revolver belonged to your father, so it must be A family heirloom, I hope this information is helpful.

[smoothshooter]

Why is that gun called a “Lemon Squeezer”?

The real lemon squeezer pistol was a round disc affair that held 11 shots and had a lever extending out the back; kinda like a device you would actually squeeze lemon juice out with.

The revolvers most people call lemon-squeezers merely have a grip safety-looking affair on the back of the grip.

[Oyeboteb]

The real name or S & W name, was "New Departure" or, "Safety Hammerless".

People called them "Lemon Squeezers" being playful...

Like how they called any large Frame Revolver a "Hog Leg"...Lol...

Just old time vernacular...

Originally Posted by smoothshooter

Why is that gun called a “Lemon Squeezer”?

The real lemon squeezer pistol was a round disc affair that held 11 shots and had a lever extending out the back; kinda like a device you would actually squeeze lemon juice out with.

The revolvers most people call lemon-squeezers merely have a grip safety-looking affair on the back of the grip.

[Oyeboteb]

And...oil it up good, too!

Any thing that moves on it, Oil it...Oil the main Hinge Knuckle, get Oil down in to the Mechanism, etc, etc, Oil the Ejector, then, wipe down with a Cloth...

It may have been a long tine since anyone else has...so...

Originally Posted by leonardocarrillo

Hello, you have a second model S&W Safety Hammerless, caliber .38 S&W (not special .38) with a 3.5 "barrel, I have one with the serial number 10XXX made in 1888, so I think yours is from the same year, I shoot my revolver from time to time, keep in mind that they are 130-year-old weapons and were made to shoot cartridges loaded with black powder, the only ammunition I get in my country (Argentina) for this caliber is Magtech and if you want to shoot with his gun, I recommend that you clean it very well first and then check that all its mechanisms work properly, use ammunition with soft loads to take care of the integrity of the gun and for your safety, the revolver belonged to your father, so it must be A family heirloom, I hope this information is helpful.