Pre 1900s S&W Hammerless 32 1.5” Lemon Squeezer

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Wiscobeaman

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This gun was passed down from my late grandfather. The serial # tells me it was one of the first series with number 29###. This serial number is also stamped on the cylinder of the gun (seems legit). The only question I have is the barrel. I know the 1.5" are rare and I was reading about where the stamp should be on the barrel... on this gun it is on the rib/top of the barrel. From what I read that may not be accurate? I'm going to attempt to attach some pictures and inquire here what the gun may be worth.
 

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mmaher94087 said:
That barrel has been cut down from something longer. Judging by the rib roll marks, I think it was a 3 1/4" originally.
Click to expand...

I was afraid that was the case.... I cannot tell from the front of barrel... looks factory. But the rib of the barrel seems off
 
Welcome to the Forum. The factory did many things that were not standard at the request of buyers, but defacing the address and patent date lines on the rib would never have been done. There are lettered 38 Safety revolvers with very short barrels that had no rib stamp applied. In the 1800s and early 1900s S&W even had barrel rib stamps made for different barrel lengths, fitting up to a 4 line stamp on early hand ejector guns. They even made a roll stamp to place the address and patents on the side of the barrel on short barreled 32 Safeties.

BTW, your Safety would have been shipped around 1892-1893.
 
There is a lettered pair of original 1 1/2 in barreled .32 Safety Hammerless models delievered to a bank as special ordered 1st models - but your gun is as stated above - a modified cut barrel. Ed
 
HAMMERLESS

The barrel has been cut, as noted above. I have one in 38S&W and it looks exactly like yours, except for the front sight. Mine is ramped blue, but I wish it was like yours. Carry mine every day but had to make its own pocket holster as the front sight will destroy the pocket of my Wranglers. Not a target piece for sure but for its intended purpose its just fine. :)
 
There are more people than you think carrying antique and C&R handguns out there. Maybe just the mystique or a family connection, but whatever the reason, wouldn't you like to carry something that looks like this??

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gmborkovic said:
J.R., pls. clarify. You carry an old safety as personal protection?
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In the Summer. In clolder weather it serves as a backup for a 45. Dont forget all the 38 S&W's that went to Europe in WWII, and server as LEO weapons afterwords for a time in places like Austria. :) And YES, it does go to the range. :)
 
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Stopping power?

I don't know... Antiques are very historic and you gotta love um! But I'm 100% with Mike on this one. I absolutely must have a gun that will function perfectly and have solid stopping power of no less than P+ 38's.
I carry this on my Mountain property 100% legally for protection from wildlife. I refuse to be confined to my house because We are now having issues with Black Bears since people seem to enjoy breaking the law and putting food out for them. Mountain Lions aren't enough for them so now they want the Black Bears roaming the neighborhoods!
Photo is from my neighbors game cam across the road from my place.

Murph
 

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Hello J.R., I have no problem with the cartridge. But carrying an
antique for personal protection is like taking a Yugo up against
Rommel. Go get a five shot Terrier or PPK. They are both neat guns.
 
BBM

Don,
I'm too old to run and jumping out a small window on the down hill side in my work shop is absolutely out of the question. When my back is against the wall in my shop and if that 400lb Bear decides to walk in un-invited because I like leaving the front door open? (My property, My choice) I'm a pretty good shot at 30 feet.

I'm already prepped to deal with the extreme left and have documented all my communications with Fish and Game, lefties on Next door website who seem to be above the law?, and local authorities regarding their "Lack" of enforcing the $1000 fine for feeding wildlife and the danger that the Game feeders are putting the rest of us law abiding citizens that are now being forced to live with. My Lawyer agrees with me. I'm not looking for trouble but I'm not running from it either. NO WAY! Sorry, but Yogi is not invited. BBM is only applicable in the Wild. Not inside my workshop. My shop is not a campsite nor is it National Forest. It's "private property"....NO BEARS allowed!

Murph
 
The final phase?

Thanks Don, I appreciate it.

Living in California you go through phases in life...You start out with...."I just can't believe that they are making that a law in this State?".....Then you progress to " What will they come up with next"? , Finally, you end up living with your guard up all the time and ready for anything that comes down the pipe. It's a way of life here. Common sense doesn't exist here.

Murph
 
BMur said:
Thanks Don, I appreciate it.

Living in California you go through phases in life...You start out with...."I just can't believe that they are making that a law in this State?".....Then you progress to " What will they come up with next"? , Finally, you end up living with your guard up all the time and ready for anything that comes down the pipe. It's a way of life here. Common sense doesn't exist here.

Murph
Click to expand...

Murph
We're not that far behind you. Last fall I had a mommy with twins invade my
yard every night for a week. She came up on my porch a few times. I finally let off firecrackers, which led the police to show up in my yard. I'm standing on my porch with a Remington 870, when a black and white shows up. We have a short conversation, and they leave. She must have gotten the message somehow, because they haven't be back since!
 
HAMMERLESS

Have another in 32, but it was taken apart and I am not sure all the parts are there. Wish I could get it repaired as it is in pretty good shape. :)
 
I had a dear old friend that was a longtime gunsmith for one of the local dealers back in the day. He had been just a lad during the Battle of the Bulge and had seen his fair share of unpleasantries war time and otherwise. Everyone that knew him knew that his constant companion was a little .25 Browning Auto. Someone that didn't know him all that well during conversation about the little auto he carried asked him "Mr. Wheeler why do you carry a little .25 auto?" Will's answer was perfect and directly to the point "A .25 in your pocket is better than a .45 in your safe."
 
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