I have a S&W "New Departure" Safety Hammerless "Lemon Squeezer" in 32 S&W (some call that "short") with a 3" barrel.
The serial number is: 65500 on butt and cylinder.
I have not paid for the factory certificate but have input from some saying the revolver was made before 1900.
S&W advises against shooting modern smokeless ammo in it since it was originally designed for black powder.
Any comments on using modern ammo?

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S&W 32-1.jpg (81.4 KB, 82 views)

I have #87984 that shipped in August of 1900. Yours likely shipped in 1900 or 1899. Others may be able to get you closer. I have shot my with smokeless 32 S&W ammo. I shot two or three cylinders full. I would not run hundreds of rounds thru these old guns.

32 safety hammerless bicycle (4).jpg

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I believe any ammo offered for sale nowadays in 32 S&W is loaded with smokeless powder at pressures compatible with your revolver.

Nice little gun. If you can find .32 S&W it is loaded very mild. I’d shoot it in mine, but (insert lawyer stuff here). Its probably not a gun you’ll shoot a lot anyway.

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Rule of law, not a man.

It's a nice little piece you have. I would not letter it, spending $100 to find out that your $300 gun shipped to a hardware store. If you can't find any 32S&W ammo, PM me. I can probably spare a box or two.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

It is properly called 32 Safety, 1st Model that would have shipped from the factory around 1896 and yes it is for certain an antique revolver. built before 1899. 32 S&W is absolutely safe to shoot in a 32 Safety in good mechanical working order. S&W, whoever you contacted there, will never say a 120+ year-old revolver they made is safe to shoot with anything! First, no one there likely knows anything about ammunition and their answer is all about law suits and liability. Modern S&W ammunition is loaded very light, likely lower pressure than original BP, and by the early 1900s, the company warranted Safety and other top-break revolvers safe to shoot with smokeless powder. Your revolver almost certainly went to a distributor so a letter is of little value for your specific gun.

Having shot lots of factory and reloaded ammunition in both 32 and 38 Safety revolvers, no issues other than breaking a part or spring is going to happen. I, however, have never had any parts break. Have fun with your 32 Safety.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Thanks to all who have replied. I agree that S&W said not to shoot modern ammo in it because the lawyers have their fingers in that pie. Based on input from several others, I have fired it a bunch of times (but less than 30) with LRN ammo with no negative impact. I will shoot it for fun now and then. It is actually a great pocket pistol except that it is very under powered (don't shoot someone wearing a heavy coat, it might make them mad 'cause you ruined the coat...)
I am fairly certain that my grandfather was the original owner. I inherited it from him. He was commissioned an officer in the Revenue Cutter Service (forerunner of the Coast Guard) in 1896 and probably got it shortly after that. Included in what I found in his gear was a partial box of Union Metallic Cartridge .32 S&W ammo. The NRA Museum said they would like to have it, so I donated it to them.

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UMC-Box-1.jpeg (91.9 KB, 47 views)

Hello Captain, nice little curio. A lot of us have /had several over the years.
OK to run a cyl of ammo thru. Hope it doesnt break. Just dont think about carrying it as a daily protection piece. Buy something modern.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Was your grandfather assigned to one of the Cutters? I'm glad to hear that the ammo box was donated to the NRA museum.

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Mike Maher #283

Mike and Mike,
Thanks for the replies. I agree that the Lemon Squeezer is not a good choice for self-defense, so I only take it out once in a while. I carry either 9 mm or a .357 snub nose (usually with 38 Spl +P).

My grandfather started in the Revenue Cutter Service (forerunner of the Coast Guard) in 1896 and retired in 1938 (including 4 years as Commandant). He was assigned to several Cutters through those years starting with the USRC BEAR (Arctic service).

I am guessing that he got the Lemon Squeezer right after he was commissioned in 1896.

"Lemon Squeezer" is not a good choice for this revolver's name either. It was a term relegated to cheaper knock-off hammerless revolvers of the era, but the factory used, and collectors should use, the revolver's proper name.

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Gary
SWCA 2515