Am just now discovering this cute piece of work made by S&W decades ago, and was wondering what advice you kind folk could impart on what to look for in starting to collect these. Am considering starting with the Fourth Model--any thoughts?????

I've only had one, from the late 50's...I got slick-talked out of it so my only thought is I wish I had it back......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

They are fun collectibles. Prices for good ones have started to creep upwards. I got this one in a package deal with a blued one for $1250. I sold the blued one for $500, so I have about $850 in this one. Both are nice.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

First piece of wisdom is that many S&W aficionados consider the term as derogatory for such a high quality model, as it was suspected originally used when talking about cheaper brands of safety revolvers. You are looking for what the collectors call a 38 Safety revolver, or as the company called a 38 New Departure. The older guns up to #119,900 are antiques and do not need FFL involvement. They can be sent to you directly in most states.

If FFL is not an issue, I would opt for a late example, around #250,000 and above, as they usually show less wear and use. That would be a 38 Safety, 5th Model. This model ended production and sales before WWII. I think what Ben is talking about was a concealed hammer revolver named the Centennial, which was produced from 1952 to 1974. It was so named because it was introduced as the company turned 100 years old.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Well; there are five models and they are pretty easy to tell apart. The first four have different latches and the fifth model has a forged (rather than pinned) front sight (usually). The first three are antiques most of the fourth models and all of the fifth fall in to the C&R category.

Warning collecting variations can get out of hand.

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First off, stop calling it a lemon squeezer.

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Don Mundell

Fun little guns to pick up. Lots of variations.
Just dont depend on it as a primary carry self defense weapon.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

. . . told ya!!

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Hey...it's a free country. And everyone knows what your talking about when mentioned. It's part of the historical allure of the S&W genre, as with triple locks, registered magnums and etc. And yes, even pencil barreled revolvers.

John

This subject has been driving me nuts.
I’ve been researching the “origin” of the term lemon squeezer moniker for a while now and I’m finally making progress.
It seems to have its origin during the 1930’s by gangsters that originally labeled the H&R safety hammers as “squeezers”.
Most sources point the finger at collectors but there is actually some historical reference to the term.

“ Give me one a dem squeezers Bugsy”!

Murph

I don't take many life lessons from mobsters and your reference only supports my cheap hammerless revolver theory. Plus when it involves H&R hammerless revolvers one can also add the term ugly.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Sorry for the issue of using that nickname, precisely why I was seeking wisdom to avoid such errors.

My grandfather had a "lemon squeezer" revolver in his night stand. He showed it to me to explain what it was. My dad never knew I knew grandpa had any gun besides the shotgun that always sat near the back door, which was "hands off - period" for all grandkids. And we did.

It was nickel, and I have no idea what kind it was, and after he died, it disappeared.

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Heavily armed old man.

I own two in 38 S&W, and a few in 32 S&W wonderful guns if you plan on shooting much learn to cast, and reload much more satisfying, and cheaper. Second when shooting you can learn to stage the trigger almost allowing a single action feel kinda hard to describe until you've done it.

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Randy

This model is common, and often in very good or better condition, as most didn’t stray far from a night table drawer. IMHO, the best examples have condition, contain a pre 1899 serial number, and remain in their original box.

Collecting them is addictive and can get out of hand.

There are 10 basic variations of the 5th model. Eight down and 2 to go.

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I am far from what I consider a collector of the type but have had my hands on a couple through the years. Two I got from my FIL were initially passed down to him from his mother. The nickel one she kept in her purse while managing the Clift House in San Francisco, the blued model was a full length revolver. Both were in .38 S&W. My FIL carried the the 6" blued model with him and kept it in his safe while working as a Captain for American President Lines. He actually used it once in defense and reported that it backed his assailant up each time he shot him in the chest, eventually backing him over a railing into the Mekong delta.
We shot the two revolvers while camping and fishing, I was not impressed. At the time I was more into a heavier caliber for defense.
A couple years ago I got bit by the "Bike Gun" bug, made a few purchases and eventually with the help of my gunsmith friend developed my own model of "Bike Gun". The thing to be considered regarding a caliber that is rather enemic is one should consider the timing of their advent as self defense. In the era small caliber revolvers were being used any bullet wound was a life threatening event, they did not have anti biotics to control infection and many gunshot wounds led to deep infection that often resulted in death, even from something as simple as a .22 caliber, dirty clothing in the wound channel, etc.
Even though .38S&W has fairly dim performance factors I still find it better than no firearm at all or as an old friend of mine fond of carrying a .25ACP Colt in his coat pocket used to say when someone would tease him about his little .25...."A 25 in your pocket is better than a .45 in your safe."