Need info on .38 lemon squeezer gold plated, pearl grip

Deuce40s · #1 12-07-2008, 01:43 PM

My grandpa gave me a .38 lemon squeezer that I would like to find info on. I've seen lots of lemon squeezers on this forum, but none were gold plated. The number on the bottom of the grip is 186622. Please give me any links to info on this gun or help me identify it's age or value.

Tyler

Deuce40s · #2 12-07-2008, 01:43 PM

My grandpa gave me a .38 lemon squeezer that I would like to find info on. I've seen lots of lemon squeezers on this forum, but none were gold plated. The number on the bottom of the grip is 186622. Please give me any links to info on this gun or help me identify it's age or value.

Tyler

pred · #3 12-07-2008, 03:01 PM

Welcome to the forum, That is one lovely SAfety Hammerless!!!! I dont enough to tell you about the Gold plating or the ivory grips,
But it looks to be a 4th change, 1898 to 1907!
Lets see who chimes in to tell us more about it!
Peter.

MKT · #4 12-07-2008, 04:18 PM

I agree, it should be a Safety Hammerless 4th Model. Possibly a period "pimp" gun.

It is possible those are factory Pearl grips, given they have the gold medallion (although a handy grip man could have installed a set on aftermarkets).

cflier · #5 12-07-2008, 10:25 PM

Hello Deuce 40,

Smith & Wesson did manufacture a few S&W top breaks with a gold wash on them. It was a special order item for several years. It was a very light easily damaged finish. I have seen a number of them over the years, almost all of them were in very poor shape. I have never seen one with the cylinder unplated. Does the cylinder have the same serial number as the number on the butt.
No one but Roy Jinks can say for sure if yours was a factory application. But, from what I can see in the picture I am almost certain it was not done as an original factory job. The finish seems heavier and a little darker than the ones I have seen in person. Parts of the gun, especially the logo on the right side look over polished. Pictures can be decieving, and if you think I'm wrong you should pony up $50 and send for a factory letter from Roy Jinks, the Smith & Wesson Historian. If it is indeed an original factory finish in that condition it will more than double it's value.

Deuce40s · #6 12-08-2008, 04:40 AM

Thanks for the replys so far. The serial number on the cylinder matches the serial number on the butt. I've looked all over the internet and I can't find any that are the same as this one. There are some .32s gold plated that have brought some high money. It sure would be nice if this one has a similar pedigree. I think it might be worth it to get a certification letter. At least for my own piece of mind.

mikepriwer · #7 12-08-2008, 09:08 AM

You should definitely get a letter. There is no doubt about that.

There are a couple of things that make me wonder about the gun. First, while
the factory did do a number of two-tone guns, they were typically nickel and
blue. I've never seen, nor heard of, a gold and (possibly) nickel two-tone.
Anything is possible, but this is very curious.

Second, the grips do not appear to fit right, in the vicinity of the ears.
One of them looks to be projecting too far out. It could be the photo - I dunno.

Best advice I can offer is to get a letter. Be sure to specify the ivory grips
with the gold medallions, as well as whatever kind of finish is on the cylinder
and trigger guard.

Later, Mike Priwer

handejector · #8 12-08-2008, 10:30 AM

Hi Tyler,
Welcome aboard.
Everyone is correct about it being a 38 Safety Hammerless-4th.
You seem to handle the facts well, so I will go ahead and tell you the finish is not factory- it is a definite refinish.
The grips are factory pearls, but, as Mike points out about the fit, I seriously doubt they shipped on that gun.
Also,
the latch and trigger are nickeled, and S&W just did not do that.
Somebody built himself a "party gun".

opoefc · #9 12-08-2008, 12:59 PM

As said above, that's not a factory finish. My guess is that it is home made. Old timers will recall the little sets of a 6V drycell battery, sall glass tank and diodes, etc. that were sold for years as "Texas Platers' for about ten bucks. They were fun deals that really worked. I've plated many things, usually small items,in the past, but you could do a whole gun if you took it apart.

handejector · #10 12-08-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Old timers will recall the little sets of a 6V drycell battery, sall glass tank and diodes, etc. that were sold for years as "Texas Platers' for about ten bucks.

I wondered where you got that gold cadidalac.

VM · #11 12-08-2008, 04:09 PM

Deuce40s - I know your curious about your gun and you couldn't get better answers anywhere in the world than here on the Forum from the experts!

My only comment..............Man o man I only wish I had gotten a gun handed down from one of my Grandfathers. Cherish that SWEET revolver and keep it in the family.
Thanks for sharing

Deuce40s · #12 12-08-2008, 07:13 PM

Thank you all for your wealth of knowledge. It sucks this gun is not as valuable as I had hoped, but I have never had any intentions on selling it. So it doesnt really matter too much in the end. I'll probably sit it on a shelf for now and pass it on to my tator tots when they grow up. My grandpa gave me several guns, none of any real monetary value, but all with great stories, like a 1945 P38 he brought back and old Brownings with gold triggers and inlays (wich brings up a point I need to check on their authenticity as well). Just a bunch of neat guns that I will probably never get rid of and hope to add to later on. He also gave me a Rohm .22 that I will gladly sell however. (currently taking offers, I figure it's worth a beer but at least it won't be mine anymore)

opoefc · #13 12-08-2008, 11:25 PM

Duece, Family guns are treasures that can't be measured in dollars and few of us have the privedge of being tempory custodians of family ordnance hierlooms. I'm luchy in that my father, grandfather & great grandfather passed on down to me their guns, starting with a Rev. War flintlock Kentucky rifle carried by Wm. Cornett,of Patterson's Virginia regiment, a S&W #2 from the Civil War, used by a Kentucky Cavalryman ancestor ancestor, a Model 1892 Winchester of my grandfathers, that he used in the Hatfield & McCoy feuds & the "Coal Wars" of Eastern Kentucky, with three notches in the stock, a Model 62 Winchester .22 pump my Dad used to shoot sparrows on the wing and given to me at age 4 to shoot flying squirrels in the barn loft, etc. Great way to learn how to lead a moving target! Also a 1st model Stevens 12 ga, single shot shotgun, my uncle gave me to keep the stock ponds on the ranch free from snapping turtles. The turtles would bite the feet off the geese & ducks on the pond, Not good, as the geese were semi-tame and were Guard geese, that would chase the hogs out of the garden whenever the hogs got out of their pen. Geese without feet can't chase hogs. All these guns will be passed on the my sons & grandsons, of course, plus a few items like some registereds mags I've picked up and my M1 Carbine from my Army time in the Korean War , Ed.

handejector · #14 12-09-2008, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by opoefc:
Duece, Family guns are treasures that can't be measured in dollars and few of us have the privedge of being tempory custodians of family ordnance hierlooms. I'm luchy in that my father, grandfather & great grandfather passed on down to me their guns, starting with a Rev. War flintlock Kentucky rifle carried by Wm. Cornett,of Patterson's Virginia regiment, a S&W #2 from the Civil War, used by a Kentucky Cavalryman ancestor ancestor, a Model 1892 Winchester of my grandfathers, that he used in the Hatfield & McCoy feuds & the "Coal Wars" of Eastern Kentucky, with three notches in the stock, a Model 62 Winchester .22 pump my Dad used to shoot sparrows on the wing and given to me at age 4 to shoot flying squirrels in the barn loft, etc. Great way to learn how to lead a moving target! Also a 1st model Stevens 12 ga, single shot shotgun, my uncle gave me to keep the stock ponds on the ranch free from snapping turtles. The turtles would bite the feet off the geese & ducks on the pond, Not good, as the geese were semi-tame and were Guard geese, that would chase the hogs out of the garden whenever the hogs got out of their pen. Geese without feet can't chase hogs. All these guns will be passed on the my sons & grandsons, of course, plus a few items like some registereds mags I've picked up and my M1 Carbine from my Army time in the Korean War , Ed.

Ed,
That is a fabulous trove of historical family guns.
I STRONGLY suggest, if you haven'y already, WRITING the histories down, and printing multiple copies. If it remains oral, it is guaranteed to get distorted, embellished, and/or forgotten!!!!!

handejector · #15 12-09-2008, 05:45 AM

Quote:

like a 1945 P38 he brought back and old Brownings with gold triggers and inlays (wich brings up a point I need to check on their authenticity as well).

All Nazi P-38's are valuable to some degree. The Brownings could well be factory.

opoefc · #16 12-09-2008, 11:54 AM

Lee, My youngest son is making a DVD of me with each gun, explaining it's history, etc. and copies will go to all other sons & grandsons, so the info. will be preserved. Another family gun I didn't mention is a an engraved Colt SAA, carried by a distant uncle, Brack ( Braxton) Cornett, 1880s Texas outlaw, train & bank robber and 2nd place winner in a shootout with Frio County Deputy Sheriff Al Allee in 1888, after Cornett had shot it out with the Texas Rangers and escaped. Brack Cornett is pictured in the "Albumn of Gunfighters" by Hunter & Rosa. He is buried in the Cornett Cemetary in Goliad County. Ed.