.38 lemon squeezer top break revolver age and value?

[lyricpoet]

I have a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson lemon squeezer , 5 shot, top break revolver, with a 4 inch barrel. Serial number is 257281. It is nickel plate with original pearl handles. No box, but appears to be in near-perfect condition, possibly never fired.

I'd love to know the date of manufacture and approximate value. Thanks!

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. First of all, S&W never used the term lemon squeezer. The proper name for the revolver is 38 Safety. Your Safety is a Fifth Model, made in the late 1920s or early 1930s. By this time, the Safety revolver was a slow mover and the factory probably had lots of inventory, but did not ship in order, so it could have left the factory anywhere from the late 1920s to maybe as late as 1940.

Condition is the major factor in value and one person's assessment of percent finish might be different than standard collector appraisal. There were over a quarter-million of this style revolver made and value is usually quite low. If in near-perfect condition, you might get $400 out of it, but detailed pictures or an in-hand inspection is the only was to determine condition.

I have to say that I suspect almost every revolver ever sold was shot, maybe not much, but to prove a 80 year old gun was unfired is not possible. Also, there were more post-factory pearl stocks out there by far than original factory. Does yours have a S&W medallion and a pencil serial number inside the right stock?

 

[Dosgatos]

That's probably true, and they were probably test-fired by the factory, but I suspect that this New Model 1-1/2 from July 1880 was never fired after purchase. I found it in the original box, complete with the chamois sheath this model sometimes came with. The bore is spotless, and you can see the recoil shield is perfect.

 

[glowe]

Peter, I would suspect that you are right with your spur trigger and I have a few in about the same condition, but I just hate to tell anyone it is new when I can not prove it. I see so many guns for sale that are "unfired" and to me, no one can make that statement unless they bought the gun and stored it away until selling it.

The educated buyer can certainly see the quality of the finish and make their own decisions, but saying the gun is 100% finish seems more appropriate than stating it is new in the box.