38 S&W CTG "Lemon Squeezer"

[FMS]

I purchased this S & W 38 on Sat August 29, 2015 at a gun show in Midlothian, TX where I reside. I was furnished the gun and five very old looking cartridges with it. The color is "old metal". I have been able to read on the top of the barrel that it was manufactured in Boston Mass from, August 4, 1880 to April 1889.

I have not shot the revolver yet because I am not exactly sure that I should shoot such an old gun with such old looking cartridges.

Give me some advice. The serial number seems to have been obscured over the years. The five shot ejector works well. The trigger requires a healthy Squeeze.

 

[Rule3]

Pictures??

The 38 SW is not a 38 Special. They still make and sell 38SW ammo, Don't shoot the old stuff buy some new ammo if you are going to shoot the gun. Some call it 38 short.

Have it checked by a gun smith before firing or don't fire it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_S%26W

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. Are you sure you have a S&W? The address stamped on the rib of S&W revolvers is Springfield, MA, not Boston??

Look at the sided of the barrel and let us know what is stamped there. Also, look at the top of the hard rubber stocks for a S&W logo or any other design. The serial numbers are also stamped on the rear of the cylinder and under the top latch, so check to see if those are legible?

Lastly, the Patent dates on a S&W end with Aug 4, 1885 & April 9, 1889.

 

[mmaher94087]

"I have been able to read on the top of the barrel that it was manufactured in Boston Mass from, August 4, 1880 to April 1889." I think this is a copy of a Smith & Wesson. S&W is in Springfield, MA and has been there since the 1850's. Pictures would help.

 

[opoefc]

The gun is not a Smith & Wesson, but made by a competitor in Boston. S&W revolvers would say "Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Mass." on the barrel rib. The caliber is .38 S&W, however, as were most pocket size revolvers made in that period. The old ammo. probably won't shoot due to eroded primers. Modern ammo. is loaded to low pressures safe to shoot in these old guns if the gun is in good mechanical condition. Ed.

 

[Absalom]

One thing nobody has asked yet:

The S&W Safety Hammerless is not called a "lemon squeezer" because the trigger requires a healthy squeeze , but because of the safety on the back of the grip. One can usually distinguish an original S&W from look-alikes by the absence of that feature, and I have not seen a copy that duplicated that.

It would be interesting if you had a non-S&W with a functional grip safety. Could you clarify that?

 

[Rule3]

Yes, as mentioned above the S&W ctg is the caliber, probably not the manufacturer.