Are all 1st Model .32 cal Lemon Squeezers considered antiques?

[AuntieRuth]

Greetings to all! We have a New Departure 32 with 3 inch barrel. Serial number 121XXX. It is in the original box and in good condition, but a bit of pitting on the nickel on one side. We think it belonged to my husband's great-grandfather. I will be sending for a factory letter, but any info you could provide would be helpful. Not sure whether we are going to keep it or sell it. Thanks in advance.

 

[glowe]

jerjiggy - I will fill in for Mark, while he takes a well deserved break from this thread. You have a 38 Safety Hammerless Model, or 3rd Model 38 Safety produced from 1890 to 1898 with serial numbers from 42000 to 116000, so all should be considered antiques. You need 38 S&W ammunition and several manufacturers offer this cartridge and it is safe to shoot in your revolver as long as the lockup is good. There is a good indication that your gun has been renickeled, so it does not have it's original finish.

AuntieRuth - you do not have an antique, since your revolver was produced in the early 1900s, probably before 1904. Your gun is called a 32 Safety Hammerless, or 32 Safety Second Model, manufactured from 1902 to 1909. Serial number range was 91,400 to 170,000. This revolver shoots 32 S&W cartridges and they are available from most manufacturers.

 

[AuntieRuth]

Thank you, Glowe.

 

[Maverick31]

Please help w/ID

Just received what I think is a .32 Safety Hammerless shipped around 1892? The SN is 444** and only located on the butt and faintly on the inside of the cylinder. 3 1/2" bbl and only other markings are on the top of the barrel where it says "Smith & Wesson" Springfield MA followed by several patent dates. No other markings or ID anywhere! Also, I have not seen any photos of .32's w/white or yellow grips. They have S & W logo.

Am I correct in ID and approximate date shipped? Thank you in advance for any info.

 

[pick1020]

Antique Squeezer?

Hello folks, I've been reviewing the info contained in this forum and have a value question for the 32 cal 3" S&W I picked up from a lady that didn't want any weapons in her home anymore. That being said, the nickel finish is in excellent condition, has sn47xxx, the box looks original except that there isn't any printed material on the inside of the top of the box. Hope I posted this in the correct spot-first one.
I have since been to a Ohio gun show and was told by a collector/vendor that this gun was re-nickeled at the S&W factory and that is why the condition was so good. There is a trademark or emblem next to the ser#on the bottom of the frame that signified the process was done. So, I still don't know what the value is or what the significance of nickel refinishing to an old gun. Good, bad, or status quo.Any info would be appreciated.

 

[RMH522]

.32 DA Hammerless Short Barrel

In 1960 while tearing down an old garage in Ohio I found a revolver hidden in a wall. It was covered with rust and after soaking in kerosene for a few days, I was able open the breaktop and remove the cartridges. I cleaned it as best I could but one side is pitted. The 2 inch barrel and cylinder were clean. I have subsequently fired the cartridges that were in it when I found it. The sn is 259205 and has SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS USA on the side of the barrel and it is a Lemon Squeezer. I know it is not worth much but I am interested in the history of it.

New Member

 

[cflier]

That's a neat way to find an old gun. But it can't be a S&W 32 Safety Hammerless with that serial number. S&W manufactured just under 244000 of them over the course of it's manufacturing run. It does fit in the serial number range of 38 Safety Hammerless revolvers though, and many of the 2 inch 38s were numbered close to that number.

 

[Wilburn]

Are all 1st Model .32 cal Lemon Squeezers considered antiques?

I just inherited one also.Mine has the 2 inch barrel.The only problem with mine is the bluing which is only 40%.Mechanically it is pristine and had only been fired maybe 2 times.The value would have been 600.00 to 700.00 if bluing weren't so bad.As is mine is worth 400.00 dollars.I had to order the rounds for it and they weren't cheap.About 90.00 dollars for 100 rounds.I think mine was made in the early 1920s as my Grand father was Chief of police in Macon GA in the 1920s and this was his backup gun.Don't know if this helps or not.

 

[letjimdoit]

I have a 32 lemon squeezer with pearl handles s/n 16057 and a star at the end. Anyone know the date of manufacture? Also, no smith and wesson markings except at the top of the barrel. It say Smith and Wesson Springfield MASS USA and then several Patent dates......

 

[mattio41]

Thank You

Thank you to all who added to this. With your help, I was able to get a lot of information.

For the Gentleman who is collecting serial numbers. Mine is:

169058 3.5"barrel Blued w/Black Handles (Most blueing gone)

Have fired it a couple of times several years ago, still worked fine. Now, Mostly just a part of my collection. This one was my Great Grandfathers.

 

[Wiley3]

Hey,
My Mom recently passed and my Dad gave me her fathers pistol. Its a nickel plated S & W 32 CTG - Its has pearl grips - serial # 1146XX

Can anyone tell me about the gun - Year? value? The nickel is showing wear - should I get the pistol restored?

Thnaks!

 

[Dons1040]

my 32 1st. Model

I am new to this forum have had my S&W hammerless for years and and just now doing a little research to see how old it is and how much its worth. it is #60xxx and is in good shape I have never fired it but it looks nice, is blued

The S.N. is 58253. I was suprised to find the sn. in 4 different places. 1. Butt 2. Cyl. face 3. Under the barrel lock. 4. Inside right handle panel.
In the letter from Mr.Jinks he stated the gun was shipped from the factory on August 19, 1895 to M.W. Robinson Co. New York City.
Hope this helps "place" your 32.

 

[Dons1040]

my 32 1st. Model

I have my great-great grandfather's gun. It's a S&W lemon squeezer, nickle-plated with black grips. It has a 3.5" barrel with a serial number reading 59XXX. Can anyone help me date this handgun?

my sn. is 58XXX and was shipped 8.19.1895. Description is the same. Per my letter.

 

[gunfan]

When I spoke to Roy Jenks, he informed me that I should call them the Safety Hammerless.

I will never refer to these revolvers as a "Lemon Squeezer" again! I will always view this as a disrespectful euphemism.

Thank you, Roy.

Scott

 

[georgiapotter]

Hi guys, I'm trying to get an approximate age on a .32 Safety Hammerless that belonged to my wife's great grand father. SN number is 132576, it has a blue finish black plastic S&W grip panels and a 3 inch barrel. Thanks for your help.

 

[wgdavis]

I own a nickel-plated Smith and Wesson 32 "New Departure" with pearl grips, serial # 168XXX (168890 for the DB). It has the S&W logo stamped on the right side of the frame, and small S&W "Buttons" set into each side of the grip.

There is a bit of wear of the finish, and some surface rust, but the pistol itself seems tight. I would guess 70%. I have not yet fired it.

I think, from what I have trolled on the boards, it would have been produced sometime around 1902.

Before I pay for my local gunsmith to inspect it, would anyone be able to tell me if 1) These guns in good shape are able to handle modern ammunition (and whether the 32 S&W Long I see is the same as this gun shoots), and 2) Approximately what it would be worth should it be considered mechanically sound?

 

[cflier]

Letjimdoit,
There are 4 1st model 32 Safety Hammerless in my data base with serial #s within 1000 of yours either way. All were shipped in 1890. That doesn't absolutley mean yours was. They were not always shipped in sequential order. The only way to know for sure is to get a cerificate of authentication from Roy Jinks. The star on the butt of the gun means that it was sent back to the factory at some time to get worked on. Most often that means a refininsh, but it could have been for any work. The Markings present only on the barrel rib is consistant with 1st model 32s.
Mark

 

[dogngun]

The .32 that is used in these revolvers is the .32 S&W, NOT the .32 S&W Long, which is more powerful and...longer...so it would not fit into these older guns. (It's NOT a .32 SHORT, just a .32 S&W. For many years it wa considered an adequate self defense cartridge, and was even carried by some police of the era. I believe Remington makes it and maybe some of the European makers such as Fiocchi. It is pretty costly and not very powerful, and it is loaded down for use i n these little old top breaks.

info on .32 S&W Cartridge (Note - the CTG on the barrel of some revolvers stands for Cartridge - it's not a model name.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32_S&W

ADDED: On that Warner revolver - they started importing a European auto pistol in 1912, gradually moved into making small caliber 5 shot revolvers very similar to the Meridan and Iver Johnson revolvers. They later were combined with another company and went out of business in 1919. The auto pistols are very collectable and bring a good price...the revolvers, not. I did see one sold several years ago at an auction for $65. If it were mine, I wouldn't shoot it.

mark

 

[South Alabama]

Can .32 Automatic ammo be fired in my Safety Hammerless so-called lemon squeezer ? Years ago I was sold box UMC Remington 32 Automatic 71 grain metal case L32AP as okay for this revolver but never got around to firing it. I would NEVER try 32 S&W Long, but 32 Auto is only slightly longer than 32 S&W bullet so I wonder if it can be used ?

I measure barrel as 3 4/16 inches with Serial Number 18,400 something on 3 locations, largest S/N on butt. My late uncle bought this after World War II from West Georgia policeman who thought highly of it. Seems very good condition with no rust I see & is black color all over. Last patent date on cylinder is July 1895 so I guess it was made about mid-1890s I've always used rifles/shotguns so I know nothing about handguns. I plan to weigh it.

 

[South Alabama]

I should NOT have posted Ammo ? on this thread but I thought my 32 was a lemon squeezer. Now I've found it is probably either a Model 1896 or Model 1903 .32 Hand Ejector because it has SwingOut Cylinder to left side. see thread ".32 Automatic Ammo in Safety Hammerless Revolver ??" on 1896 to 1961 Hand Ejector forum.