Help in identifying a S&W antique

[cestep]

So my grandpa passed away and my uncle just gave my mom his old gun. It's a S&W .38.

We can read this on the gun...

Smith and Wesson Springfield Mass USA pat'd feby 20 77 Dec 16 77 May 11 80 Sept 11 83 Oct 2 83 two aug 4 85

The serial number is on the bottom of the butt and it is 18151.

We would really like help in identifying this gun. Anything helps

Thank you!

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! Photos would be most helpful for an ID, but if the gun is a "top-break" (barrel rotates upward to load and unload) it is either a .38 Double Action if it has an exposed hammer, or a .38 Safety Hammerless if is has a concealed hammer.

We love family stories about guns, by the way .

 

[cestep]

Here are some pictures.
I also forgot to say it was hammerless, but the pictures will show you that

 

[murphydog]

It's a Safety Hammerless, likely from about 1888 or '89. It was introduced in 1887 and cataloged until 1940, with over 260,000 produced.

 

[DWalt]

It fires in double action only, as the hammer cannot be manually cocked. It is called a Safety hamerless as the firing hand must hold the grip firmly for the trigger to engage the hammer. This makes an accidental firing essentially impossible. These are also called "Lemon Squeezers" by some, but that is not an "Official" name. It remains a good pocket pistol for personal defense despite its age, however, the factory .38 S&W cartridge for which it is chambered is none too powerful. That ammunition is still made and is available, but is difficult to find and expensive when found.

 

[Camster]

A reminder that 38S&W is not the same as 38 special.