lemon squeezer

[BOB BARGER]

I have a s&w 38cal pistol from around 1930s sometimes called the Lemon Squeezer need info on this gun and value thanks Bob

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Bob, and welcome. Your first post is a little short on info. Pic would
be nice, and any other data.

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. Need the number on the butt of the gun. It is properly called a 38 Safety. Also, there is no way to value the gun without knowing exactly what condition it is in.

 

[BOB BARGER]

it is top brake, hammer less chambered in 32 & 38 cal double action 5 round cylinder see photos

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the peanut and cotton covered plains of the Wiregrass! It is a .38 Safety Hammerless, 5th Model made...who knows? One .38 SH serial 243xxx shipped in 1917. You'll likely need an Historian's letter to nail down the shipping date. The grips are post-WWII. I'd put it in the $200-300 range.

 

[gmborkovic]

3cell phone pics and J frame grips and you estimate $200-$300?

 

[Dvus]

Wrong grips and 90% finish missing, I would estimate closer to $150 - $200. I just picked up mine with over 90% finish and perfect grips, and perfect bore for $200, but that was a steal.

 

[glowe]

I believe it is a nickel gun, and if so it does not have 90% of the finish missing. Original stocks were mostly black hard rubber, but walnut stocks were also available from time to time.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

3cell phone pics and J frame grips and you estimate $200-$300?

It's my opinion, Mike. You are free to have your own.

 

[gmborkovic]

Dvus, why would pay anything for it? Its a collection of springs and pins.
Why use an old 100 yr. old spring for a repair? And how many times have you needed an old pin? It has no value!

 

[mrcvs]

Dvus, why would pay anything for it? Its a collection of springs and pins.
Why use an old 100 yr. old spring for a repair? And how many times have you needed an old pin? It has no value!

It’s worth $100 to $200, as is EVERY firearm these days—EVERY firearm has some value:

Are gun buyback programs worth it? The answer is complicated. | Local News | phillytrib.com


You could probably turn it in to a gun buyback program without the grips and sell the grips on eBay for a few dollars more.

 

[Dvus]

I believe it is a nickel gun, and if so it does not have 90% of the finish missing. Original stocks were mostly black hard rubber, but walnut stocks were also available from time to time.

A nickel gun wouldn't have all that pitting and still have it's finish, nor would there be remnants of blue in the cylinder flutes and by the latch.

 

[Dvus]

Dvus, why would pay anything for it? Its a collection of springs and pins.
Why use an old 100 yr. old spring for a repair? And how many times have you needed an old pin? It has no value!

If it is functional, it is more than a collection of parts. If it was functional, I would shoot it and enjoy it just as I do the one that I have now.