[Redhat]

I recently inherited a nickel .38 S&W "Lemon Squeezer" that belonged to my Great Grand Dad. According to the folks at S&W, the pistol was made in 1897.

The pistol is in really good shape externally but I would like to know if anyone here knows how I can check to make sure the gun is safe and operational?

Thanks

[Old Fuff]

Ah.... You have touched on one of my favorite model Smith & Wesson's. :)

The .38 Safety Hammerless was also known as the "New Departure" and manufactured from 1887 through about 1940. As such it was the last top-break revolver that S&W made.

First of all, don't dry fire it unless there are empty (fired) cases in the chambers. Otherwise you risk breaking the firing pin. About the only trouble you might have is failure of the cylinder to "carry up" or fully rotate from one chamber to the next, and this condition is unlikely.

Simply pull the trigger all of the way back, and then while holding the trigger, wiggle the cylinder to be sure it is locked. Repeat for each chamber.

If it was made in 1897 it's borderline for use with smokeless powder cartridges, even though the .38S&W cartridge is downloaded to modest pressures.

Your revolver is one of the last .38 Safety Hammerless 3rd. Models, that were made from 1890-1898 (serial no. range 42,484 to 116,002). As a rule of thumb, I consider that only those guns that have a later "T" design barrel latch should be used as shooters (serial no. range 116,003 through 261,493).

[Redhat]

Thanks Sir!

The ser # is 103XXX. I reread my info and according to Mr Jinks it was made in 1898.

As for dry firing, well sorry to say I already did that! I was trying to see if there was any firing pin protrusion. Hope I didn't break anything. Only did it twice.

My Grand Dad kept the gun loaded in his house for home protection.

Would you advise against removing the side plate to check the innards?

I have a proper set of gunsmith screwdrivers.

How can dry firing harm the firing pin?

Thanks again

[Old Fuff]

The ser # is 103XXX. I reread my info and according to Mr. Jinks it was made in 1898.

He would know… :)

As for dry firing, well sorry to say I already did that! I was trying to see if there was any firing pin protrusion. Hope I didn't break anything. Only did it twice.

I doubt that you hurt anything, but don’t continue to do it unless there are fired cases in the chambers.

My Grand Dad kept the gun loaded in his house for home protection.
As did many thousands, including president Teddy Roosevelt. A few still do so today.

Would you advise against removing the side plate to check the innards?
You can remove the sideplate, but be very careful about going about it.

Remove the grip screw, and then screw it back into the threaded bushing on the other side. Then use it as a little pry bar to wiggle on the grip and lift it off. Be very careful, as age has made the grip very fragile. When you have removed one grip reach through the frame with a ¼ to 3/8 inch flat-nosed punch and gently tap off the other grip. Do not try to lift or pry off the grips with a screwdriver blade or some-such. When the grips are off the gun check them on the inside and see if they aren’t numbered to the gun.

Using a screwdriver with a blade that exactly fits the screw slot, unscrew what appears to be the larger of two sideplate screws. You will find however, that it is a nut, not a screw. Put it in a safe place so it doesn’t get lost.

Then unscrew the smaller sideplate screw (this time it will be a screw.) Again be sure the screwdriver blade fits the slot.

Hold the revolver in your left hand with the sideplate up. Then tap on the side of the frame where the left grip would normally be, using a wood or plastic hammer handle. The vibrations of the tapping will eventually cause the sideplate to lift up, and you can remove it. Do not try to pry off the sideplate.

Reassemble in reverse order, although you can use a wood or plastic screwdriver handle to gently tap the sideplate back into place. Be sure that when you do so the sideplate is flat, and not tipped at an angle.

I have a proper set of gunsmith screwdrivers.
Good, but you may still have to grind or file some blades to fit the S&W screws. All of them are slightly odd-sized, and were made in-house. S&W even had their own thread sizes.

How can dry firing harm the firing pin?
If a cartridge, fired case or snap-cap doesn’t stop the firing pin’s travel the pin will batter, and eventually break off the tip. You will also mash the firing pin spring. This condition was corrected in later guns, but that won’t help you.

What to see more (of course you do). Go to www.armsbid.com and look around a bit. They are about to auction off a whole bunch of Safety Hammerless revolvers, along with much more. Remember, if you click on a thumbnail you’ll get a much larger picture.

[Redhat]

Thanks Old Fuff,

I was looking on Numerich gunparts and they have 3rd model firing pins, springs and other parts for sale. Think I should order some replacements, just in case?

I checked the link you sent. The one I have has no rust /corrosion...it's in really good shape eventhough it was kept in a "pocket holster" the rectangular type that was worn inside a coat pocket.

[Old Fuff]

Those Numrich firing pins are of they're own manufacture. In other words they are blanks that have to be fitted. I have used them, and after they were fitted they worked fine. Perhaps a bigger problem is a mashed firing pin spring, and they are cheap to replace. Unless you think the revolver is going to see a fair amount of dry (or live) firing I wouldn't worry too much.

The pocket holster you described was the most common method of carrying these guns - concealed under a coat tail. Not many survived in good shape so the holsters are becoming valuable in their own right.

A 3rd model in absolutely clean shape is hard to find. I would value yours to be at least $300.00 and more likely $400.00.

[Redhat]

Thanks again sir,

You have been very helpful! Are there any other web sites where I can read up on these pistols?

It really is a neat little handgun

[Old Fuff]

Well to start, use the search feature of this forum and the key words, S&W, safety, hammerless, and departure. You may also get hits on "lemon squeezer." You will find that the High Road has a fan club... :)