38 S&W CTG

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From wikipedia:
"The Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless or Smith & Wesson New Departure (nicknamed by collectors as the Lemon Squeezer) is a double action revolver that was produced from 1887 to 1940 by Smith & Wesson."
 
There was (and still is) a kitchen/bar device called a lemon squeezer, which is held in the hand and used to (ready for this?) squeeze lemons to get the juice.

The transfer of the term to the S&W grip-safety revolver seems a natural one.

Jim
 
Howdy

I have reprints of old Smith & Wesson catalogs. One is from 1905/1906, the others are from around the same time period. In all of these catalogs the name used is Hammerless Safety Revolver. The word Lemon Squeezer does not appear, it is a nick name.

Interestingly enough, Supica and Nahas have reversed the words to be 'Safety Hammerless (A.K.A. Safety, New Departure, or Lemon Squeezer)'

I collect old Smiths, and I have been known to use the term Lemon Squeezer, but it is just a nickname for any revolver that had a grip safety.
 
No, S&W never used the term "lemon squeezer"; like some other common gun names, it was a nickname.

Jim
 
If your gun is a top break, but not a Webely, use only modiest factory RNL .38 S&W (or .38 Colt New Police.. same catridge) or equvelent handload.

Do NOT use Buffalo Bore .38 S&W ammo. Only swing out cylinder revolvers made by such fimrs as Colt or S&W, or the Webely top break, are recommended for that ammo.

Saying that, you can get about 650 to 700 fos from the old top break 4 inch barrels. Not a powerhouse.

Deaf
 
I also have a fourth model double action 38 S&W from 1909, from my grandfather , it's condition is similar but it has a 5 inch barrel.
Took it to the range with a box of Winchester, 38 S&W ammo, 145 gr lead round nosed ammo and had a ball shooting it. Ammo may be hard to find but the standard velocity loadings will be fine.
I cleaned mine up, removed some rust spots and touched it up with some cold blue but I'm going to leave it the way grandpa left it.....it has character.
He used it to kill small game, mom said they would have starved to death during the great depression had it not been for the rabbits and such he shot with that old gun.
Gary
 
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