I recently inherited an old S&W revolver. I've done a little research and I think it is from the late 1800's. Can someone tell me how old it is by the serial number? Sorry for my lack of experience, my dad died and left this gun to me his only daughter. I was told it belonged to my grandma. Serial # 51419
This information alone isn't enough, however the title of your post says "lemonsqueeze .32" which provides a useful hint.
It may be the .32 Safety Hammerless 1st Model. This was a top-break revolver with concealed hammer, five shot fluted cylinder, and a grip safety. The grip safety is a lever built into the backstrap (the back surface of the grip). When held in firing position this lever had to be depressed by a fairly strong hold on the gun, hence the term "lemon squeezer".
Incidentally the factory never used this term. In the factory it was called the Safety Hammerless. The labels on the cardboard shipping boxes called it the "New Departure" model, since it was a departure from the more common exposed-hammer revolvers.
The s/n range of the 1st Model was 1 - 91417, made from 1888 - 1902. Your revolver's s/n would suggest it was made around the mid to late 1890s. Grips were black checkered hard rubber, the metal finish generally nickel though a few had a blue finish.
Most had barrels of 3 or 3 1/2". A few were made with 2" barrels and were sometimes called "Bicycle Guns". A few were also made with 6" barrels. These unusual barrel lengths bring substantial premiums to collector value.
The Safety Hammerless in its various models was a popular model with production into the late 1930s, and the last ones leaving the factory around 1940.
