Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: .38 Safety Hammerless 3rd Model (Lemon Squeezer)

Serial Number: 115143

Year of Manufacture: 1890-1898 / Antique

Caliber: .38 S&W

Action Type: Top Break, Double Action Only, 5-Shot Revolver

Barrel Length: 1 7/8" chopped.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a white painted blade with a mirror in the base, dovetailed to the barrel rib. The rear sight is a u-notch in a raised portion of the barrel latch.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece Iver Johnson white synthetic checkered panels with Owl logos molded in their tops. The checkering is defined. There is light handling wear. There are no chips or cracks. The fit is pretty good despite not being this gun's make or model. The grips fit slightly proud at the front strap and shy at the bottom. The grip screw is not original. Overall, the grips rate in Very Good condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished. Most of the parts have been treated with cold blue.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is defined. There is no notable erosion. There is cold blue in the bore. There is fouling. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 7/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 10% of its current metal finish. The serial numbers on the frame, cylinder, and barrel match. There is thinning and finish loss throughout. There is light erosion throughout and scattered handling wear. The screw heads are tool marked. The head of the center side plate screw has broken away. The markings are faint. Overall, this handgun rates in about Fair condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up with some light side-to-side play. The automatic ejector functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: Smith & Wesson introduced the Safety Hammerless, also called the New Departure and later nicknamed the “Lemon Squeezer,” in the late 1880s. Its concealed hammer reduced snagging during the draw, while the backstrap grip safety required a proper firing grasp before the double-action trigger could operate. The top-break action simultaneously extracted all five cartridges when opened, making the design compact, mechanically secure, and comparatively quick to reload. The .38 Safety Hammerless Third Model was manufactured from 1890 to 1898 within the 42,484–116,002 serial range.

This late-production Third Model has matching-numbered frame, barrel, and cylinder, but has been extensively altered with a shortened 1 7/8" barrel, nonfactory dovetailed front sight, Iver Johnson synthetic grips, replacement grip screw, and cold-blue refinish. It retains about 10% of that finish, with widespread loss, oxidation, erosion, faint markings, and a broken center sideplate screwhead. The gray 7/10 bore retains defined rifling, and the action and automatic ejector function correctly. Though its collector value is limited by the modifications and condition, it remains an unusual antique example of Smith & Wesson’s influential concealed-hammer pocket revolver.