Smith & Wesson .38 Safety Hammerless Fourth Model Nickel Top-Break Revolver, .38 S&W, 3.25 in, 5-Shot (c. 1898–1907)
This Fourth Model .38 Safety Hammerless is a compact, nickel-plated top-break revolver chambered in .38 S&W with a 3.25 in barrel. Also known as the New Departure or Lemon Squeezer, it features an internal hammer, a grip safety, and a five-shot fluted cylinder. Matching serials are observed on the butt and cylinder, and the model was produced during the 1898–1907 transition from black powder to smokeless cartridges.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: There is finish loss and spotty surface pitting on the frame, barrel, and cylinder.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson .38 Safety Hammerless Fourth Model revolver
The double-action-only top-break design uses a T-shaped, checkered top-latch release and an automatic star extractor for swift ejection. The enclosed hammer profile supports snag-free carry and is paired with the model’s namesake backstrap grip safety.
Fixed sights include a half-moon front blade and a rear notch integral to the top latch. The trigger is narrow and color case-hardened, consistent with period S&W finishes and small-frame ergonomics.
Construction is carbon steel with a nickel-plated frame and cylinder, complemented by black checkered hard rubber grips with molded S&W monogram (no separate medallions). The five-shot fluted cylinder is chambered in .38 S&W.
A one-line address/patent marking runs along the barrel’s top rib. Approximately 104,000 Fourth Models were produced in the United States circa 1898–1907, and this example aligns with that era. Matching serials on the butt and cylinder add desirable continuity for collectors.