Smith & Wesson New Departure Safety Hammerless

[David LaPell]

I picked up this Safety Hammerless a couple months back, it's in .38 S & W. The serial number is 218XXX, which puts it in the end of the 4th issue but it has the integral front sight of the 5th issue, all the numbers match.
I took it out to the range a while back, the action is excellent, considering the age and the bore looks new. I found a new box of Remington 148 grain lead RN, the target on the right was 10 yards offhand one handed, the one on the left, 15 yards. The silhouette was 7 yards but a little quicker.
All in all I was surprised how good this gun works, being made probably around 1905-1906 according to the serial number range and the fact that the front sight is skinnier than a dime.

https://i.imgur.com/fa5qw3b.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/mfYmLQW.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/SYdOkPr.jpg?1

[Gray Fox]

I often think that something like that in .38 special with a small version of the Schofield one handed latch would be a nice gun to have. GF

[Buzz Krumhunger]

I like that little gun. Nice pick-up.

[Outpost75]

If you handload for this jewell, keep them light. Speer or Hornady 148-grain HBWC soft-swaged bullet seated in .38 S&W to 1.20-1.25" OAL and 2.5 grains of Bullseye, TiteGroup or Trail Boss, about 650 fps.

Nice carry gun more effective than its paper energy would suggest if you stick to wadcutter bullets!

[onelight]

That is a nice , good find.

[Dan Cash]

Excellent! I would carry that with confidence.

[Thin Man]

I believe your safety hammerless revolver is one of the best designs ever built for coat pocket carry. Any revolver with an exposed hammer risks getting the coat pocket liner pinched between the hammer nose and frame when fired inside the pocket. Semi-autos require room for the slide to function, also for fired brass to clear the ejection port. With the Safety Hammerless (also the Centennial and Bodyguard revolvers) those issues are mute. When the time to fire a shot is critical, coats are expendable. I would gladly trade the price of a coat in exchange for my health and safety.

[stubshaft]

I've been looking for one in .32 for a long time. Real nice pistol.