The "lemon squeezer," also known as Model 40, Model 42 and 38 Safety Models, were produced by Smith & Wesson. The models have the safety on the back strap rather than a hammer or safety on the side of the gun. The safety is designed so a grip on the handle allows the gun to fire.
History
The original lemon squeezer was produced in the late 1880s and was chambered in .32 caliber. The gun went through a few changes until 1952, when the safety hammerless concept was applied to Smith & Wesson's J-frame. The finished product became the Model 40 chambered in .38 and the airweight Model 42 also chambered in .38. The gun is also known as the Centennial.
38 Safety Models
The Smith & Wesson 38 safety models were produced from 1887 to 1951. They were chambered in .32 caliber with a five-shot cylinder. They were produced with a 3-inch to 3.5-inch barrel. They were top-break revolvers designed for fast reloading.
Model 40
The Model 40 originally came out in 1952 as the Centennial and was changed to the Model 40 in 1957. The Model 40 is chambered in .38 special and has a five-round capacity. It is a snub-nose revolver with a 1 7/8-inch barrel. It is built on Smith & Wesson's J-frame and weighs 21 oz. empty.
Model 42
The Model 42 came out in 1952 as the Airweight Centennial but was changed in 1957 to the Model 42. The gun was the same design as the Model 40 except it was made of an alloyed steel, resulting in a lower weight than the Model 40. The Model 42 was discontinued in 1974.
Lemon Squeezer
A new lemon squeezer revolver is still available today. The Model 40 is still sold by Smith & Wesson, though it is not extremely popular. This gun has been used widely for law enforcement, and earlier models were popular during World War I and World War II.
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