Can anyone tell me if S/W ever offered their N framed model 25-2 { .45 ACP } in a 4" barreled revolver ? I can not find any information regarding a 4" in ACP nor have I ever seen one. I saw one recently listed on an auction site as a 4" 25-2 in .45 ACP, but I'm skeptical.
I already already have the .45 Colt version { 6" bbl. } which, to my understanding, was offered in 4",6", and 8 3/8 ", and looking for it's brother in ACP.
Thanks !!

There may have been a very few Model 25-2’s from the factory with a 4” barrel. Very few. I have never seen one but heard of one or two when I was looking for one in the late 70s or early 80s. The lack of such revolver is why I converted a 4”, Model 28-2 to 45 ACP.

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

The 25-2 in question is in rather "well used " condition, and am debating if I should buy it or not. I did find very little info in my big S/W book . Just wondered if it was a factory built gun .

It 'might' be possible that it was sent back to the mothership for modification.

Take a close look at both sides of the barrel. If factory original, the stampings should be centered on the barrel. If they favor the muzzle, odds are it has been altered. Even if altered by the factory, it is still not original.

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

The stampings do seem to be more toward the muzzle on both sides . For what it's worth, it is marked 25-2 in the crane along with the serial number of N 30 7XXX .

Here is where the stamping is located on a 6 1/2” Model 25-2.

Kevin

Attached Images

	2992B726-0910-4147-A7F3-9D2E800FA095.jpg (66.1 KB, 82 views)
	7084B5B7-FB0C-49CB-9655-935CD1120032.jpg (62.7 KB, 88 views)

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Over the years I have had several cut to 4 1/8" for service revolvers. Cutting them to this length kept the stamping centered.
These were my favorite duty revolvers. I used pointed tips bullets. (winchester silvertips) Using a HKS large speedloader pouch that held four (4) full moon clips. (bottom two with bullets pointing down, and the two top ones with bullets pointing up.

I have one sawn off to 4" for IDPA. Not factory sight, not factory crown, a special purpose match gun.
If you can get that one at a shooting price, it will serve you well, but paying a lot for what you hope is a factory oddity is a gamble.

The 25-2 in question is definitely in shooter condition, not really nice enough to be a collector and was looking at it as possibly oddity as you stated . Not sure i'm willing to risk his asking price, though.

S&W rebuilt this one for Remington in 1955 from a 1950 45 Target. The company also installed a W mainspring. It is one of my favorite shooters. Click on the photo for a better look.

Bill

I've only seen 25s in 45 ACP with 4" barrels that have had those tubes shortened. I gave up and bought a 625-8.

In my way back memory bank, leaky though it is, I recall that the 25-2 was a 6 1/2 inch gun and that they were very hard to come by. There was no listing for a 4 inch barrel. There was also no .45 Colt. When the .45 Colt was introduced it was in a 4 inch barrel. So for a time there was only those two choices. That was early in my shooting career, so I could be mistaken. Now, I know that Smith made some special orders, so it is possible that there are some out there, but maybe were not listed as production models. We are talking late 60s and early 70s.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Thanks, Nightowl !
Been trying to find more info, but pretty much a dead end so far.

I saw a Model 25-2 with a 5" barrel at a gun shop many years ago. It looked and balanced wonderfully. It was a lot of money for me at the time so I thought about it for a few days. I went back and it was gone.
I'll bet a Model 25-2 with a 4" barrel like the one Doc44 posted above would have been a wonderful duty revolver. I often wonder why S&W didn't make them readily available in 4" and 5" lengths.

Wondered the very same thing. They were available in the 45 Colt version, as well as the 8 3/8, but for some strange reason, not the ACP model .

I have never fired a 25 in .45 ACP and have no experience with the half-moon clips. I guess you could use the rimmed cartridge? I wonder if they ever made speed-loaders for them. Loading rapidly would be my concern but someone probably figured that out. Of course, loading a revolver rapidly was always on my mind. The speed loaders were problematic unless you used them all the time, like maybe you were on the pistol team. I preferred the speed strips or the dump pouches, two at a time.

That sir, is a stunning revolver.

I believe if I read this correctly awhile back , bc I love 3.5” & 4” N frames, but S&W built less than a dozen prototypes 25-2 4” 45acps for the FBI and that was it. Other than that it’s 625 Springfield Armory commemorative or mountain guns. I found an original in box with unused cleaning kit, sight tool, and half moon clips from the original owner Who actually used it in bowling pin matches etc i was going to have it RB’d and cut to 3.5” but sadly lost it to pawn shop due to heart attack. Now I can’t work just another regret I guess.

Yes, HKS makes speedloaders for .45 Auto Rim, the model 25M. The fastest reload is the full moon clip loaded with pointed .45 ACP rounds.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Its strange, that a gun conceived for NRA Bullseye would not be offered with an 8 3/8ths barrel option. Both the K22 and K38 Masterpieces were. I realize the OP was about 4 inch guns, but it just occurred to me.

Yep, S/W did some strange stuff, lol !! Would love to have a 25-2 with 8 3/8" barrel.

Model 25-2 with an 8 3/8-inch barrel, N25000, shipped in 1972. One of two or three known to have been produced. A great shooter!!!!!! Click on the photo for a better look.

Bill

Doc44 : Very nice !!! Smith & Wesson, take note, lol !!

A while back there was a guy running around show in WVa with 4-4.5” S&W m25-2. Claiming factory but clearly was not. Same guy always has similar piece of Americana looking for a sucker to bite.

Neato Bill!

I assume that they used a stock M29 or M57 barrel and just bored it out, owing to the RR front sight. Seems a 25-2 really needs a patridge for proper target work. Correct me if I'm wrong but the 25-5 (which had that barrel/sight option) wasn't around at that point, correct?

Yes - I just bought 3 on sale for $8.83 each.

A 4” 25-2 would be a great option. I settled for a 22-4 fixed sight 4”.

Dan

I think the Model 25-5 came out in 1979, but I may be off by a year or so.

Bill

My 25-2 4" (cut down) looks like the 625 but it has a hard chrome finish. Unfortunately the front sight was way too short and it shot 9"s high at 25 yards regardless of rear sight setting. A smith has it now to install a new front sight and I'm waiting for the results. If I limited the gun to only 5 yards it wasn't too bad, but that't not me. I'll post pics when I get it back.

This is a factory special order 25-2 but it's only
3 1/2".

Attached Images

2013-06-08_11-54-19_546.jpg (79.0 KB, 44 views)

__________________
Paul
S&WCA #2726

A Model 22-4 is hardly settling! Of all my ACP revolvers the Model 22-4 is the one I shoot most.

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I went 'round and 'round with the gunsmith getting a correct height front sight on mine. Finally I had my 1911 man mount one.

I might have to do something similar. I think the front sight is a little over his head.