Okay, so I found a pristine S&W Model 25-2 45 acp with a 6 1/2" bbl. at a local gun store. Has the box (which looks great) and tools (look used a little) No moon clips are included. The lining in the box looks a bit "tired". Honestly, everything looks perfect on the revolver; hardly a turn line. Bluing is about as good as it gets...It's just beautiful...

Serial No. is N3168xx Can anyone here put a manufacture date on it?
And now the kicker - Asking price is $1150. Is that in the ballpark? Again, the revolver looks immaculate.

Thanks for any thoughts or help...

The Preacher

If it truly is immaculate that’s the going price!

As described that would be a go...
Great revolvers.

That is not your serial number - will start with S or N

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S&W factory revolver armorer

If the serial is S998xx, then that is before the model 25-2 existed. It was probably shipped in the 1952-1954 timeframe. Probably with a gold box. If it an N998xx, then it would be a 25-2, heavy barrel, and shipped around 1973.

If it is an N serial number, then that is a good price for a really nice gun in box. An S serial number will sell for a good bit more.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Pictures, we need pictures!

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

Just got off the phone with the dealer the sn isn't what was on the tag (99849) I should have known. Was a bit excited... The serial number is N3168xx and the box is wood.

Any thoughts now on the date? Thanks.

The Preacher

That serial number would date from the 1975-76 period. I believe that the Magna stocks are not original. It looks like the gun has the Target Trigger and Target Hammer so the odds are that it shipped with Target Stocks as well.

But the price is very fair even without the Target Stocks. Heck, a decent presentation case will go for $150-$200 these days.

If you like the cartridge, that is not a terrible price. I just got one for a bit less but I knew it was a good deal.

If you are not a fan of moon clips, you may as well look for a Model 25-5.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Moon clips are very handy. If you have a simple tool, they're not only no trouble , they could be a lifesaver in a bad situation. 45acp is usually waaaayyy cheaper than 45 Colt.

I wouldn’t mess with moon clips……..I’d shoot 45 auto rim!

I shoot both ACP & AR. AR is at least as costly as the long Colt cartridges, usually more. Reloading equals things out after initial purchase but ACP is a great way to go.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Walter: That pic above isn't the one I'm looking at. Mine has the original target stocks.

The Preacher

That’s a great gun and moonclips are the best thing that ever happened to revolvers. The only downside to moonclips is how easy it is to go through a gang of ammo each range session. By enough moonclips to load up as many rounds as you want to shoot at the range then de-moon and process your brass at home. Some of these guns had oversized chamber throats and do much better with plated or jacketed bullets but otherwise one of S&Ws best models.

I agree around 1976. All or most of the box interiors are tired. The price is fair for the condition you describe. I bought a beauty off GB a couple years ago. I think 1006.00 shipping included

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Debatable.

Only disadvantage is at the range. I carry a 36 and three speedloaders in winter, to replicate the reloading speed of moon clips. Not that too many are carrying a 45 N frame for ccw, but for a house gun, the moon clips make a big revolver about as fast as a semiauto.

Buy it. If I didn't already own one, I would be asking you for the seller's contact info.

I know where a 25-2 .45acp in 4" blued in perfect condition is, but at $1,300, and not "Jones'n" for one, I figured it was a little out of line of what it should be so I passed.
It's still there if anybody's interested, let me know and I'll pass it along.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Bedside, I guess.

Beyond that, competition is the only use I have for them.

I love my .45 ACP revolvers but could live quite happily without moons so long as I can reload .45 ARs.

The 25-2 with moon clips is a fun gun at the range.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

............from a, say, speedloader? 😊

Sorry, I mistook the photo that Xfuzz posted for the one you were interested in.

As another nudge to the OP, hasn’t Smith dropped its .45 ACP revolvers?

Be advised: the 25-2 tends to big chamber throats. The throats on my 1973 gun run .4545 to .455.

By comparison, my 625 PC purchased in 2019 had to have its throats opened up to .452.

I love my 25-2, but I’d love it a little bit more with tighter throats and deeper rifling.

Before I owned a rather large assortment of pin gauges I shot my Model 25-2 with a few boxes of factory hardball and was pleased with the accuracy. I knew they were popular guns with bullseye shooters for a couple of decades prior to my 1976 made example.

Then I got the gauges and the throats measure .455". So do the throats on my S&W pre-Model 22 and pre-Model 26. But for reasons unknown they all offer very acceptable accuracy, at least with hardball. I understand that they also do well with hard cast bullets but not so great with softer alloys.

Would I be happier if they had throats of .452" ? Sure, but given that my vision isn't what it used to be and I was never in competition before, it doesn't really matter. They still shoot better than I can.

I'm still think'n on this one.... A grand + is a bit more than pocket change as I'm a carrier and a shooter...Likely be only a range gun...It is however a classic 'smith and a beauty!

The Preacher

That is understandable. A 6 1/2” barrel is a bit much for edc. But, consider the one in my photograph, it started as a Model 25-2 with a 6 1/2” barrel also.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

That's not an unfair price for that gun in today's market by any means.

Well.... I bought it this morning. It's all but perfect; a small mark in the bbl. but it's almost indistinguishable. Only a hint of a turn line. Into it for a grand out the door, which made it about $941. Pulled out the felt to see if anything was under it and all the original papers including the brown waxed wrapping paper and six half moon clips were hiding there. Wood box is perfect. There's a white outline rear sight which I don't think is original as there was a rear (unlined) sight in the box. To say I'm pleased with it would be a gross understatement!

Part of it's story. It had been brought in for consignment before the previous owner sold it to the store. There was a brown shipper box with it but one of the store workers thought it was trash and threw it away when it was on consignment!!! Would have completed the package. Oh well...

Also the target grips aren't numbered at all. Does that mean they're not original?

I'll get some pics up as soon as I can. Thank you guys for all your help and information on this.

The Preacher

Target grips were seldom numbered.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

As MG mentioned, the target stocks were rarely numbered as they did not require a lot of fitting.

If you want to shorten that barrel, get in touch with me, I know a guy!

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Also, congratulations! The Model 25-2 started me down the road of discovering how wonderful a 45 ACP revolver truly was.

Naysayers abound about moon clips. Phooey, with the Model 25-2 you can have full, half or third moon clips. OR, NO CLIPS AT ALL!!!!

Check out Ranch Products in Malinta, Ohio for a good selection and price. They are the originator of the modern full moon clip.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Congratulations! And somebody makes some kind of synthetic moon clips, as I recall. Don't need a tool, but I think I would only use those at the range. Steel moons if I was using it for a housegun, or carrying it a la Dirty Harry. ( I mean, it looks identical to the 29, nicht war?)
Always had 25-2s in the past, due to ammo prices of course. Got talked out of my last one around 2008, just recently picked up a 25-5. But I only shoot maybe 3, 4 times a year now instead of every weekend, so price of 45 Colt ammo isn't that much of a hardship. Beautiful guns either way. And yes, the box interiors can get pretty tired after 40+ years.....

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The plastic moons are marketed by RIMZ. I believe they make two types, one for range and one for carry. I was given some of the range clips and they hardly hold the ACP rounds. Hopefully, the carry clips are better. I use the moon clips from Ranch Products, probably have 4-500 and strive to keep them all loaded.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Wow! For a grand I'd say you did exceptionally well!

I bought my 25-2 in January and paid the same amount you did for yours, but none of the goodies came with mine.

Congratulations!

-Bill

25-2 w/6" Pin'd Bbl. Shipped June 1981

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

Here she is and sorry for the poor quality of the photos:









The Preacher

Very nice! That’s about as new as they get. Should be a joy to shoot. Looking forward to the first range report.

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned cylinder throat dimensions. Some are oversized in these and some are correct, .452". If you just bought the gun as a collector, this won't matter to you.

I think you did just great for that 25-2 in that condition, box and goodies extra treat.

Mine is a Valentine's Day (Feb 14, 1972) shipment per LOA, and my family and I really like shooting this gun. 6-1/2" bbl with plain jane 230 gr ball ammo in full or half moons...just like posted by others...sure does eat up the ammo at the range, cause we go with moons loaded via BMT tool (the best one out there IMHO).

Price you or anyone else paid is immaterial cause a: they don't make these anymore and b: you sure won't lose any $ if you get tired of it down the road.

Like said........load em up, head out and really enjoy with the 3 T's.

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

BE Mike:

Not worried about the throats: I cast and can "adjust"... and I'm bet'n she shoots... First out of her will be factory ball... then cast. If this gal is a total bust I'll let you know, but I doubt it...

The Preacher

Very nice revolver! I have a slightly older 6-1/2" bbl. 25-2 (1973, s/n N139297) and it's a very accurate shooter. It has a Patridge front sight and a plain black rear sight. Never had an issue with throat diameter. I take it to the range whenever I take my 1918 U.S. Army Model 1917...both are .45 ACP and I like moonclips. If you decide to reline your mahogany presentation case and prefer to have an expert do the work, I highly recommend Joe Cebull (jcelect). Joe does an excellent job and is very reasonable. You can PM him on the Forum. Enjoy that revolver, you did good on the price!