I have a 25-2 (N378XXX) so probably @ 1976.
It’s a blued gun with a 6 & 1/2” barrel.
Sold to me as having been worked on by Grant Cunningham, but who knows?
I love 4” guns and have to decide on having it cut down, or send
it along to a good home.
No box. I’ve put 200 rounds through it in 6 years, so I feel it is
mostly taking up space right now.
It looks good and shoots good.
Is this something rare enough to keep as is, or just cut ‘er up?

Sell it in original configuration, buy an original 4” 25.

SVT28


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You might want to try locating a "correct" barrel and just having it switched. You could save the barrel and have it put back to original at some future time. Just a thought.

Do not cut!

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No baby we aint

Funny, you mention that. I received a Model 10 heavy barrel today that will go on a 15-2 soon.

I “ rescued a 6 1/2 25-2 several years ago, been “ bubba’ed” by idiot owner crimping extractor with vice grips since he Could Not Figure out Thread direction to tighten. Easy repair, clean up and trip to range with my 1911’s. I’m a Colt 1911 guy, but this 25-2 is so accurate and fun to shoot….. I’ll leave it at that,LOL.
I would either sell or trade the 6 1/2” for a 4” if possible, Would Not Cut it. Barrel swap another option as mentioned.

Cutting it will pretty much offset (if not destroy) the barrel roll stamp and forever mark it as non original, with appropriate devaluation in sale price someday.

The last one I saw for sale in this area was at a LGS with a tag at $1,200. The guy did what he could for negotiating over about an hour but only gained $50 and then he had to pay tax. I rushed home and re-set my valuation sheet on my 6-1/2" at $1,150 (no box or tools, docs).

Mine Letters shipping February 14, 1972 and most everyone in the family loves to shoot it. Reasonably low recoil, very accurate, and with the BMT mooner tool, we can load 2 boxes into full moon clips in just a few minutes at home before hitting the range...with no sore thumbs either.

I don't know your area but I'm guessing you are sitting on a $1k gun as is so like already posted, sell and find a 4", or look for a 4" bbl, but don't cut and recrown..money wasted in my opinion.

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

When was the last time you saw a S&W Model 25-2 with a factory 4” barrel?

I have never seen one, in person or on this forum. Yet people give advice that makes them seem common.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Here is a Model 25-2 that I rescued and improved. The barrel shown is 4 1/4”.





Notice the location of the markings on the barrel.

Here is a Model 22-4.





Again, notice the location of the barrel stamping.

There are quite a few Model 25-2s out there. The exact number is unknown. Will cutting the existing barrel change the balance of the earth by removing a run of the mill Model 25-2 from circulation? I doubt it. But, if you want to, there are similar barrels available that you could purchase, cut and install on your revolver.

So, a couple more choices for you to ponder.

The complete thread on the Model 25-2 that was rescued can be read here,

Opinions wanted on this bubba'd 25-2

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Jovinolike time.

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Sure you did

I said a 4” 25, not a 25-2. They do exist although they are very hard to find. 4" Model 25 in 45 ACP?

You do have a good point though, smith really missed the boat not making a blued pinned 25-2 w/4” barrel in 45 acp common production. Probably would not have taken much effort during the 25-3 and 25-5 era.

What I meant was there are other 45acp 4” guns that haven’t been cut down out there. I personally enjoy my 625 mountain guns and model of 1989’s.

SVT28


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The 25-2 is one of Smith’s more common models, I don’t have a problem customizing it, if done properly. I’d send it to Magnaport for their treatment. I am thinking about having them chop my 6” 610-1 to 2.75” for the Jovino look.

There’s always the stainless route. I still have the 3 and 5 inch versions, but unfortunately sold the 4 inch.

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213th FBINA

S&W converted this 1950 45 Target to a 1955 45 Target with a 4-inch barrel for Remington Arms in 1955. It a great gun to shoot. Click on the photo for a closer look.

Bill

If you don’t mind mixing the the frame and barrel markings, a 4” barrel from a Model 25-5 could be made to work. It might require more work to mate it to the frame and cylinder which equates to more money.

So, you have several options. Let us know how you proceed and of course, images when it is complete.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I had my M25-2 cut to 5", then to 4" chasing IDPA rules. It is a fine shooter for the purpose but it no longer has the dollar value of an unaltered discontinued gun.

If you find that Mr Cunningham's name adds value, you might do better to sell or trade in favor of a 625 or something.

What a beautiful gun. I vastly overpaid for mine.
Got caught up in a bidding war. Selling at $1100 doesn’t make
Sense.

The problem with using a M25-5 barrel is that the -5 used a longer cylinder than a -2. You would have to cut back the barrel shoulder and the ejector rod and pin.

IMNSHO, I'd find another M25-2 barrel and cut that one back and have it installed, saving the 6 1/2" barrel.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Hi Gil.
A quick look at usagunsandgear shows a non pinned .45LC barrel for $270! Not even sure that would work. Even if it did, $270 would go a long way towards rebluing my Model 10 heavy barrel to be installed on my 15-2.
I’m not in a hurry to do this, so I’ll continue to listen to Y’all’s comments while I proceed with my K frame.

Sell it.
Shop around for the configuration
you're looking for.

At $1100 I’d be selling for a large loss. Can’t bring myself to do that yet. Maybe prices will go thru the roof by the time I decide what to do.

If this gun is in nice , original , unaltered condition it has value to a collector that is likely to increase.

Any alteration such as shortening the barrel or refinish/change of finish will hurt the value. Smith and Wesson dropped the 6.5" barrel in the late 70's and dropped the barrel pin a few years later and then dropped the 45ACP in favor of .45 LC. These older guns have their following. If in nice condition you should be able to get a good price even without a box or paperwork. If it were mine I would enjoy it as is or hold out for a really good price and use the money for one of shorter .45ACPs that Smith Made later.

I would post in the want/sell here, pick up another barrel, get it cut and installed. Keep the old barrel with the serial number. If you sell the gun, do it with both barrels. That way you will recoup the cost of the conversion.
SWCA 892

*
Here is the difficulty with that: with the exception of VERY rare items such as Bill posted above to rub in our faces , there few if any factory 25-2 4". If OP wants a 25-2 4", there are few options, and they are pretty much limited to gunsmithing - a cut or swapped barrel.

If one considers other variants of the N frame, such as a MG in .45 ACP, yes, they are out there, but they are also not sold often and tend to cost a bunch. In terms of collector value, the "leave it original" crowd is right, but the 25-2 is relatively common, and collector value for this platform is a relatively minor consideration compared to what the OP wants. It was not unknown to cut down a 25-2 to 4" to use as an LE duty weapon, and it is a darned fine choice as such.

Remember that the primary use for a serious firearm is fighting, not collecting. Collectors may be a majority on this forum, but in general are a minority of firearms users.

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NHI, 10-8.

You said it better than I did. I may save this to plagiarize at a later date.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Feel free. When I take time to word my thoughts carefully, instead of sounding like my usual snorting frothing profane self, I have been told I am eloquent. Most of my colleagues like my briefing, in which I use tasteful insults, some of which have to be googled to understand.

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NHI, 10-8.

It sounds to me like you're unhappy with what you paid for the gun. Altering it will only devalue it. Add to that the possibility of it being damaged in the process of whatever gunsmithing is required to make the change. I think I'd leave it as is and just look for something else.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Among the list of guns that I should have bought when I saw them but thought they were too much money at the time is a Model 25-2 that had been cut to 5". I don't know if it was factory or not but it sure looked fantastic. Not as long as the 6.5" Model 25-2 that I bought not too long after I saw the 5" gun, and better for target shooting than if it had been cut to 4".

Smith & Wesson should have offered more models with 5" barrels, they just seem "right". And look at the prices that special order 5" guns like the Model 29's are bringing today.

Another option is to sell or trade for 4" M25-5 in .45 Colt and then have the cylinder machined for .45 ACP in full moon clips.

One of these days, I'm going to have that done to my 4" M25-5.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Maybe a little history as I remember it is in order. Many, many days ago when I was a youngster in the LE field and beginning shooting, the Model 1955 was not common, some bullseye shooters had some. They were cataloged at 6 1/2 inches. Smith did not catalog a .45 Colt at all. When they did, it was in 4 inch barrel only. No long barrel .45 Colts, no short barrel .45 ACP. I suppose there were exceptions like Doc 44 has, but the common guy did not hear of them. Later, the .45 Colt was made in 6 inch and 8 3/8. I do not remember Smith ever making any blue .45 ACP 25-2s in 4 inch. Except Bills, of course. I'm suggesting that you might never be able to find an original 4 inch barrel for a25-2! This is from my history, and others may, actually do I hope, know a lot more than I do about this.
Another thing to be checked is if you can use the original sight if you cut the barrel. It may be integrated forging, not pinned ramp and sight. Meaning you might be looking at an aftermarket sight.
Good luck in your decision.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

The M25-3, a short cylinder 6 1/2" .45 Colt, was introduced as the 125th Anniversary model in 1977. In 1978, the M25-5 was introduced with the 4", 6" and 8 3/8" barrel lengths.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I don’t think anyone has mentioned that you could have a barrel made from a 1” blank, maybe slab-sided, blued to look nice, and the gun could be converted back to original if desired.

The problem with putting a 25-5 or later 45 colt barrel on a acp gun is the 45 colts used a longer cylinder and you would have to take a bunch off the back of ejector shroud and shoulder to get the barrel extension long enough to mate up to a shorter acp cylinder.

It's going to be difficult to find a 4 in. .45ACP. Do whatever makes you happy. I thought about buying a 25-2 and have the barrel cut but I like the looks of a M1917 the best and I had one so I had the barrel cut to 3 3/8 in. I like it and whether I make or lose money on it is at the bottom of my priorities. Larry

I should have mentioned that I recently bought a 625-2 from a member here. It can easily replace the 25-2 in my rotation.

Thinking about whether the 25-2 is rare enough that I should keep it intact for the “next guy”. I’m still not sure of the answer to this. If they cranked them out by the millions, then I’ll probably cut it to please myself.

Stop putting expensive ideas in my head!!!! :-)

The Model 25-2 was not made in the millions but it was made in large numbers. Just in my small circle of revolver buddies, we can account for about 15. I have two, one that is a 6 1/2” and the 4 1/4” I showed in post 9. Several respondents to this thread have mentioned their own cut down Model 25-2s. (We should probably get a thread going about cut Model 25-2, just to see how many are on this forum.)

I say send it to Andy Horvath and let him work his magic.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Not a chance. This Inflation is only transitory.

Cut it to five inch!

Sell it, buy a 625-8 and some moon clips, then be happy.

Thanks for all the answers. I’m going to hold off on the 25-2 for a while as my 15-2 has a new heavy barrel that needs to be installed.
This will give me a chance to try Andy Horvath’s work.
Once that is accomplished, I’ll turn my attention back to the 25-2.

You will be happy with Andy’s work. He is one of the last old time gunsmiths.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Best option, IMO.

Besides being the length the OP wants without altering the original, it gives you deeper rifling than the original. The 25-2 was cut with shallow grooves designed for hardball.

That is a sweet revolver.

Who did the work?

If you are talking about the Model 25-2, Andy Horvath installed the barrel and cleaned it up. Here is the full thread,

Opinions wanted on this bubba'd 25-2

The Model 22-4 is factory except for the stocks.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Kevin I think that I can live with a 4 1/4” bbl. I may have missed it in your thread, what barrel did you end up using?
My K frame has to come first, but pretty sure Andy will see my 25-2 once I find a new barrel.

The revolver came with a 3 1/2” barrel that was cut with a chopsaw. Not square nor finished. The muzzle was flat, no crown. Also included in the purchase was the 4 1/4” barrel but it had never been installed.

As I received the revolver.



Even with the lack of crown and sight, this revolver had been shot, and shot a lot with NO cleaning.

Andy did the work for me turning it into a first class revolver.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

One more question. Now that I can request letters again, should I letter the 25-2 just in case it belonged to Annie Oakley or someone else famous?

I'd cut it and not ask anyone's opinion. Have it done right and enjoy it. What famous person owned a 1976 gun? I'd skip that letter.

Dave Laubert at Defensive Creations has shortened a few for me with great results.

What ^^^ said.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

LMAO
Show me a factory model 25 45 acp 4" for sale. there are None nada unless they got made after the factor. Maybe a very very few factory customs.There are 4" 45 colts, There are NO 4" model 25s in 45 acp. There are 325s and 625 with full length under lug. But, 4" blue adj sight 45 acps NOPE.

Bill,

OMG, that is a birth year revolver for me! Let me know…

Has that revolver been lettered?

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.