What is the difference between the 625 in 45acp with model 1988 and the ones with model 1989 on the bbl? Also what is ment by military model of 1988? Saw one on gunbroker that looked the same as my 1989 model.

The big difference is that the 1988 barrel marking's are stamped into the barrel and the 1989 are laser etched. As far as the military model, I can be of no help.

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Stay safe people!

I can't help you with the 1988 but I DO have a Model of 1989. Maybe a list of some items that the 89 has will help you.

My Model of 1989 is a 625-6 with 5" barrel. It has NO lock but has MIM hammer and trigger. It has a pinned on Patridge front sight (black).

My 625-8 is a Jerry Miculek Special with a 4" barrel. It has forged, flash chromed hammer and trigger. It has a lock. The front sight is an interchangeable sight and came with a flat gold bead. It came with JM Special wood grips, monogramed, and also has JM monogram on right side of the revolver.

I prefer Pachmayr Decelerator Grips and have those on both of my revolvers.

Both of these are superb revolvers. I added a Jerry Miculek balanced spring kit to both and tuned the actions to 9.0 lbs double action and 3.0 lbs single action. They handle both Winchester AND Federal Primers with no problems (you can set the action lighter but then will be limited to Federal primers, only).

Hope this helps...









Dale53

+1 for Bob also the model of 1988 has a ramp front sight and the model of 1989 has a patridge front sight. I have not heard of the military model. Here is a picture of my model of 1988.

The Model of '88 was a 625-2, and as stated with roll stamped markings.

The FIRST Model of '89 was the 625-3 and was laser marked as stated, but came with Patridge front site on the 5" guns and ramps on the 3" and 4" guns. The 3"/4" guns were only sold for a year or two. These were traditional triggers and hammers with firing pin.

Both the Model of 88 and the Model of 89 were released in 1989.

As the model progressed forward in time it never seemed to lose the Model of 1989 moniker, but lost the hammer mounted firing pin, and got MIM'd in 1997 with the 625-6 and finally added the lock in 2001 with the 625-8.

I have never heard of a military model.

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Dave

I think the differences between the two have been covered pretty well; 1988 has a ramp front sight and roll-marked barrel; 1989s up through '-4' are nearly identical except for lazer-engraved markings, patridge front sight, and a couple of engineering changes. MIM hammer and trigger started with '-6'...I have never seen a '-5' in .45 ACP; all I have seen were .45 Colt, but I may be mistaken about that.
There is NO SUCH THING as a "military model" 1988-89; someone is either ignorant, or trying to 'creatively' describe what they have for sale, hoping to get more money for a 'rare' military model.

I agree, only .45Colt.

Well said.

There is (according to the SCSW) a 625 produced in 1989 with "Bowling Pin 88" on the barrel. 2500 of them, but I have never seen or heard of one.

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Dave

The differences between the two have been well described above. As always is true with S&W, never say 'never'. I own a 625-2 'Model of 1989' which is correct in all respects except the dash-2. The hammers and triggers on these early models were flash-chromed carbon steel, not stainless or MIM.

Also, as part of the history of the 'Model of 1988' it should be mentioned that this model had a floating hand which has long been dropped and many of the cylinder chambers were out of spec causing sticky extraction and difficult chambering of handloaded ammo.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

The 625-3 has longer cylinder locking bolt slots than the 625-2. This was done primarily because of locking slot throw-by or unlocking with heavy loads in Model 629's. It was fixed with longer slots, and the change was applied to all N-frames for simplicity. I don't know of any problems with locking slot throw-by with 625-2's.

As mentioned, the 625-2 has a floating hand. Large numbers of them have been converted to the standard hand, and all future 625's used standard hands, AFAIK.

Some 625-2 chambers were a tad short (but not many), and some chambers were at SAAMI minimums (probably from worn tooling). Dirty chambers, mostly in competitive action shooting, hindered reloads. The problem was less on 625-3's, but not completely eliminated until the -4 models.

625-6's in .45 Colt used standard parts, while 625-6's in .45ACP used MIM parts. Neither had an internal lock. Most 625's, whether using forged, machined, or MIM parts, have very smooth actions, and the guns are superbly accurate.


Buck

This topic seems to be covered pretty good but my 625-3 5" model of 1989 is roll stamped and has a red ramp with regular flash chrome hammer & trigger - non MIM. My 3" 625-3 89 version is also roll stamped with plain ramp and same old style H & T as the 5".

Some good details in this thread. Many I had forgotten until being reminded here.

Ken, sounds like a great 625-3 3". My laser etching is almost gone on mine (20,000+ rounds and lots of cleaning), I would have loved to have the roll stamped version.

This thread goes to prove the S&W adage of "Never say Never with S&W".

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Dave

Both of my 89's(3"/4") are lazer etched with ramp front sights and short cyl. locking notches. Flash chromed forged hammer/trigger.

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S&W Accumulator

I just came across a 625-4 with the 89 markings and a 5" barrel today. Didn't appear to be very heavily used. It's really had me thinking of going back for it. How do those of you with 5" barreled guns like em? I've never really given that length a lot of thought.

I was shooting my 5" Model of 1989 this morning. If I could only have one, I suppose it would be the 5". It would NOT be an easy decision as I like my 4" JM Special VERY much, also.

If I carried my revolver on the belt on a daily basis, then I would opt for the 4" (you wouldn't have the revolver sticking you in the short ribs when riding in a car). However, in Ohio we have to have a minimum 5" barrel to hunt deer with the handgun - for me, that has a potential to affect my decision.

FWIW
Dale53

Mine is a 625-3 3" Laser etched Model of 1989 45acp

About the best SA trigger of any Smith I currently own.

I gather that this is the most common of the 1989 versions.

rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

The 625-2 of 1988 had the hammer mounted firing pin, while the Model of 1989 has the frame mounted firing pin. I shoot my Model of 1989 extensively in my Bullseye Pistol shooting but am afraid to dry fire it without snap caps. Is it safe to dry fire a frame-mounted firing pin gun?

My 625-3 model of 1989 has the hammer mounted firing pin.
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Cruizer Bill,
Sorry to correct you, but you are NOT correct about that; only '-6' or later 1989s have a frame-mounted firing pin; all earlier 1989s have the firing pin on the hammer. Also, rayb, the most common of the 1989 versions would of course be those with 5" barrels; 3" and 4" are less common.

Love my 625-4 with 5 inch barrel. Best double pull of all my smiths and it sure is fun to pretend to be Jerry at the range with a few full moon clips.

My 625-2 has the 5" barrel with laser etched markings and a Patridge sight...

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"Shall not be infringed"

Just to add to the information, my Model of 1989 (625-3) has, laser etching, a 4" bbl, hammer mounted firing pin, black ramp front sight, and I have no idea if the hammer and trigger are MIM.

Can someone tell me how many 3" guns were built? I have always wanted one but they are hard to find. Wish they would make more.

Really appreciate hearing this as I just bought one! Oh well, screwed again by the fickle finger of fate.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Easily fixed with a standard hand or a chambering reamer, should a fix be necessary. Not really a problem.

Buck

How do the color case hardened hammers and triggers fit into the equation? I own three 625s and they are all -4 configuration. The first one I ever bought was heavily used and I suspect it was a Frankenstein gun, considering the glass beaded frame and polished cylinder. This gun has seen extensive modification and is currently being fitted with a 2" barrel. Number 2 is a Springfield Armory Commemorative Mountain Gun with the color case hammer and trigger. Number 3 has a 3" full lug barrel, color case hammer and trigger and a Model of 1989 laser etched barrel. I personally removed the hammer spurs from the last two but I am careful to keep the coloring on the sides of the hammers intact. All of my 625s are shooters and carry guns, but I have not seen many with color case hammers and triggers.

Dave Sinko

If you think paying a lot more than a gun sold for originally for a gun that needs to be fixed is not a problem...more power to you. I think, if it has to be "fixed", I got screwed.

I'd been led to believe the earlier versions of this were better. I had both a 5" and a 4" with the laser etched legend on the barrel both got holstered and shot enough that it started wearing off. Figured with the roll stamp that would be fixed. Then too, most of S&Ws "improvements" from about the 1990s on seem to have been more along the lines of cost cutting rather than actual improvements. I had hoped the earliest version of the 625 would be the best in that regard. It remains to be seen how badly I got taken in by all these assumptions and incorrect information.

In the future I think I'll stick to 4 & 5 screw N-frames. I know they are well made.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Dave T,
First of all, don't jump to conclusions; I have owned several 625-2s and NEVER had a problem with any of them. The "floating hand" problem is a non-issue, unless you experience a problem with your gun that I NEVER experienced with any of my guns. I also never had any issue with "out of spec" cylinder chambers, either. I currently own a 5" 625-2 Model of 1988, 3" and 4" 625-3s (Model of 1989), 3 5" 625-4s (Model of 1989), and a 3" 625-6 (MIM hammer and trigger, but pre-lock). ALL of them are beautiful, accurate guns; none has failed to function perfectly with any load I have put in them. I personally won't own any models with the 'lock', but that is a personal preference. Don't let anyone convince you that there is a "problem" with 625-2s; if there is, there are many happy owners who have never seen it.

Ditto what kean57 said. I bought my 625-2 in March, 1989, the first one I saw for sale. I have never had any problems with it. Friends who bought them had no problems, either.

Some of the first ones shipped out, several to gunwriters, had problems. AMERICAN HANDGUNNER's J. D. Jones got one, had problems, returned it, got it back still with problems and then bitched about it in print for years. He may still be bitching; I don't know because I quit reading his writing.

Hang around here long enough and you'll hear all manner of nonsense, spoken and repeated as gospel by guys who actually don't know very much. There is nothing wrong with THE 625-2. There may have been something wrong with A 625-2 which has been blown completely out of proportion. I don't think there has been a S&W revolver model without problems appearing in A FEW examples. Just happens. My -2 has operated flawlessly for years, and is the most accurate revolver I've ever shot.

I bought my 625-3 Model of 1989 5" barrel used a year ago, and LOVE it! Very accurate and I have had no problems with about 200 rounds through it. With the pachmayr grips recoil is almost non-existant. My kid loves to shoot it, more than my 629 44 mag!

I want to CCW carry it but have not found a left handed holster I like. I've bought a few for other guns on-line (paid a lot of $$), only to find out they didn't work for me very well.

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Good life will not Heaven get!

Forgot to add the photos....

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Good life will not Heaven get!

To kean57, BUFF and pinkymingeo - thanks for the positive reports. I was getting the impression everyone but me knew the 625-2 was a problem model. Nice to know I have a good chance of getting one that doesn't have all these problems. It should be here today or tomorrow and I hope it's not one of the bad examples.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Here's my 625-2 5" Model of 1988, made in February of 1989. It's been customized with a red ramp front sight, an action job by Nelson Ford, and Ahrends stocks. It's the most accurate centerfire revolver I own, and will shoot clipped .45 ACP, loose .45 ACP, and Auto Rim, all without a hitch double or single action. It will even ignite GI ball ammo without the clips in double action mode. The action is incredibly smooth and it's one of the few revolvers I own that I can shoot really well in DA.

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