I picked up a 325PD a while back in a trade. Didn't give much thought to it and have shot it a bit since owning it. Considering selling it so I started looking online to see what a fair value would be. This is where my cylinder question was born.

Every 325PD I see online has a solid titanium cylinder. Mine looks to be made of titanium and stainless. About half of the cylinder (rear half) looks to be made of stainless steel while the front half looks to be titanium.

Does anyone have and information on this cylinder? Is it something S&W produced at one time? Is it after market?

Thanks!

There is no half and half cylinder. It's either one or the other. Stainless is magnetic, titanium isn't.

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Protocall Design

Sounds odd, got some pictures? Titanium cylinder finish doesn't stand up well to aggressive cleaning especially with abrasives. Pictures will probably allow someone here to explain what you're seeing.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

The back half has been polished/buffed.

There was a shop doing his some time ago. I have a J-frame cylinder that is the same way

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"Acta non verba"

Places like "Cylinder & Slide" will polish a ring at the back of the cylinder, leaving the front with a matte finish, but that is done on stainless cylinders. That shouldn't be done on titanium cylinders.

FJagr, please provide pictures.

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Pine_Worker
NRA Life Member

The cylinder itself looks different than others I've seen (the "ring" separating the two portions) and it certainly isn't wear from use.

Edit: I'm an idiot for not thinking to check with magnet...the "ring" separating the two "halves" had my brain going in an entirely different direction. Thanks for the reminder.

In the picture it sure looks like two separate pieces. I’m sure glad my 325pd doesn’t look like that. I love mine. Great shooter and great looking.

Looks great!

Here is the one I have sitting on my workbench

I just have not decided what to do with it

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"Acta non verba"

Hey Colt_Saa, tells us more about yours. Same material different treatment, or...........?
Thanks in advance.

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

Polish the cylinder, put some tape around the back 1/3, plug the chambers and run it trough the bead blaster.

Just a Titanium cylinder that has had the back polished

It looks like it may have been the same shop/person that did FJagr's cylinder

There were half a dozen of these available for different revolvers several years back

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"Acta non verba"

Is the line between the two finished actually machined into the cylinder?

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Pine_Worker
NRA Life Member

It appears that way on mine which is what originally lead me to incorrectly believe it was a two piece cylinder or at least some type of "sleeve" over the titanium.

Thanks for all of the info fellas. So, what is the fair going rate for a 325PD and does this cylinder negatively impact the value or would it be the same as one with an original cylinder?

I'm not sure what the "going rate" is at the moment for a 325PD as I haven't seen one for sale for some time. The last one was about two years ago and I paid $800 for it. With today's silliness and the fact S&W isn't making them any more I would expect to find ANIB/slightly used with box/papers priced somewhere between $1000 and $1200 where I shop and perhaps even more at gun shows. I suspect the modified cylinder wouldn't impact price much, might even increase it a bit at a gun show.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

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wondered the same thing. from here it looks like the cyl went on a lathe and got the od turned down a shade. maybe one of the fellers with one can check od dims at each finish to see

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R/S
J.D.

Yes it is a machined groove

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"Acta non verba"

No, it was not turned smaller, it was polished

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"Acta non verba"