Just wanted to share my latest find with the forum. After looking for years for a 625, I have found my second in about a month. I got a 4" 625 JM in February, and today I found a 5" model 625-2 at a local pusher. The barrel is rollmarked "45 CAL MODEL OF 1988". It is a round butt. According to my old S&W catalogs, these shipped with Pachmeyer grippers. However, this one came with these beautiful Hogue wood grips. I was going to put on a pair of Pachmeyers from the grip bin, but decided to leave the Hogues as they are better looking. It has a ramp front sight. Serial number is BDL5xxx. I couldn't resist it at $599, as I knew that only a small quantity were marked 1988, before the marking was changed to a lazer-etched model of 1989, and I figured the 1988 would be harder to find and might be worth a premium. The blue book claims 1500 guns marked 1988. What do you all think? How did I do this time? Here's some quick pics:
Here's the barrel roll-marking: