My first 25-5 ........

[moralem]

Well I picked up my first 25-5, 6 inch from a member here. And it is every thing that he described it as. The gun is in exceptional condition with its original box, cleaning tools and wax paper and paperwork. It appears to be unfired as he indicated it was. There is an ever so slight turn line on the cylinder but this gun for me is what I have been looking for. It is unpinned and I am hoping it has no throat issues. I am unsure of production date but am hoping it is one that avoided the throat issues. Serial number is in the photo in case anyone know the production date. Thanks.

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[22hipower]

Nice! I don't think you'll have any problem with throat size on that one. Enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[StakeOut]

I have a 4" unpinned 25-5 that's AJS8383 that shipped in January 1986.

Is there a date stamped on the inside of the target grips that might help a bit on dating soon after that date stamp but it's no guarantee.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/139034777-post180.html

 

[moralem]

I have not pulled the grips but will and see if there is a date. Thanks for the tip.


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[moralem]

The stamped date on
the insides of the grips is February 23, 1988. Thanks for that tip. Now to work up the courage to shoot it.


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[BLUEDOT37]

On your box picture the original (large) label would have the Spec. Order# (the ship date) on it. The medium size label, on top of the original, has a smaller sticker that says "8274". I'm guessing that's the Spec. Order#, since it's the correct format (YDDD), which would be Friday, Sep. 30, 1988.

Congrats on your 25-5! Hope you like it!

.

 

[moralem]

Well your info fits with the earlier date stamped on the grips. Thanks for a more exact date. I want to so badly take this gun and my gen 3 Colt SAA in 45 colt and go shoot them both. But alas the SAA has not seen a gun range in its short life either. Decisions decisions.

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[Kernel Crittenden]

Well I picked up my first 25-5, 6 inch from a member here. ...... I am unsure of production date .....

On the very bottom of the original label you can see the code:

AJY05441009046283​

Parse it, "AJY0544" is the s/n. "100904" is the product code for a 6-inch M25. "6283" is the Spec. Ord. number. This corresponds to a ship date of.....

October 10, 1986.​

Which is a little late for a AJY s/n prefix. I would of expected a March - May 1986 ship date, based on the s/n alone.

I've seen many labels like this one, where a second label is pasted over the original. I'm not sure why this was done, but it's possible it was put there by the distributor to get his own bar code and inventory control numbers on the box.

 

[KEN L]

As usual, the Kernel has pegged it!

Two very nice pieces. Now take em out and shoot the Bejeezus outta dem!!

 

[moralem]

Thanks for the clarification on the date.



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[Kernel Crittenden]

It's hard to believe today, but back in the '80's 6-inch blue N-frames weren't exactly flying off the shelves. Stainless this, and stainless that, was the trend. L-frames were hot. So, in retrospect, it's not surprising the ship date is a few months later than expected. It probably sat a S&W for a short while, until a distributor agreed to accept it.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

The stamped date on the insides of the grips is February 23, 1988.

The original sticker's Oct-1986 date would obviously mean they aren't the original grips.

But if for some reason the gun went back to the factory, & got the new(er) grips then, maybe the factory added the second/third stickers then? The few guns I've seen that got a second sticker was usually a full sticker, over the old, & with less details than the original.

.

 

[moralem]

The original sticker's Oct-1986 date would obviously mean they aren't the original grips.



But if for some reason the gun went back to the factory, & got the new(er) grips then, maybe the factory added the second/third stickers then? The few guns I've seen that got a second sticker was usually a full sticker, over the old, & with less details than the original.



.

Well I guess I will never know how those grips got on there. The seller says he was the original owner and that the stocks came with the gun when he purchased new. I have no reason to doubt him but like so many other transactions we may never know. And not worth lettering the gun anyway. I am working up the courage to shoot it.


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