625-2 in 45 Colt

[HeloMt]

So went into my LGS today to look at the used counter and saw what I thought was a 625-2, five inch in the usual 45acp. I asked to take a look at it and the markings showed it to be a Model of 1988 and the gap for the usual moon clips looked to thin. On closer examination, turns out it was in 45 Colt. I've seen mountain guns in 45 colt, but never a 5 inch, full lug. The price was fair and it came with a nice set of matching combat grips, so I bought it. I was just wondering how common this version is as I have never recall running across one before. Randy

 

[regalsc]

I have a -2 1988 & I have never heard of a factory 45 colt in that model. The roll mark on the barrel is 45 colt? Could be a special order?

 

[HeloMt]

The roll mark on the barrel is "45 CAL MODEL OF 1988". It doesn't show colt or acp. The gun looks right as can be and hardly fired. The blue shows the model of 1988 in either 45acp or 45 Colt, I just never have seen one and was wondering how uncommon they are.

 

[HeloMt]

meant to say Blue book.

 

[steelslaver]

I don't know how common it is, but, Smith 45 colts are high on my list of great guns.

 

[Hoosier45]

You might want to re-check the gun. A "45 Cal" implies .45 acp not .45 Colt. The gun would either be mismarked by the factory or someone has swapped/modified the cylinder to .45 Colt. Have you actually loaded a .45 Colt and closed the cylinder? There is a SDS 625-5 5" in .45 Colt but that's a different gun with different rollmarks. Still curious about this one.

 

[HeloMt]

I would agree with you, but the cylinder accepts 45 colt perfectly and the Blue book does show it in both calibers for the at least the first year. I think the gun is right. It also has a red ramp front versus the patridge, also indicated in the book to be among the first 1500 produced. I got a ship date request into Roy, maybe that will turn up something.

 

[Hoosier45]

Yeah you might have something... even if it's not how it left the factory a ramp sighted, 5" full lug .45 Colt is just about perfection in my opinion. My SDS 625-5 isn't going anywhere unless somebody really wanted it...

 

[colt_saa]

Can you post some photos?

Is the cylinder standard or does it have the black powder bevel?

 

[Pizza Bob]

It also has a red ramp front versus the patridge...

625-2's (Model of 1988) came with a ramp (although no red insert) not a patridge. The SCSW indicates the 625-2 was chambered only in .45 ACP. Definitely needs a letter.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[625-7]

Can't wait to see how this plays out, pics please, hope it is original and not a cobble job. Congrats on the find!

 

[fat tom]

625-2's (Model of 1988) came with a ramp (although no red insert) not a patridge.

Nope. Came both ways.



f.t.

 

[HeloMt]

Last night I had a chance to look the gun over very carefully. The ramp front has had a red insert added. It is nicely done, but it is slightly smaller in size when compared with the other red ramps I have. I measured the cylinder length as compared to my Model of 1950, 45 acp (which is the only other Smith 45 I own) and the cylinder length is .040 longer on the 625-2, which makes sense in order to accommodate the 45 colt.
The SCSW book is somewhat cryptic about this model. They state there is much confusing information surrounding the introduction of this model, further stating "we have come up with varying production quantities for both 1988 and 1989 variations, so have deleted quantities from the book until the matter can be clarified. Also we find that calibers seemed to be mixed between the engineering changes, thus creating further confusion."
I am beginning to think a letter is the only way I can legitimately get to the bottom of what this is.
All that said, it is a cool revolver and definitely one that I am looking forward to shooting. As some of you have mentioned it is a great configuration in a classic caliber so should be fun. I am not much of a photographer, but another friend of mine on the forum is, so I will impose on him to get some pictures up in the next week or so. He is out of town. Anyway, thanks for your help, comments and ideas. I think the true answer lies with Roy.

 

[steelslaver]

Here is a 45 Colt with a 5" full lug barrel marked model of 1988.
I like that one.

But it started life as a 629-1 had its cylinder reamed and the barrel fit. It now hass a ramp front sight to.

 

[HeloMt]

Very nice! A longer cylinder will allow for some heavy bullets should you desire. That is a great build up, nicely done. What part of central Montana? I was born in Lewistown, but live in Helena.

 

[HeloMt]

Historical Letter

Hey Everyone,
First of all, let me start off by saying the new process for "Historical Letters" and I say that because of the lack of factory involvement any longer is nothing short of superb! My request for information was back in less than three weeks. Wow!
Now for the even better news. My 625-2 does in fact letter as a 45 Colt! Shipped on special order to a distributor in Los Angeles on April 25, 1989. I am tickled beyond belief as I was being convinced by many that the gun could not be factory in 45 Colt, but someone had modified a 45 acp into a 45 Colt. Obviously now that question has been rightly answered. I don't know how rare it is, but it is the only one I've ever run across and from the comments here, no one else has either. Anyway, still waiting on my friend for some pictures and when we do, I'll throw up a copy of the letter. Some days are just plain better than others! Randy

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Well done, HeloMt. A M25 4" in .45 Colt was my grail gun for years, one of only two or three true grail guns, and I was very happy when I finally acquired one. I like what was said above - a S&W .45 Colt is high on the great guns list. Beats the stuffing out of .44 Magnum!!!! For everything, from utility, to ease of use, defense (against anything!), etc. Maybe, just maybe, a .44 Magnum is more useful for hunting but, actually, I doubt it.

Good job!

 

[k22fan]

If I understand correctly only the rear end of your 625-2 .45 Colt's cylinder is longer than a .45 ACP cylinder. S&W's last .45 Colt made that way in a large quantity was the 25-3 in 1979. It was several years after the 625-2 before S&W built their first stainless .45 Colts in significant quantities. I wonder if S&W rechambered a then current 6 shot 627 cylinder to fill the special order. My first thought was that was how it must have been done by a gunsmith for a customer.

Does it have the GI specification 6 small lands and shallow wide grooves that S&W used in all .45 ACP revolvers up until they discontinued broach cutting production line rifling? Before S&W changed to electro-chemical machined (ECM) rifling their .45 Colts had S&W's standard rifling, 5 deep grooves the same width as the lands.

 

[HeloMt]

I would agree about your assessment of the cylinder being longer on the rear portion only. How they "made it up" I have no idea. It does fall in between anything similar in that production period. I will have to look at the rifling tonight. As it is a roll marked model of 1988 and the entire gun looks like a 625-2 of 1988, I am sure the rifling is whatever the barrels of that model were using on the line at that time. That the caliber designation on the barrel is just 45 CAL and not ACP or Colt shows me that besides the cylinder work there is nothing else on the gun to show it as anything different than a normal 625-2.

 

[HeloMt]

I looked at the rifling last evening and it is a six groove, appears cut and not what I would call overly deep. I hope this answers k22's question. In reading the letter the last sentence indicates "the production code on the invoice states this revolver was shipped in .45 Colt caliber." I guess it can't get any clearer than that. So now the question remains, has anybody else heard of any more of these 625-2's shipped in .45 Colt?