Performance Center 25-10

[TheTinMan]

I had promised myself “no new cartridges to reload” some years ago. My pledge stuck until I came across a USFA single action that I simply couldn’t resist. Since then I’ve been acquiring other firearms chambered in 45 Colt. It is written that you must have a lever action rifle to match any single action revolver, isn’t it? Once I’d scratched that itch, I started looking for a modern, double action target revolver in 45 Colt as well.

This 25-10 came up for sale here. It’s an odd duck of a gun… 2001 production but no infernal lock. There’s a screw at the top of the side plate like an old hand ejector - but it’s only a 4-screw gun. The ball detent for the crane/cylinder is assembly isn’t located at the end of the ejector. Instead, it’s on the front of the crane and locks into a slot in the frame. The barrel is tapered and quite thin with no rib on top. This results in what looks like a silly high front sight.

This is the ball detent, staked into the crane.

This slot is what captures the ball detent.

The sights are excellent - I especially like the front gold bead. The trigger is very clean in double action and just about perfect in single action. I’ve already shot it and the gun is nicely accurate. The grips are the only part that I’m not wild about just in terms of fitting my hand, but that’s an easy fix.

Thanks to member ddeanjohnson for the newest member of my collection!

Chip

 

[StrawHat]

Nice revolver! I was not aware of the change they made on the crane lock. I like that idea.

It looks similar to the Model 1950 Army revolver.

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

Hmmm? It really does not have much resemblance to the Model 1950 Army. The reinforced ejector is a big tell.

Anyway, you have a nice looking revolver!

Kevin

 

[colt_saa]

That is a offshoot if the Heritage Series

Heritage series revolvers were a Lew Horton Exclusive offering. It gives you some old world styling with modern manufacturing and metallurgy

That version was offered with blue or color case hardened frames. The -10s were chambered in 45ACP while the -11s (like mine pictured below) were chambered for the 45 Long Colt cartridge.

Remember that with the 25/325/625 guns, traditionally even numbered Engineering revisions were 45ACP and the odd numbered revisions were 45 Long Colt. Like with all things Smith & Wesson there are exceptions to the rule

Sports South commissioned the Exclusive 25-10s that were chambered for the 45 Long Colt cartridge. Your gun would have shipped in the aluminium case and not the Gold Boxes pictured above

If memory is correct 150 of each variation were produced

2001 was before Saf-T-Hammer bought Smith & Wesson from Tompkins. It was Saf-T-Hammer that transitioned in the lock, not to surprising of a feature coming from a lock Company

 

[TheTinMan]

That is a offshoot if the Heritage Series

Heritage series revolvers were a Lew Horton Exclusive offering. It gives you some old world styling with modern manufacturing and metallurgy

That version was offered with blue or color case hardened frames. The -10s were chambered in 45ACP while the -11s (like mine pictured below) were chambered for the 45 Long Colt cartridge.

Remember that with the 25/325/625 guns, traditionally even numbered Engineering revisions were 45ACP and the odd numbered revisions were 45 Long Colt. Like with all things Smith & Wesson there are exceptions to the rule

Sports South commissioned the Exclusive 25-10s that were chambered for the 45 Long Colt cartridge. Your gun would have shipped in the aluminium case and not the Gold Boxes pictured above

If memory is correct 150 of each variation were produced

2001 was before Saf-T-Hammer bought Smith & Wesson from Tompkins. It was Saf-T-Hammer that transitioned in the lock, not to surprising of a feature coming from a lock Company

Do you think only 150 Performance Center 25-10s were made in 45 Colt? That would be very cool.

Your Heritage Collection collection is wonderful!

Chip

 

[colt_saa]

Do you think only 150 Performance Center 25-10s were made in 45 Colt? That would be very cool.

Your Heritage Collection collection is wonderful!

Chip

Yes, My memory says only 150 of those were ordered by Sports South

Often times the actual production numbers are above or below what was initially agreed to

A Historical letter will confirm the quantity for you

 

[StrawHat]

…This 25-10 came up for sale here. It’s an odd duck of a gun… 2001 production but no infernal lock…
Chip

Chip,

Is the frame a round butt or square butt.

Kevin

 

[Pizza Bob]

The Altamont stocks just didn't cut it for me so I had Curt Harlow make me a beautiful set of Myrtle Wood stocks with Roper pattern checkering - more in keeping with the gun. The "bible" verifies coltSAA's recollection of only 150 made. Mine has the serial HEG0010 (Hand Ejector Gun??).

This gun came to me in a 629-1 Iditarod Commemorative presentation case (which is a whole other story). I have since obtained an aluminum PC case but lack the PC certificate that came with it. Hoping that somebody can scan theirs and e-mail it to me and I'll make the changes to correlate it to my gun - not to deceive, just to make mine complete.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[TheTinMan]

Chip,

Is the frame a round butt or square butt.

Kevin

It is round butt like the Heritage models. I was surprised when I took the grips off!

 

[colt_saa]

It is round butt like the Heritage models. I was surprised when I took the grips off!

We have Saf-T-Hammer to thank for the return to square butt frames

However it did not occur until after Saf-T-Hammer bought Smith & Wesson from Topkins in 2001/2002 and it was not the first change they made