Hello guys I'm new to the forum and need some help with two old S&W revolvers I'm looking at buying from a private seller. I've owned guns most of my life but just now expanding my colection over to revolvers however I'm not as familar with them so any help would be greatly appreciated regarding current valuation, potential future value, and collector interest.

Not sure how many times if any they have been shot and they both are @ 98% condition with the original S&W box/wax paper and that is all that each one comes with. I'll list the details for both revolvers below so please look them over and let me know if the model information for each revolver looks correct, curent retail value, what would you pay for this piece, and future collector status meaning is this a sought after revolver or do you think it will be in the future?

1. S&W 5 Screw Target Model of 1955 .45ACP 6.5" Barrell Blued Finish Serial # S165XXX 98% condition. Guide book shows this revolver to be worth $1,100.


2. S&W 3 Screw 25-5 Model .45Colt 6" Barrell Blued Finish Serial # N765XXX 98% condition. On the right side of the Barrell it reads "45 CAL. MODEL 1955".
The Gun Guide book pricing for this model revolver is a little confusing but I'll explain to see if anyone can figure this out...In the Gun Guide Book it shows this model at 98% for the .45ACP and .45 Auto Rim to be worth $700 but it has a second line just for the value of the .45Colt which shows $4,200 @ 98% which is crazy. So my question is this model I'm looking at buying really worth $4,200 or is this revolver a completely different model all together? Does it look like this particular revolver is a true TARGET MODEL or just a regular .45Colt revolver? Both guns are priced at $800 each. Thanks for all your help!!!

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Welcome to the forum!

One of the 1st things I learned early on, is that the price guides can be accurate or way off. The market values are best determined by recent sales at shows, auctions, sales on this forum and completed on-line auctions.

Which Gun Guide book are you referring to; it looks like the Blue Book of Gun Values.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Yes its the Blue Book of Gun Values...do you have any opinion or knowledge of these two revolvers? If you were to buy just one knowing you may sell it in 10 years which one would you buy? Thanks

The serial number on the 25-5 would date it to 1980. I believe that the barrel should be marked ".45 Colt CTG", as my 1980 25-5 is (it is a 4" though). My guess is this gun has been rebarreled. The SCSW states "Early production marked "45 Cal. Model 1955", later production marked ".45 Colt CTG"."

Thanks so much for the information as I appreciate it...does the serial number on the .45ACP Target Model of 1955 match the original barrell? I'm thinking the .45ACP Target Model of 1955 is the better more collectable (maybe original) of the two revolvers? Thanks again!

I would snap up both of them for that price. A good price for the ACP, and not as good for the 45 Colt but they average out just right.

I believe the 45 ACP/AR is probably a 5 screw and a gun from the 55-56 era (but could be a 4 screw model) with the greater appreciation potential. It was considered an improvement over the 1950 Target model which it replaced. It's heavy straight barrel made it the most accurate package offered by S&W.

The 45 Colt is more desirable than 45 ACP because many less were made and the cartridge is more popular these days, partly because less were made! But beginning in 1977 they became regular production and this 25-5 appears to have been made in 1980 based on the serial #. Therefore, however, it is only a 3 screw but should still have a pinned barrel and recessed chambers. It has the slightly longer cylinder and preferred over the 25-4 short cylinder. The rarest of the 45 Colts were made before 1977 and the 25-4; that's the one the Blue Book was referring to with the astronomical prices.

Do the box serial numbers match the guns? Do they both have original grips #'d to the gun?

I would always buy a 50's model gun before a newer gun given the same condition as in this case. If I could only buy one, it would be the ACP.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I think I would be grabbing this one up! At $800 it is a bargain.
Good luck
Ed

I really do appreciate the comments as that really helps me out...the boxes do match the serial numbers & the seller stated those were original grips on both guns but not sure myself. I assume from what you are saying by "grips #'d to the gun?" that if I removed the grips from the pistol that the serial number would be either on one or both of the grips matching the serial number on the pistol correct?

It's a tough call as to which one to buy as I really want both but I seem to be running my gun budget like the federal government and if not careful I'll have to start borrowing .40 out of every dollar I pull in just to survive so I'll probably lean toward just the .45ACP for now. Thanks again for all the posts/comments!

Congrats on your find! I must say this is all making me feel great about the Model 1955 .45 ACP, same serial # range (S165XXX) I bought last month at a dealer for $450. No box or case candy, though.

P.S. Here is a link to my intro thread on that gun, with some good general info about them:

New gun (1955), new member (1951)

Dave

Hello Dave...it looks like you got a good deal on your Smith & a nice gun. It sounds like the 25-5 Target .45ACP being at 98% with the matching box at $800 is not a steal but a good buy and I was mainly hpoing to get some details on both guns by coming to this website and I have received some great information here. I think the .45COLT is also a neat gun but not as old or maybe "collectable" as the the 1955 .45ACP so I think I'll just get the one revolver for now and maybe the other later on if it is still available. Thanks!

In the 1955, you are looking at one of my all-time favorite revolvers so it is hard to be objective. I think the collector value of the 5 screws is greater than the dash models and likely to remain so. It is my understanding that many of the target grips were not numbered but, I may be wrong about that.

If you get either, let us know how it shoots.

The ACP I'd be getting without hesitation

The grips on mine, which certainly appear to be original to the gun, are not numbered. They do have the football cutout on the left.

Only the rimfires and magnums were recessed.
There are very few target grips that are numbered.
I would definately get the older gun first.

There's a lot of confusion here.
The book doesn't explain it very good. The model 1955 Target became the model 25 and later into a 25-2. It's standard caliber was the 45ACP/Auto Rim. They did make a handful in 45 Colt and that's what is worth $4200 or more. There are only a few.
Then to add to the confusion they made some 25-2s with barrels marked 1950 Target. These generally don't command a premium.

Then they list the model 25 which is not explained very well.
The 25-3 was a commemorative made in 45 Colt. The 25-4 was a higher engraved version of the 25-3 commemorative.

Then they came out with a 25-5 in the 1980s who's standard loading is in 45 Colt.
The older model 25 being a 4 or 5 screw with a 6.5 inch barrel is the real bargain. The 25-5s are common but go for around a grand.

I wouldn't miss a beat on that 5 screw.

While I love 45 Colts, I agree that if you can only get one and concerned about the collectible factor, get the 1955 45 ACP. But, if you look on Gunbroker you will not find that many 25-5 and they are usually $1000 or more.

It's interesting this thread is 3-1/2 years old so it's really off track however the somewhat unrelated question from xxxxxxxxxxxx is less than a day old. Maybe this should be started as a new thread.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

This is a zombie thread resurrected by a spammer merely to post an ad.

He did not really want any help pricing his item.

He won't be doin' that no more.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett