Kentucky Dave
Member
Does anyone have reference material telling how many .45 ACP Model 1955 revolvers were made in 1955?
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How many made in 1955? Model 1955 .45ACP
- Thread starter Kentucky Dave
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I don't know of any studies on that question, but there cannot have been many. Well under a thousand, I would guess, and possibly not more than a couple of hundred.
Another way to look at early production might be to ask how many five-screw Pre-25s were produced, and how many four-screw Pre-25s. The model-marked 25s were so much preferred to the light barrel Model 26 revolvers that the 26 went out of production in 1961. The 25 went on to be a steady seller for S&W. Only about 2800 26s and Pre-26s were produced from 1950-1961. I suspect more 25s and Pre-25s were sold in their first decade, but I have no idea what that number would be.
That's a nice specimen.
Another way to look at early production might be to ask how many five-screw Pre-25s were produced, and how many four-screw Pre-25s. The model-marked 25s were so much preferred to the light barrel Model 26 revolvers that the 26 went out of production in 1961. The 25 went on to be a steady seller for S&W. Only about 2800 26s and Pre-26s were produced from 1950-1961. I suspect more 25s and Pre-25s were sold in their first decade, but I have no idea what that number would be.
That's a nice specimen.
THE PILGRIM
Member
OP
Kentucky Dave
Member
Wow!
Just Wow!
Just Wow!
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I have no idea. But you have one so that puts you ahead of me.
Hard to say because of the company's well-known indifference to shipment (or in some cases even production) in serial number order. I can say that the earliest Pre-25s known to have shipped in 1955 have serial numbers that lie between S143100 and S143600. Caution: those are round numbers, not literal production boundaries, so I am not saying that first year production ran to 500 units. Some guns in that range may not even be Pre-25s.
Just to keep this as nebulous as possible, the S143xxx range includes guns shipped in later years. There is one Pre-25 known in the S161xxx range that is reported to have shipped in 1955, but I worry that the date may not be correct.
A couple of Pre-25s are reported with serial numbers in the S130xxx range, but I have my doubts about those as well. I don't doubt that the guns exist, but they may be prototypes, retrofits, or even something else entirely.
If you want to play the odds, a Pre-25 with a serial number of S143xxx is likely to be a first-year gun, and serial numbers above S150000 may point to later production. But it would take a letter to nail down a date for a single specimen.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Looks like mine is a little later down the road.
It's S166105. Still a 5 screw.
It's S166105. Still a 5 screw.
I don't know how many were made in the first year, but I know the earliest ones date to March 1955 and have serial numbers in the S143000 range. There are also a few in the S130000 range (I have examined at least one).
Bill
Bill
05CarbonDRZ
SWCA Member
I don't have a first year pre 25 but my 5 Screw is one of my most acurate Guns....Even with slightly oversized Cylinder throats.
OldDominion
Member
I'm the current caretaker of S143517 that shipped in July '55. I always had a thing for the unrelieved target stocks.
OP
Kentucky Dave
Member
Please tell me more about the "letter" and whether or not the letter answerer would be someone with knowledge of production totals for a given year.
Also, from my reading, I was under the impression that the Model 1955 was only made for 2 years (1955 & 1956) before it became the Model 25. Is that correct?
Thanks Gents!
I've got some other Smiths, but this is the oldest and my favorite.
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I am lucky enough to own serial S130,9xxx that is stone mint original in the original box with 3-t's and grips are numbered to the gun. Been in a local collection since the 1980's and is all original. Maybe the earliest? I will start a new thread with pictures later on.
Model numbers were assigned by Smith & Wesson in 1957. That doesn't mean that all 1955 revolvers sold after that date were stamped M25 on the frame.
05CarbonDRZ
SWCA Member
Please do!
OP
Kentucky Dave
Member
FWIW, I have S1664xx which is not model marked but shipped in Nov 1958. May have sat of a shelf for a while.
