Oddball Model 25-5

[schmeg]

Hello all, today I landed what I believe to be an oddball serial numbered Model 25-5. For starters I understand the 25-5 is supposed to be a 45LC. This one is a 45acp. The barrel is not pinned, it has a gold bead front sight (not pinned) 6 inch barrel, serial under the crane and on the but is S287xxx. I thought most if not all 25-5's had a prefix of N. I measured the chambers at .451. Forcing cone is tight. A cast bullet won't sit "in" the cone. Tanks for any help. Jay

Just to add to the drama, the side of the barrel says "45 Cal" model 1955. But again, it is a 45ACP. I can drop 45ACP's in the chambers without moonies and shoot them all night long. The gun appears to be pretty accurate so far.

[Flint Ridge]

1,000 - 1,500 were shipped with the wrong barrel markings.

Oh, welcome aboard.

Others will be along that know more than I. I'm just reading a book and reporting in.

[Flint Ridge]

25-5 is circa 78-82.

S287xxx is circa 67.

Sumtin funny goin on around heyar.

Pictures? Frankengun??? Just an old rebarreled job? New cylinder?

I could be all wrong too.

[schmeg]

Ill try and get a picture up tomorrow. Yes it doesn't add up. The gun is beautiful. Shoots low. I have the rear sight all the way down just to keep 200SWC centered at 50ft. The front sight is a non removable Patridge gold bead.

[ddixie884]

Your gun sounds like a 25-2. What is on the right side of the barrel?

[Nframecollector]

If it looks like this its a 1955 target or a 25-2.

[schmeg]

It say model 1955 on the side of the barrel. Under the crane below the serial number it says 25-5. I'll try and get some pics up tonight. Yes it looks just like the one in the photo. Same front sight.

[Art Doc]

Being a 25-5 cannot be correct given the serial. I suspect it's a 25-2 and you are misreading the model number (or it was a factory mistake which happens rather frequently). If it has a 6.5" barrel with the squared off Patridge sight in 45 ACP it's a Model 25-2. The 25-5 was in 45 Colt and came with a 4, 6 or 8&3/8 barrel with a ramp front sight. Model of 1955 stamping indicates a 25-2, this marking was not used on the 25-5.


25-2 "Model of 1955."




A 4" Model 25-5.

[schmeg]

As promised, here are some pictures. Hopefully these will help in ID'ing this gun. The right side of the barrel says "Model 1955" not "Model of 1955".

[PowerStroke2003]

Whaaa...????

[schmeg]

As an added bit of information, the barrel length measured from the front of the cylinder is 5 3/4". From the end of the forcing cone is 5 1/2" as shown in the photo's

[Art Doc]

Well, you got me. The serial and model number don't jive. A 1967 gun (serial) should have a 6.5" barrel. In 1979 they started using a 6" barrel. Maybe the barrel is a replacement from after 1979. Maybe the gun was returned with a damaged frame and they used a 25-5 frame and stamped the original serial on it. Maybe aliens abducted the gun and performed weird experiments on it. You may never solve this particular mystery.

[schmeg]

The short barrel (shorter than 6") adds even more drama to the equation. I may have to get ahold of Smith and Wesson and see if I can get documentation on the gun.

[Nframecollector]

I would get it lettered!

[Doug M.]

I wonder if a replacement was made on a newer frame but reissuing the serial number for the convenience of the customer. Or, are there factory marking consistent with a reworking of some kind?

[schmeg]

Maybe. I also find it odd that the front sight is not pinned. I also measured the throats again tonight. About .451/.452 is what I get. A cast SWC won't pass though it without a lot of pressure. Odd that the barrel doesn't have standard "model OF 1955" on it. I checked inside the stocks for a date. Nothing. It came in a plain blue and white cardboard Smith and Wesson box with no outside identification.

[Buford57]

The "S" looks larger compared to the numerals than those on the N frames I have or have had. The replacement frame scenario is looking stronger, particularly since a 1967 frame would be pinned.

[schmeg]

So perhaps a 1967 barrel on a newer replacement frame with an old serial number but new model number struck in the frame.

[Gun 4 Fun]

The barrel roll marking on the right side is correct. My 1980 25-2 is identical. The serial number and letter look righteous to me. I blew up your pic pretty large, and I can see no over stamping or sanding off of an old number anywhere.

I am with Saxon Pig here. I believe that you have a gun that was sent in for repair, and/or part(s) replacement work. The factory can, and did use the original serial number if a frame needed replacement

The serial is way too early for a -5, and if the frame had been cracked or warped/twisted/sprung for any reason, the factory would have had to use a non pinned -5 frame if it was after 1982. The odd barrel length is nothing out of the ordinary IMO. The switch to 6" barrels as standard came in '79. They commonly run 1/8" under the specified length, and sometimes if a crown needs extra attention for any reason, they can come out shorter at 1/4" under nominal spec.

It might be a solid, machined on front sight blade, but I doubt it. I'd bet good money that if you use a strong light and maybe even a magnifying glass, you'll find that there is a pin holding that blade to that ramp.


BTW- that gold bead could have been added at any time after the gun was made by either the factory or a good gunsmith. It is just a gold bead affixed to a Patridge style blade.

[M29since14]

I agree with Saxonpig and Doug. A frame replacement - the new frame serially numbered by S&W to match the gun sent in by the customer, old frame destroyed. Nothing else that comes to mind makes any sense.