Figured I'd show off this gun. My dad had it for a while and hardly ever shot it. This thing is in perfect condition. I've had it for about 4 years and in that time frame have never shot it.

Is this something I should continue to not use or should I occasionally go out and have some fun with this?


The info on it I have is

45 cal Model 1955 - 25-2. Doesn't appear to be a 6" barrel.. closer to a 5"?

Attached Images

45.jpg (97.4 KB, 1034 views)

If you decide not to shoot it, take some pictures suitable for framing, so you'll have something to remember it by, and then sell it to me.
If it were mine, I'd be shooting it every week!

I just always thought that this was a collectable gun and never really seen my dad shoot it. SO I just figured.. just let it sit there and look pretty. Thing is in perfect condition.. only reason why I barely even handle the weapon. What is something like this even worth I wonder..

The Model 25-2 normally had a 6.5-inch barrel. A 5-in barrel would be either a shortened stock barrel or a mystery. I don't know if there were any special order shorter barrels but it seems unlikely. Yours shows a bit of a wear ring between cylinder stops on the cylinder, an indication that the action has been worked and the gun probably shot a bit. Maybe a lot. Shoot the heck out of it. These are among the best target guns ever made by S&W. Many would give over $600 for such a piece, and more for pristine condition.

Get the tape measure out...I'm curious.

I think if I do sell it, I will shoot it first. Take the target and a good photo of the gun and frame those for my office.

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-Mike

Well Painter45..... Combining this gun with the 686 no-dash you also have posted on another thread indicates your dad had excellent taste.....

What you picture is a Mod 25-2 that appears to be with a 6 1/2" barrel. It was among the most sought after target guns of its era and it's now becoming a strong collectable.

Keep in mind that if you have the original boxes (presentation case for the Mod. 25), the factory tools and literature it enhances the value of each of your guns considerably. Same for such items as the original grips which appear to be correct on the gun you pictured. I've added a picture of an all original Mod. 25-2 as a quick visual to compare your barrel length..

You've got two very nice S&W's. Shoot them, enjoy them and like the rest of us.... you'll want more!!

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Terry

DO NOT sell your Fathers' gun! You will come to regret it and it will bother you for years to come.
That meant something to your Dad, it was special to him and a part of his life, now you own it. Open your eyes to what it was and what it is. Very few things that last can be passed down from Father to Son, a fine gun is one of them.
If you sell it you will never get it back.
That gun looks like it has been fired, you can do it no harm by using it, take it out and enjoy it, maintain it and it will bring you joy and memories of your Dad for years to come. Hopefully you do, or will have a child of your own someday, who will appreciate it and the family history it holds and someday may think of you when he owns it.
RD

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Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

save it for the next one in line............have an old colt, thats been handed down 4 generations now.....and by all means let her taste some fire now and then........

Hang on to the gun. I now have two, a Jovino and a standard 25-2. They are great shooters, extremely accurate and a ton of fun to shoot and show off at the range. Enjoy the gun for what it was intended. Sorry your dad never shot it.

SHOOT IT!! Then, you'll NEVER want to sell it!

If it has a shorter barrel and you think its collectible , have it appraised. S&W can look up this handgun and you can get a history for it. This also increases the value. It looks great and whether its collectible or not it was your fathers.

That looks like the 6.5" standard barrel, but hard to tell. That's a sweet looking model 25 in any case but if I were you, I wouldn't even consider selling or trading it, however, it certainly is advisable to keep it at collector value. For me, and most of us I think, it would be unbearable to not fire such a fine shooter!

Shoot it, take care of it, keep it!!!

The more I think about it I agree on keeping it. I know he had shot it a few times. Maybe I will keep it and pass it along. Tell my daughter you sell this your grounded for life.

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-Mike

Definitely keep it!
But I'm still curious....what's the bbl. length?
Have you measured it yet?

I have one that's NIB that lives in the safe, and a pretty nice one that I shoot. They are, and have been...Collectable. As far as the price or value, I am one of those who would pay over 600.00 for one. In fact, I would take as many as you can find in that condition, for that price. One of the great ones. Buy another one to shoot, and put Dads away until you know you are supposed to sell it, but don't sell it for 600.00, unless it's to me!!! Flapjack.

Here is my 6 inch barrel for comparison. They went to this length later in the line. The 6 1/2 is the most sought after. I traded an Ithica 37 shotgun away that belonged to my dad and I never got over it and I am 73 yrs old now.
I sold the presentation box and tools to mine but I will never sell the gun.

A LEO that I know had a Model 1955 barrel cut to four inches and used it for a service revolver.
Before that he had a Model 1950 Target Model .45acp cut to four inches!
And before that He had a Model 1917 Commerial cut to four inches.
Thank goodness he is now retired after 45 years.
He now carrys a Glock Model 27 .40.
Should I give him a "Stun Slap"?

Only if he's not packin'.
RD

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Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

I have the presentation box itself. The inside liner but the velvet is all gone. It all fell off. And the tools unopened.

About what year was these made?

Can the box liner be restored someplace?

Attached Images

	45case.jpg (49.4 KB, 222 views)
	45bar.jpg (88.1 KB, 256 views)

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-Mike

Yours looks like a six inch barrel. I think that you could find someone here on the forum to restore the case. I have seen pictures here that was done by forum members. Mine has large chamber throats but it is very accurate. It is my favorite gun.

i say shoot it......it's one of my favorites to shoot....6 1/2"...

Beautiful! That is what my box used to look like. Till the Arizona heat got to it I guess. Or old age..

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-Mike

Painter, I hope you keep it. If not for you, then for your daughter, or her husband, or your grandchildren, or someone in the family. If you sell it, you'll get some cash which you will then spend, and then you'll have nothing... of course, there is an exception to that if it is necessary to keep food on the table or a roof over your family's head.

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Proud anachronism

I was watching Sons of Guns the other night and some guy brought in a gun passed down to his father and they got the rifle working and the guy shot it and was crying. "this one is for you dad.."

Kind of made me tear up. I have all his guns. There are a few that I will NEVER sell. They will stay with me.

But There are a few that I wouldn't mind someone else enjoying and passing along. For me just having them sit in the closet most of the time isn't something I think they were made for!

I am sure there are a few of your on here that would like this gun. You all seem to be really into the sport and I'd feel better having one of you guys having it and enjoying it.

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-Mike

A true 5" barrel is quite scarce - believe Doc has one. Less than a dozen made.

If you post the serial number ( replace the last 3 digits with xs) one of us can get you a mfg date or you can call Smith & Wesson , they will tell you.The flocking and glue can be ordered online for about $25 if you decide to repair the box yourself.

What type of ammo do you find, that shoots best out of this gun (Name brand). Can you shoot 45 auto's out of it?

Do you have to have the full moon clips to shoot this gun? If not does it shoot better with or with out them?

The 1955 Target/Model 25-2 shoots the .45 ACP and the .45 Auto Rim cartridges. You can shoot the ACP from the gun just fine, but you will have to pick or poke the empties from the chambers because, being a 'rimless' case, there is nothing for the revolver's ejector to push against. Hence, the flat stamped steel 'moon clips.' They give the ejector something to push against.That is how the .45 Auto Rim came about, Remington took the standard ACP cartridge case and added a thick rim, so shooters would have a factory cartridge for such guns that worked the same way most double action revolvers and their cartridges worked.

Depends on how you measure barrel length.
Yours does look like it might be a 6" or 6 1/2".
Measure from the tip of the forcing cone to the tip of the muzzle.