625-x engineering changes with each dash number?

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shinbone

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I am in the market for a Model 625. It will be used for recreational shooting and as a side arm while hunting in the Rocky Mountains.

I've found small isolated snippets here and there in various forums and web pages talking about the engineering changes for some of the dash numbers of the 625. But, I haven't found anything like a summary of the dash changes from the introduction of the 625 to the present to tie it all together. In other words, there are lots of gaps in my understanding of the evolution of the Model 625.

Would someone please summarize the engineering changes for each dash number for the Model 625 guns?

TIA!
 
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I don't have all of them, but I'll tell you what I compiled about the first 3 versions since these were the three I was researching when looking into buying one myself:

625-2 (1988)
Pachmayer grips
Black ramp sight
Traditional rolled rolemarks
Marked "Model of 1988"
Some have a "floating hand" that has been abandoned
Only supposed to come in 5" model (oddly there appears to be some 3" versions, one of which I may have just purchased)

625-3 (1989)
Hogue grips
Patridge sight
Laser engraved rolemarks
Marked "Model of 1989" from this point going forward
Made in 3, 4 and 5 inch models

625-4 (1994)
Same as -3, except case colored hammer and trigger, drilled and tapped for scope mounts with new style rear sight. I also believe this is when they started adding MIM parts. Still no lock though (I think that came around 625-6).


These were not set in stone. The first 2 iterations of this model seem to have some confusion about them and nobody really seems to know exactly how many were made and all the differences. Even the collectors don't really know for sure.
 
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Kurt kaBOOM said:
I think the -6 is still pre lock. I'll know when I pick it up from my FFL. Bought this one on GB.
Click to expand...

Well yes and no, there are two -6's the .45 Colt mountain gun with no lock and firing pin on hammer and the .45 ACP with lock and frame mounted firing pin.
 
Mack said:
Well yes and no, there are two -6's the .45 Colt mountain gun with no lock and firing pin on hammer and the .45 ACP with lock and frame mounted firing pin.
Click to expand...
No, the 625-6 45ACP is pre-lock as is the 625-7 45 LC. The internal lock wasn't added until the -8/-9s in 2001
 
STEVESKI said:
I don't have all of them, but I'll tell you what I compiled about the first 3 versions since these were the three I was researching when looking into buying one myself:

625-2 (1988)
Pachmayer grips
Black ramp sight
Traditional rolled rolemarks
Marked "Model of 1988"
Some have a "floating hand" that has been abandoned
Only supposed to come in 5" model (oddly there appears to be some 3" versions, one of which I may have just purchased)

625-3 (1989)
Hogue grips
Patridge sight
Laser engraved rolemarks
Marked "Model of 1989" from this point going forward
Made in 3, 4 and 5 inch models

625-4 (1994)
Same as -3, except case colored hammer and trigger, drilled and tapped for scope mounts with new style rear sight. I also believe this is when they started adding MIM parts. Still no lock though (I think that came around 625-6).


These were not set in stone. The first 2 iterations of this model seem to have some confusion about them and nobody really seems to know exactly how many were made and all the differences. Even the collectors don't really know for sure.
Click to expand...


625-3s have a floating hand also. These can be replaced easily at a time when the weapon may need retiming. It's not difficult but may require a few cuts on a ratchet to time up depending on size of original and replacement hand. The dash 3 engineering change was for the floating hand and this will be found in 686-3 and 66-3 that I know of and the entire line may have floating hands in all -3's. Some models have no -3's in the line, i.e. J frames where a floating hand was never used. The Hogue grips listed and partridge sight were not -3 engineering changes and are not found on all -3's. The 3" barrel -3's have mostly Pachmayrs and ramp front sights which are not engineering changes rather a differentiation for various barrel lengths.

Also Steveski is incorrect on -4 engineering changes including MIM parts. MIM parts didn't begin in 625's and 686's till after the -4. -4 did have a hand change back to a non-floating hand and also to a hand that had a small hump on the front edge in N's and L's and may continue into K's but I'm not sure of K's because I haven't worked on one of them as yet.
 
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Thanks for all the great information everyone! It is indeed a complicated web that the S&W engineers wove. I am guessing it will take awhile to understand it all.

The link "b san" posted shows a compilation of information by "47D". I don't see the floating-hand changes mentioned, so the list doesn't appear to be complete. Still, it is a huge step forward helping me understand the evolution of the 625:

625-1: Production not found or known.
625-2 (1989): Marked "Model of 1988," introduced in .45 ACP only.

1989: Marked Model of 1989.
1989: Marked "Bowling Pin 88," 5" full-lug; 2500 manufactured.

625-3 (1990): Longer stop notch in the cylinder.
625-3 (1990): .45 Colt caliber.
625 (1991): 625 Classic in .45 Long Colt, 5" barrel; 1500 manufactured.

1992: Discontinue 3" and 4" barrel.

625-4 (1993):Change rear sight leaf, drill and tap, change extractor, Hogue grips, .45 ACP.
625-5 (1993): Stocking dealer special in .45 Colt.

1995-96: Delete square butt.
1996: Begin shipments in blue plastic cases.
1997: Change thumbpiece; ship Master trigger locks.

625-6 (1997): Change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud; eliminate serrated tangs; change to MIM trigger; change internal lockwork to .45 ACP caliber.
625-7 (1998): New frame design as above for .45 Colt.
625-8 (2001): Internal key lock system for .45 ACP.
625-9 (2001): Internal key lock system for .45 Colt.
625-10 (2003): Scandium frame with 2" barrel; introduced at SHOT Show.
625-11 (2005): .45 Colt Scandium by Performance Center.
 
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Another version, based on the SCoSW, the table above, and my own observations. Corrections, additions, edits welcomed. Dates approximate.

Model 625 Model of 1988/1989 .45 Stainless
. . Note: no-dash or -1’s are not known to be made.
-2 1989, February, .45 ACP Model of 1988, 5", black ramp, matte finish, one-piece box.
. . 1989, April, Model of 1989, 5", Patridge front, matte finish, one-piece box.
-3 1989, November, longer cylinder stop notch, .45 Colt added, 3 & 4" added.
. . 1991, .45 Colt Classic, 5", 1,500 made.
. . 1992, Cease production of 3 & 4" versions.
-4 1993, .45 ACP, new rear sight, drilled & tapped, transition to Hogue grips.
. . 1995, April, shipping begins in 1st gen blue plastic case.
. . 1995 - 1996, transition to round butt frame, cease production of square butt.
. . 1996, August, new MIM angled thumbpiece seen.
. . 1997, Shipped with Master brand trigger lock.
-5 1993, September .45 Colt, stocking dealer special, 1,550 made, SDS s/n prefix.
-6 1996, January, .45 ACP, new frame design with integral stop stud boss & floating firing pin, delete tang serrations, new MIM hammer and trigger, changes to internal lockwork.
. . 1996, January, .45 Colt, 4" Mountain Gun version.
. . 2000, February, .45 ACP, 4" Mountain Gun version.
. . 2000, June, 3" special edition, 200 made.
. . 2001, November, shipping begins with fired case (FC) in individual envelope.
. . 2002, January, last -6 Model of 1989 ships.
-7 1998, January, .45 Colt, new frame design and other changes as above for -6.
. . 2001, November, shipping begins with fired case (FC) in individual envelope.
-8 2002, November, .45 ACP, keyed internal lock system (ILS) introduced.
. . 2006, March, begin shipments in 2nd gen blue plastic case.
-9 2002, November, .45 Colt, keyed internal lock system (ILS) introduced.
. . 2006, March, begin shipments in 2nd gen blue plastic case.
-10 2003, Sept., .45 ACP, 2", scandium alloy frame, 300 Performance Center made.
. . . 2004, August, 2", black scandium frame, 200 PC made for Lew Horton.
-11 2005, October, .45 Colt, scandium alloy frame, 2", 103 PC made for LH.​
 
shinbone said:
Kurt - Is this the gun you bought on GB?

Shinbone, it is this one:
S&W 625-6 Model 1989 : Revolvers at GunBroker.com. Not great pictures, so maybe lock, maybe not. I looked at a lot of pics of the different versions, I didn't notice a lock on the -6s. There were some 3s and 4s too. Maybe I would have gone with one of those if I had researched further, but I'm happy with my decision. The seller bought this gun unfired, put less than 200 rounds through it and decided it just wasn't for him. I still haven't picked it up, hopefully next week. I'll write up a RR afterwards.
Click to expand...
 
The .45 ACP Model of 1989 made with the lock was the -8. Product code 160935. I've seen three, they were all 4-inchers, and made in the 2002 to 2004 time frame.
 
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