25-5 to shorten or not

[OLMDDat71]

I recently picked up a Model 25-5 45 Colt with a 8&3/8' serial Number puts it around 1980 , paid $ 700 but it came with a nasty scratch ( only mark on it ) should it be a candidate for a short barrel carry gun. already have a 24-4 in 4" I am using now.

Ps any suggestions on the scratch repair, does S&W reblue some gun parts ie cylinder or only the whole gun?

[M29since14]

Best to buy a 4-inch barrel for your gun, rather than shortening the 8-3/8” barrel and re-setting the sight. You should be able to find a buyer for your long barrel, if you don’t want to keep it.

[Ruger 1,3]

Where is the nasty scratch? That is my favorite barrel length.

[ladder13]

Do a Jovino

[ISCS Yoda]

I can't make out the scratch, either, but I like the idea of buying a shorter barrel and selling the longer one. I guess the long barrel is for hunting or some kind of long range target shooting but it's not my cup of tea.

I did exactly that with a 4" M64; put a M12's 2" barrel on it and made a cool K frame snub. Among other modifications, and there were a number of them.

[Golphin]

I would think Fords Custom Gun Refinishing in Crystal River Florida would do just the cylinder and can match that factory finish pretty close. It might take you a while to get it back but you could give them a call and ask.

[OLMDDat71]

the scratch is along side of a chamber in the cylinder blow up and it is ugly, looks like something or someone chewed a whole bunch of little lines down the outside of that chamber.

Ps I haven't figured how to post larger pictures, pushing 73 and not that computer literate.

[Warren Sear]

I wouldn't alter that gun at all, except possibly to have that cylinder professionally restored.

[Nightowl]

I bought one a few months back. I really had no use for one, but it looked almost new. I really enjoy shooting it. I would probably use some cold blue to sorta camouflage it to some degree and shoot it.

[steelslaver]

I bought one with a cumbersome 8 3/8" barrel. Took it my shop and went to work. Cut the barrel to a carriable and sweet handling 5", remounted the front sight. Reamed a 29-2 cylinder to 45 colt and fitted it.

A pinned and recessed 45 colt with .452 throats. The way S&W should have made them.

[ISCS Yoda]

Ps I haven't figured how to post larger pictures, pushing 73 and not that computer literate.

Hey! I resemble that remark.

Posting larger pictures requires taking a good photo and then editing it. Whether you use "Paint", or another application, or enlarge the picture on your phone, or some other way, that is how you can do enlargements.

If you're pushing 73 and are on this Forum AND know how to post pictures then you are NOT any less computer literate than the rest of us. You just need an explanation; you're good to go after that.

[OLMDDat71]

Originally Posted by ISCS Yoda

Hey! I resemble that remark.

Posting larger pictures requires taking a good photo and then editing it. Whether you use "Paint", or another application, or enlarge the picture on your phone, or some other way, that is how you can do enlargements.

If you're pushing 73 and are on this Forum AND know how to post pictures then you are NOT any less computer literate than the rest of us. You just need an explanation; you're good to go after that.

Every time I try I end up with thumbnail pics at the bottom of my post.

[Jason Demond]

You did good on the price. You are also free to do as you wish with your model 25. If that scratch is what it appears to be across the cylinder, the only way you are getting rid of that, is with a polish and refinish.

What I would do personally, is this.

1. I would buy a shorter barrel.
2. I would look for a second cylinder.

This gives you the option of selling the longer barrel to get back a little of your cost, and secondly saves you the cost of a refinish. Provided the second cylinder somewhat matches the original gun's finish.

[Joe Kent]

Steelslaver, I am in awe of your talent/art! All my very best my Friend, Joe.

[BigBill]

I would wash the cylinder, heat it with a hair dryer and apply cold bluing till it’s the right depth in color. You could polish it with 2000 grit paper first. I apply cold bluing with 0000 steelwool. Sometimes doing it with a q tip doesn’t work

E-gun parts has barrels?

I had a shady *** dealer sell me a h&r 22 revolver with one lug in the cylinder that looked to be chewed on. The locking slot was big. It shaved lead. I actually moved metal closing up the loose slot in the direction it had to go, to where a range rod worked and polished and reblued the cylinder shes acshooter now.
There is nothing a flat blunt piece of metal and a small hammer can do I saved it. You can’t tell I rolled the metal. Sometimes we have limitations sometimes we don’t. I tried to get a replacement cylinder from egun parts they sent me the wrong one.

[steelslaver]

Easiest way to get a nice cylinder with the right .452 throats is to get a 29 cylinder and have it reamed to 45 colt. I have done it to 2 stainless 629 cylinders and 3 model 29 cylinders. I have one 45 colt with a factory cylinder.

[smoothshooter]

Originally Posted by steelslaver

Easiest way to get a nice cylinder with the right .452 throats is to get a 29 cylinder and have it reamed to 45 colt. I have done it to 2 stainless 629 cylinders and 3 model 29 cylinders. I have one 45 colt with a factory cylinder.

Do you ever have trouble with the smaller .45 Colt rims getting trapped under the extractor star?

[BSA1]

Originally Posted by steelslaver

I bought one with a cumbersome 8 3/8" barrel. Took it my shop and went to work. Cut the barrel to a carriable and sweet handling 5", remounted the front sight. Reamed a 29-2 cylinder to 45 colt and fitted it.

A pinned and recessed 45 colt with .452 throats. The way S&W should have made them.

This. I would go with trimming the barrel to 5” and rebluing the cylinder.

[steelslaver]

It does not matter, recessed or non the rim rides on the exact same amount of surface. Yes, the 45 colt has a small rim, in fact exactly the same OD as 44 special or mag. But, it you eject muzzle up the brass will not slip under the rim.

That skinny rim is about the only draw back for the 45 colt and like I said if you go muzzle up it and a firm pop of the rod it should not matter

[Inusuit]

Originally Posted by OLMDDat71

I recently picked up a Model 25-5 45 Colt with a 8&3/8' serial Number puts it around 1980 , paid $ 700 but it came with a nasty scratch ( only mark on it ) should it be a candidate for a short barrel carry gun. already have a 24-4 in 4" I am using now.

Ps any suggestions on the scratch repair, does S&W reblue some gun parts ie cylinder or only the whole gun?

If you decide to have the cylinder reblued, I recommend checking out Glenrock Blue in Glenrock Wyoming. They reblued the sideplate on a Model 19 and came very close to an exact match.

They have done several firearms for me and I am always pleased with the result.