S&W 25-3 125th anniversary: does It really worth the Money?

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Stefano981

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Hi everybody guys, i Need your opinion/help again.
I'm considering the idea to buy One of less than 10.000 (9948 if i'm not wrong) mod. 25-3 125th anniversary, year 1977, absolutely perfect, never used, complete of its wooden box, book, accessories ecc.
Here in Italy this particular model has a price obviously higher than in USA, i know, and i could buy for about 1700 euros now.

In your opinion this model worth the price compared to a mod 25-5 for example (about 30% cheaper -1000/1100 euros-, but more difficult to find in perfect condizioni as this commemorative) or the commemorative status Is a negative One for this gun?

I like this model, and i missed this .45lc in my collection, i like the complete box and its perfect condition but i'm not sure it could have a really "plus" compared to the ordinary model to giustificate the higher price.

I specify that i have no intention to use It, It could be only for collection.
I could post some photos from the Sellers site (i'm not sure i could post the link) but i Imagine you know this model, and this One in particular Is perfect.

My question came in my mind because for a similar price (1900 euros) i could buy a mod.27-2 8 3/8" barrel (early '70s) or 27-2 6" barrel year 1969 (1700 euros) both absolutely perfect, and i don't know which could be Better to increase my collection.

Thank u everyone.
 
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The obvious answer is to buy all three and a 25-5 you can shoot.

Most collectors aren't all that interested in most commemoratives. If you don't have a 25-5 you probably need one in your collection and I'd probably go for the non-commemorative for the difference in price.

Having said that, I have one of the 25-3s, the whole package including the cardboard shipping container, all new as shipped from the factory. I already had 25-5s and will never shoot the 25-3 but it came at a good price and I do like the entire package. These seem to be offered for around $2,000 here and they show up occasionally.

Good luck with your decision, you really can't go wrong.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
22hipower is right on. You will get a lot of internet advice about how the 25-3 cylinder is too short, or the chamber mouths too big, mostly from people who've only read about the problem.

If it's just as a collectible, and you plan to live long enough to see an increase, I'd probably go with the 25-3. First production .45 Colt from S&W in a long time, and when it comes to collectables people like the older stuff.

Thought about this some more. When it comes to the stock market and collectibles, I always put my hand over my wallet when people tell me that they know what the future holds. :D Buy whichever one you like the most and will be happiest to own.
 
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Thank u for your replay guys!
Of course the best solution could be "buy everything", but at the moment It's impossibile :(:(:(

I have to consider both your different opinions: both of them are correct as u said..
Maybe the 125th Is not so Easy to find here, while the other mod.25 are often on market Place, and same thing for the mod.27-2 (but the 8-3/8"barrel il rather difficult to find here, i'm honest...).

Well, i have to consider very well the element..
 
Ciao, Stephano...e benvenuto! Your decision really depends upon what you want to do with the revolver you purchase. Do you want to shoot it? Do you want to collect it? Is it an investment for making a profit over time? If you want to shoot it, then a Model 25-5 or one of those 27-2s is the better choice. They will also appreciate in value over time if you take care of them. If you are a collector and want a commemorative, then the 25-3 package is very nice. However, there is a very limited market for commemoratives, and IMHO they usually don't appreciate as much as comparable standard revolvers. It's a tough decision, especially when you have such a nice selection to choose from! Buona fortuna!
 
I agree, negative for commemorative models, they have limited increase potential at least here. As was said the 25-3 is the worst, not really vintage enough, largest throats and that limits the resale potential as it will never be a shooter.

The 25-5s after ~1980s, stating with high N serial like N900,000 have correct throats and are tremendous shooters. So a correct throat 25-5 would be more desirable than the 25-3 by far and wide. Go for the 25-5, bring some unloaded .45 bullets and drop them in the cylinder, see how well they fit. If it is a brand door fit, walk.

Then the 27-2 1969 6'' may be the Best Buy on this list. If it is perfect and a complete set, grab this one, you have a nice real collector.
 
Hawg Rider said:
However, there is a very limited market for commemoratives, and IMHO they usually don't appreciate as much as comparable standard revolvers.
Click to expand...

I was wrong, i thought a commemorative model was more appreciated by collectors, but it's not true as i said i your answers.
I have to well consider that fact, since i Will not use in a shooting range but only as a collectors.
At this point a good 25-5, in perfect conditions maybe it's Better also under my point of view of collector, compared to the commemorative One...

Thank u for your answer!
 
oysterer said:
I agree, negative for commemorative models, they have limited increase potential at least here. As was said the 25-3 is the worst, not really vintage enough, largest throats and that limits the resale potential as it will never be a shooter.

The 25-5s after ~1980s, stating with high N serial like N900,000 have correct throats and are tremendous shooters. So a correct throat 25-5 would be more desirable than the 25-3 by far and wide. Go for the 25-5, bring some unloaded .45 bullets and drop them in the cylinder, see how well they fit. If it is a brand door fit, walk.

Then the 27-2 1969 6'' may be the Best Buy on this list. If it is perfect and a complete set, grab this one, you have a nice real collector.
Click to expand...

Thank u, y gave me important details about this model.
I think to consider a 25-5 as u said if i'll decide for a mod.25 (saving about 600-700 euros) but at this point, at this moment, maybe i'll look at 27-2 6"barrel.

Meanwhile, i have to well consider the italian market too for a commemorative model, unfortunately thare are few model to buy here and with very different prices (from 1790 to 3200 euros, for the same model, year, conditions, i think because few objects means great price differences, as in every market..).

I Will not buy now for sell Better tomorrow, but to own only a good piece, but as a read in your answers a 25-3 isn't a good One neither, and has a limited market of interest

Really appreciated your replies!
 
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I do not know the Euro market but I could imagine that in 10-20 years or whenever you will decide to sell, 38 special will be easier available than 45LC. Models which can't be shot anymore due to lack of ammo may also decline in value then. A nod for the 1969 model 27 maybe. The 25-5 is a 4'' blue finish?
 
oysterer said:
. A nod for the 1969 model 27 maybe. The 25-5 is a 4'' blue finish?
Click to expand...

At the moment i didn't find any 25-5, mine was a possibility to compare with this 25-3 125th that Is in my real possibility now.

I agree the 27-2 1969 6" barrel is a great alternative...maybe the best One at the moment..
 
The biggest positive going for the commemorative models is that they are generally shot very little, if at all, and generally remain in good condition. Given the option between 2 otherwise identical guns most people prefer the non-commemorative option.

Unless I have some special tie to the event being commemorated why would care about it? They were a big thing back in the 70' and 80's but there's a reason companies don't do them anymore. Anything mass marketed as being a collectable will generally end up not being any more collectable than the underlying item.
 
Congratulations. I missed your earlier posts but I think you made the best choice!

But as enthusiast amatuer collector I do like the 25-3. That and one or two other commemoratives (One would be the Texas Ranger 19-3) do stand out to me as worthy of picking up if possible.
 
Stefano981 said:
Hi guys, at the end i went on a beautiful model 27-2 6"barrel, year 1975, perfect conditions with its originale wooden box, i think It'a good decisione :)
Click to expand...

Ciao Stefano sono di Roma
I'm a S&W collector since 1985, i believe that the best buy will be the best model that to desire at the moment of the purchase, none is better than another.
I own all model that you describe and none of mine will be for sale for my willing next years.
The 25-3 is good for these prices that you say, in various gunshops they are on sale for over 3000 euros, so from 1500 to 2000 euros are a good range of prices for these revolvers perfect and complete.
The 27-2 is probably one of the best Revolver produced in the world, every exemplar in perfect condition keep the price in time and increase a little year by year.
The 27-2 6" in the pics seems perfect, the grips are later about 1985/1986
 
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This is old news, 25-30 years (+/-), but I acquired one each of the 125th Anniversary Models (regular and engraved). I was in that situation because I was naive enough to believe the general disinterest in commemoratives would be different this time because it was, after all, the 125th anniversary---somehow more important than the Night Watchmen Commemorative.

Well maybe, maybe not----the "gold" in the seal on the standard gun disappeared in the course of wiping the gun off with Hoppes #9. The engraved gun appeared to have been done by an "artist" using a pneumatic hammer---and having been informed on Wednesday to have 50 guns completed by the weekend---a slight exaggeration for the sake of emphasis.

At this point, I don't recall the financial aspects of this investment, but it wasn't pretty. I'm inclined to suggest there are vastly superior options available for you to take home and put on the shelf.

Ralph Tremaine
 
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Late chiming in, but my recommendation would be a 25-15, of which I just bought recently. It has great polish and blue, plus the walnut grips look good and fit my hand perfectly. It's a Classic!
 
I have the 125th anniversary set. I love it. The blueing is magnificent. I bought it because I fell in love with my very first pistol which was a Model 27-2 5 inch bought new by me in 1972 for around $200. I did not know anything about hand guns but I do remember the salesman telling me that it was an unusual 5 inch. I just dug the looks of it.Sold it later but still have a superb holster for one. I will find a mint 5 inch one day! In the meantime my 125th Anniversary set is fabulous!
 
Stefano981 said:
I was wrong, i thought a commemorative model was more appreciated by collectors, but it's not true as i said i your answers.
I have to well consider that fact, since i Will not use in a shooting range but only as a collectors.
At this point a good 25-5, in perfect conditions maybe it's Better also under my point of view of collector, compared to the commemorative One...

Thank u for your answer!
Click to expand...

I think it's all in what you want to collect, and a commemorative you don't plan to ever shoot is just fine. What you eventually purchased is an outstanding choice and you will get much enjoyment from looking at it as well as shooting it. I have one identical to yours, made in 1977.

If you still have in your mind to purchase a M25-5, go for it. I have a nickel 4" model, the SN is in the early N800000 range; the chamber throats are slightly oversize (.454"), but the gun groups as well as any of my other large bore N frame revolvers, so I think any issues with accuracy are dependent on the individual gun and not a blanket statement that oversize throats are a problem.
 
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