25-2, 2 3/4"/Who Does This Work?

[45Wheelgun]

Usually but not always

Back in the late 70s/early 80s almost every gunsmith was doing conversions like this.

Behlert and Jovino are probably the best known of that era. C&S and Mag-Na-Port also did them. Then every small shop copied the bigger guys. Here is my Behlert. The person that had it done specifically asked for no markings.

...

A S&W letter might get lucky with a name. However many folks bought the revolvers and then sent them off to be converted.

I agree with this completely. Lots of guys did them. Most are unmarked. Behlert and Jovino being the best known.

This topic comes up here rather frequently, there are many similar guns out there. They vary in the quality of the job done and feature set.

Retired W4 - you don't mention it, but your gun appears to have been "round butted". A Model 25 is a square butt gun. Round butting was a typical feature to this type of gun. When you go looking for new grips, you will probably need K-frame round butt grips. I have been told that back in the day, Brownells sold a jig made for the purpose of round butting an Square N-Frame into a Round K and that any reasonably competent gunsmith could do the job.

The grips on your gun are the same as every "known" Jovino I have ever seen. I bet you will find they are K-Rounds.

Your gun is a very nice example of this style of modification. Bet it shoots really well.

3" N-frame holsters are not hard to find. I seem to have accumulated a box full of them...

Model 1917s were also know to get this treatment. Here is a link to mine, most folks have seen it already, so no need to clutter your thread - Heavily Modified 1917

 

[Retired W4]

It does have a round butt as well. The Pachmayrs are K-frame RB as you mentioned. I happen to have a Lobo belt holster I had made for my 310 NG and the 25 fits perfectly.

 

[Retired W4]

Hey Tom

I told you these guys would know. Looks like you scored on this one!

Your tactic worked perfectly too. Thanks Ken.

 

[bettis1]

Retired W4,

My Jovino is nickel. I only know of one other nickel one. Most of his are blue. I have no reason to question that the grips on mine were put on it by Jovino.

Bob

 

[WC145]

Sorry to be late to the party, don't know how I missed this thread.
The OP's gun is the spittin' image of my Behlert 25-2, the only obvious difference being his front sight blade is black and mine is hard chromed. I have a few Behlert guns and not all were signed, revolvers in particular, and from what I've seen most Jovino chopped guns weren't signed either, the exception being the 3" "Effector" guns. Also, I've never seen a hard chromed Jovino gun, just blue and nickel. Behlert apparently favored hard chroming, as well as Mag-na-porting and some bling - you'll see some of his guns with jeweled hammers and triggers.

One thing aou the N-frames that have been converted to K-frame round butt size, the tops of the K/L frame grips almost never fit right due to the frame size above the grip frame. The Pachmayr Compacs fit about the best. My gun came with a set of custom wood grips that fit quite well but I prefer the Pachmayrs for shooting.

As far as value, I'd guess you could $1500 or so on gunbroker, maybe more, these guns are quite desireable.

Here's a couple of pics of mine, the resemblance is uncanny!

 

[Lorelei]

This is exactly what I want to get done to one of my 28's.

 

[ddixie884]

I'm reasonably sure mine is a Jovino, It is blue with a 2 3/4" barrel, and K rnd butt.