25-2 .45 Colt

[Wheelgun84]

Picked up a 25-2 from a buddy...he took it in a trade and didn't really need it. It has some confusing characteristics based on the little amount of research I've done. Numbered N3388XX, 6" barrel with ramp front sight, orange insert, .45 Colt CTG on right side. No 1950, no 1955, no target front sight. Any info appreciated. My guess is a non-original barrel and a .45 Colt cylinder? All of my other Smiths are Model 10s...I'm new to the 25.

 

[Nightowl]

I suspect you are right! Although, it could be a 25-5 that was mismarked. I suppose. I remember when Smith did not make a .45 Colt, and when they brought one out it was only in four inch, as a normal production gun. Later, they added the longer barrels. They didn't make a four inch 25-2 back then, either. But, I have to wonder why someone would convert a 25-2 into a 25-5 configuration? Interesting.

 

[Pine_Worker]

Pictures might help with more info.

 

[StrawHat]

We need photographs to be able to accurately establish what you have but I am betting it is a plain Model 25-5, that is mismarked. I have one that was built with a Model 25-2 frame and that mark is over stamped Model 25-5. The side of the barrel reads 45 COLT CTG. It has a red ramp front sight with a white outline rear sight.

I have used it successfully on many deer hunts. I am currently hoping to find someone who wants it more than I do,

Kevin

 

[Wheelgun84]

Not very adept at picture posting as of yet...but here are some I took with my phone....low quality.

 

[muzzleblast]

Definitely a .45 Colt cylinder and barrel. 25-2 stamp doesn't work, of course. Looks like a real good shooter to me... Nice blue, stocks, and case hardening on the hammer and trigger.

Sometimes the sum of the parts are worth more than the "whole"...

Now all you need are some dies, a lead pot, bullet molds, and brass... assuming you handload, of course. Enjoy.

 

[Wheelgun84]

So, I'm guessing a letter from S&W is the only way to determine how she left the factory, correct?

 

[StrawHat]

If you could provide a photograph of where the model number is, or would be stamped, that could help. Also, the markings on the right side of the barrel. The serial number might help also.

Kevin

 

[steelslaver]

It looks it has the short cylinder of the 25-3 vintage vs the longer 44 mag length cylinder of 25-5 vintage. That means a 25-5 barrel would not work with that cylinder as the barrel shank would be to short unless enough was taken off shoulder to allow 4 more turns of barrel in frame and then you would need to shorten the ejector rod way up.

So, it is either a miss marked 25-3 or a 25-2 modified using parts from a 25-3

Might be pictures though. How much room between frame and cylinder

25-5 type

25-3 type

 

[series guy]

Pretty easy conversion using a .44 Magnum cylinder. I bought the cylinder on ebay and dropped the gun off a Andy Horvath's shop. The factory blueing was an excellent match.

 

[steelslaver]

I have used 44 mag cylinders several times. If you use a recessed one you can end up with a recessed 45 colt.

 

[mh51]

I probably missed a clue, but is it a 25-2 125th anniversary edition? They were chambered in .45 Colt with 6.5" barrels.

 

[steelslaver]

the 125 anniversary guns were marked 25-3

 

[Grayfox]

My guess is a mis-marked frame. It looks to right for a 25-5 to be a conversion.

 

[S&WIowegan]

You probably have a 'Franken' gun

Your pictures clearly show the pin that secures the barrel to the frame is buggered notably. If the pin was removed, the barrel was probably changed. Neither 25-2 or 25-5s normally have a red insert in the front sight. If you lettered the gun you'd probably find the gun left the factory with a 6 1/2" barrel and Patridge front sight. Someone later on switched the barrel to 45 Colt. The cylinder has probably been changed to 45 Colt or reamed to accept 45 Colt cartridges.

The gun is a homemade shooter, not a valuable "one-of-a-kind"gun.

 

[StrawHat]

…Your pictures clearly show the pin that secures the barrel to the frame is buggered notably. If the pin was removed, the barrel was probably changed…

I don't see that in the supplied pictures but it is possible.

…Neither 25-2 or 25-5s normally have a red insert in the front sight…

Are you sure about that? I agree the majority of the Model 25-2 revolvers came with a Patridge sight but I have not seen a Model 25-5 that did not have a red ramp.

Kevin

 

[Model19man]

Agree. I've owned several 25-5's that had red ramp / white outline sights. One I owned had green ramp / white outline.

I don't see that in the supplied pictures but it is possible.



Are you sure about that? I agree the majority of the Model 25-2 revolvers came with a Patridge sight but I have not seen a Model 25-5 that did not have a red ramp.

Kevin

 

[Wheelgun84]

Here is a pic of the Model # and S#.

 

[austintexas]

If you were a member of the SWCA , You could use their side of the forum to ask Roy if it left the factory as a .45 colt. Just sayin
SWCA 892

 

[Wheelgun84]

Your pictures clearly show the pin that secures the barrel to the frame is buggered notably. If the pin was removed, the barrel was probably changed. Neither 25-2 or 25-5s normally have a red insert in the front sight. If you lettered the gun you'd probably find the gun left the factory with a 6 1/2" barrel and Patridge front sight. Someone later on switched the barrel to 45 Colt. The cylinder has probably been changed to 45 Colt or reamed to accept 45 Colt cartridges.

The gun is a homemade shooter, not a valuable "one-of-a-kind"gun.

Your are correct, sir! Roy confirms that the gun was shipped in July 1976 as a .45 ACP.

 

[Drm50]

I have 3 m25-5s , two of them have the non removable red ramp and one has pinned Patridge blade. I got a NIB 25-3 with RR too. My 25-2s are pinned barrels & blades.
I'm not near as knowledgeable as many on forum but I'm pretty good at spotting parts guns, no matter how well done.

 

[Model19man]

I think the OP's gun is a 25-2 that has a 25-3 cylinder and barrel installed.

 

[Wheelgun84]

I think the OP's gun is a 25-2 that has a 25-3 cylinder and barrel installed.

Quite possible.

 

[Birdgun]

I didn't know a Model 25 in 45 ACP could be converted to a 45 Colt. I thought the cylinder lengths were different. Learn something new every day.

Here is my 25-5 to compare yours to. By clicking on the photo you can see enlargement.

S&W Model 25-5 in 45 Colt.

Hope this helps.

Birdgun

 

[StrawHat]

Chris,

Just curious, does the frame lug show any signs of modification? The 45 ACP cylinder requires a longer frame lug than the 45 long Colt cylinder. When I built my ACP revolver from a Model 28-2 frame I had to remove and replace the frame lug so the cylinder did not slide to the rear when ejecting shells.

On your revolver either the frame lug or the cylinder would have to be modified so the cylinder would properly function.

Kevin

 

[steelslaver]

Chris,

Just curious, does the frame lug show any signs of modification? The 45 ACP cylinder requires a longer frame lug than the 45 long Colt cylinder. When I built my ACP revolver from a Model 28-2 frame I had to remove and replace the frame lug so the cylinder did not slide to the rear when ejecting shells.

On your revolver either the frame lug or the cylinder would have to be modified so the cylinder would properly function.

Kevin

I have done the 2 cylinder deal using a 357 cylinder to make a short 45 colt cylinder that would work in an acp gun. First one I ever did in fact. I did have to file back the frame lug of course. Using the 45 acp cylinder the cylinder moved back the .040 rear difference the acp cylinder need for clip thickness, But, ejected fine and when you rolled gun muzzle down to reload the cylinder closed up fine. If you held it muzzle up and closed cylinder the center pin would some times hand on edge of recoil shield. Making the dip in the recoil shield a bit deeper took care of that. But closing a loaded cylinder with muzzle up has the problem of the rounds falling out anyway so not really a problem.

There is another fix I tried to. Machine a .040 cut slightly deeper than lug engagement on rear corner of colt cylinder. This allows the very outside corner of cylinder to clear the lug and when you eject the new shoulder presses against the lug. Works even though it looks kind of odd.

I don't think most peopple with dual clinder guns even nottice the slop.

Mostly I abandon the dual cylinder deal and went with the recessed cylinder method. That way no cylinder change needed.

Full mooned clipped 45acp set inn recess and portion of 45 colt rim sits on ring of material on outside of cylinder face holds proper headspace for that round.
This cylinder that lives in my 4" gun has had a lot of both acp and colts

It also works in K framed 38 cylinders to shoot 9mm, But you need to hit chamber with a 9mm reamer and that causes 38 brass swells a bit at base

 

[rogerwnuss]

I didn't know a Model 25 in 45 ACP could be converted to a 45 Colt. I thought the cylinder lengths were different. Learn something new every day.

Here is my 25-5 to compare yours to. By clicking on the photo you can see enlargement.

S&W Model 25-5 in 45 Colt.

Hope this helps.

Birdgun

Cylinder lengths are different, but so are the lengths of the forcing cone part of the barrel. . 45 Colt bbl. Has less jutting into the cylinder window,
Beautiful gun, btw....

 

[StrawHat]

?.. I have done the 2 cylinder deal using a 357 cylinder to make a short 45 colt cylinder that would work in an acp gun. First one I ever did in fact. I did have to file back the frame lug of course. Using the 45 acp cylinder the cylinder moved back the .040 rear difference the acp cylinder need for clip thickness, But, ejected fine and when you rolled gun muzzle down to reload the cylinder closed up fine. If you held it muzzle up and closed cylinder the center pin would some times hand on edge of recoil shield. Making the dip in the recoil shield a bit deeper took care of that. But closing a loaded cylinder with muzzle up has the problem of the rounds falling out anyway so not really a problem.

There is another fix I tried to. Machine a .040 cut slightly deeper than lug engagement on rear corner of colt cylinder. This allows the very outside corner of cylinder to clear the lug and when you eject the new shoulder presses against the lug. Works even though it looks kind of odd.

I don't think most people with dual clinder guns even nottice the slop.

Mostly I abandon the dual cylinder deal and went with the recessed cylinder method. That way no cylinder change…

I did not want dual cylinders. Started with Model 28-2 and fit a 25-2 cylinder. About the 10th or 12th reload, I noticed the lug was beating the cylinder or the other way around. Used an arbor press to punch out the old ring and to punch in the new one.

How can one not notice the running start of the cylinder prior to ejecting the brass?

Kevin

 

[Model19man]

The 45 Colt cylinder is a different length in a Smith 25-5 than the 45 Colt cylinders that Smith and Wesson used for the 25-2, 25-3 and 25-4 revolvers. That way it is a drop-in replacement for the 45 ACP cylinder that comes in a 25-2.

I didn't know a Model 25 in 45 ACP could be converted to a 45 Colt. I thought the cylinder lengths were different. Learn something new every day.

Here is my 25-5 to compare yours to. By clicking on the photo you can see enlargement.

S&W Model 25-5 in 45 Colt.

Hope this helps.

Birdgun

 

[epj]

I don't see that in the supplied pictures but it is possible.



Are you sure about that? I agree the majority of the Model 25-2 revolvers came with a Patridge sight but I have not seen a Model 25-5 that did not have a red ramp.

Kevin

I owned a 25-2 that came from the factory with red ramp front and white outline rear. Ive seen a couple of others. Not common, it they do exist