25-2 in .44 spl

[Num1fordfan]

Recently acquired a s&w 25-2 in 44 spl. The old guy i got it from said it is a factory original special order gun. I have attempted to research and am coming up empty , bringing me here to the s&w gurus who can shed some light on this gun for me.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Doubtful. Buy the gun, not the story. To find out how your gun left the factory purchase a letter. Here is the form...

Factory Letter – Smith & Wesson Collectors Association

Pictures would be nice.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[22hipower]

Show us some pictures, close ups of stamps, barrel, cylinder. Almost certainly not factory. Not sure why anyone would choose a 25-2 to modify to 44 Special but as a long time member here says "people buy this stuff and treat it just like they own it."

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Num1fordfan]

I will try to get some pics ... def says 25-2 and brl says 44 s&w special ctg , def a factory brl

 

[Num1fordfan]

Heres some pics

 

[Hair Trigger]

Without seeing the entire gun in one picture, could it be a mis-stamped M24? Or is it a Frankengun somebody swapped a barrel and cylinder onto? Frame dates to 1980.

 

[22hipower]

I doubt that the factory used a 25-2 frame for a 44 Special but a letter would confirm it, or perhaps a call to S&W would confirm the original shipped caliber. We see lots of conversions using 28-2 frames, not so many with 25-2s. If it is mechanically sound and shoots good, enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[steelslaver]

Show us some pictures, close ups of stamps, barrel, cylinder. Almost certainly not factory. Not sure why anyone would choose a 25-2 to modify to 44 Special but as a long time member here says "people buy this stuff and treat it just like they own it."

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I just got done tearing the barrel and cylinder off a 29-3 and sticking a 6" 44 special barrel on it and fitting a non recessed N frame 357 cylinder I reamed to 44 special.

Why would anyone do that. I own it always wanted a long barreled 44 special and already have some 44 mags.

 

[22hipower]

.

Why would anyone do that. I own it always wanted a long barreled 44 special and already have some 44 mags.

Yes, and someone with your skills can do it. The average person though starts with, presumably, a perfectly good 25-2. Then finds a decent barrel (maybe $200) and a cylinder ($150 ish) and then pays a gunsmith a couple hundred dollars (or more) to install the parts. Ends up with a mixed parts gun and a story about its being a "special order" from S&W and some spare parts. I sure like S&W 44 Specials but there are easier ways, and probably less expensive, for most of us to get them.

Always enjoy hearing about the very interesting things you do with S&W revolvers though. Wish I had some of those skills.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[stansdds]

I do not buy the story of it being a special order factory item. A Model 25 will be in either 45 ACP or 45 Colt, not 44 Special. The rest of the story is going to be in what fits in the chambers. My guess is that someone had a 25-2 and really wanted a Model 29, so a 29-3 cylinder and a Model 24 barrel were found and a swap was performed.

 

[Model19man]

I doubt it is original like that. It probably started life as a 45 ACP. Someone devalued it a lot.

 

[reddog81]

I'd get a letter if I thought there was a chance the story was legit but chances are someone just modified the gun to its current state. I certainly wouldn't pay extra for it without a letter. People ask about doing similar modifications on this forum on a semi-regular basis.

 

[SAFireman]

It looks a barrel and cylinder swap job. It may be me, but the blueing doesn't look to match?

 

[2152hq]

24-3 bbl and cyl on a 25 frame?
They'd match better in blued finish than on a Mod 28. But there still seems to be some polish mismatch anyway on this one as SAFireman points out. Unless it's just the pics.

Maybe a mismarked model designation on the frame. That's certainly been seen before.
But I think the 25-2 was a pinned frame (as this frame is) and the 24 (1980's version) was not. Not that it's difficult to cut the bbl for the pin. But would the factory do that to put a gun together even as a spec order.(?)
Maybe I'm confused again. Been like that lately.

My vote goes for a bench conversion anyway.

 

[D1911]

I'm betting on the cylinder/barrel swap idea. In the last pic, the cylinder looks like a Model 29 cylinder. Is it recessed?

 

[jimmyj]

During the 1970s (Bangor Days) Smith and Wesson had "Repair Shops" in different parts of the Country. In Tampa, Florida the S&W Rapair Shop was run by Jim Fish. Before S&W discovered Jim on request would convert "N" frame Revolver to other calibers by installing new barrels and cylinders. Jim converted several Model 28s to .44 Magnum for me. At this era Model 29s were in great demand but very difficuly to find. Possible other shops coverted "N" frames to other calibers such as .44 Special.

 

[StrawHat]

I would bet it is an aftermarket conversion. Too bad, I could use an ACP frame.

It is not as simple as swapping the barrel and cylinder. The frame lug would need to be changed also. Not a tough job but noticeable if not done.

I converted a Model 28-2 to a 4", 45 ACP. I had the 357 barrel bored and rifled for the ACP bullet, fit a new cylinder and frame lug while the barrel was gone. When the barrel got back it needed to be turned in a thread or two to make the barrel cylinder gap acceptable. Two turns was too much so the barrel shank had to be shortened. I did the work myself but unlike Steelslaver, I used hand tools. Mostly a portable hand held milling machine, ie, a hand file. The total into the conversion was well under $200. I want to say under $150 but do not recall. I know it was not much.

Kevin

 

[ken158]

Agree on a price with the seller paying for the letter. If it checks out as described then you pay for gun and letter. If not, walk and the seller still owns it. Anyone wanna bet?

 

[Num1fordfan]

For the price i could not pass it up. I will research getting a letter

 

[StrawHat]

Here you go,

Letters – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

Kevin

 

[tennexplorer]

The barrel looks to be a Model 1950 Target barrel. The ampersand between the Smith and the Wesson on the left hand side is what they call a lazy ampersand as the bottom loop is large. That is from the 50's. Also, the barrel extension inside the frame window looks a little short for the .44 Special. You might want check and see if it will chamber a .44 Magnum round.

 

[Rudi]

Need much better pics. Light background.

 

[AudieMurphy]

I do not buy the story of it being a special order factory item. A Model 25 will be in either 45 ACP or 45 Colt, not 44 Special. The rest of the story is going to be in what fits in the chambers. My guess is that someone had a 25-2 and really wanted a Model 29, so a 29-3 cylinder and a Model 24 barrel were found and a swap was performed.

that wont work...the 44 special barrel is longer inside the frame the cylinder wouldn't close...been there tried that

 

[StrawHat]

that wont work...the 44 special barrel is longer inside the frame the cylinder wouldn't close...been there tried that

Any good gunsmith, professional or amateur, can fit a barrel shank that is too long.

Kevin

 

[murphydog]

As stated above, the most likely explanation is a previous owner wanted a .44 Magnum (or Special) and found a 1950 .44 Target barrel and Magnum cylinder to fit. The barrel is safe to use with Magnums.

The conversion was likely done before the mid '80s and the reintroduction of the model 24-3. Or someone just decided what the heck.

 

[stansdds]

It's a whole lot easier to fit a barrel with too long of a shank than one that is too short.

 

[steelslaver]

I would bet it is an aftermarket conversion. Too bad, I could use an ACP frame.

It is not as simple as swapping the barrel and cylinder. The frame lug would need to be changed also. Not a tough job but noticeable if not done.

I converted a Model 28-2 to a 4", 45 ACP. I had the 357 barrel bored and rifled for the ACP bullet, fit a new cylinder and frame lug while the barrel was gone. When the barrel got back it needed to be turned in a thread or two to make the barrel cylinder gap acceptable. Two turns was too much so the barrel shank had to be shortened. I did the work myself but unlike Steelslaver, I used hand tools. Mostly a portable hand held milling machine, ie, a hand file. The total into the conversion was well under $200. I want to say under $150 but do not recall. I know it was not much.

Kevin

If you ever go to do it again I will send you a handy day deal I made. I use them in my lathe. But a guy was telling me how he uses a drill press and the light came one.

If you chuck the live center end of this double taper deal, shown here in a drill press, and use a file, with the sides dresses off, on the barrel shoulder, where the indicator tip is riding, as it turns to take off small uniform amounts. Round and round your barrel goes, completely on center.

 

[Jim Watson]

For the price i could not pass it up. I will research getting a letter

The cost of a letter will wipe out a good purchase price.
And all it will tell you is that you have what used to be a .45.

Years ago, a friend came upon some NOS .45 barrels, two 1950, one 1955.
He put them on M27 and M28 frames and had Bob Snapp rechamber the cylinders to .45 Colt. He had the mold for the short-nosed SWC that would fit the cylinders. No doubt by now somebody has said "What did I just buy and what is it worth?"

 

[Num1fordfan]

So i got the gun home , 44 magnum does fit in the cylinder .... so a 25 frame a 44 mag cylinder and a 44 special barrel

 

[22hipower]

Ok, now go shoot it and let us know how it does. And we'd sure like to see pictures of the whole gun. . . .and the target with one ragged hole in the center.

Jeff
SWCA #1457