25-5 vs 25-7 or -9??

[Model29-26.5]

What’s the main reason the -5 seems to be the most sought after?
I saw a 4” with pres case and papers go for 2
$2275 today.
I don’t have a 25 in a 45 LC.
Wondering whether to pay a premium for a -5 or is the -7 just the same?
I guess the SW logo is on the cylinder release side which is a little weird that they ever decided to squeeze the logo in there?
Accuracy??

 

[StrawHat]

My guess? Two bidders wanted it.

That Model 25-5 may have had pinned barrel. I think the pin went away at the end of the -5 era. The -7 and -9 both had “improvements” added to them. The internal frame lug, full lugged barrel, etc.

It very much depends on the buyer and what they are seeking.

I have a 6” Model 25-5. Used it for Ohio white tailed deer. Good revolver. Logo on the sideplate. Accuracy? I took quite a few white tails with it. Never tried it in competition. Once I had it sighted for my load, it never saw a formal target again. Have not hunted in a decade or more, maybe I should cash in on the fever!

Kevin

 

[A10]

Honestly, the nicest .45 Colt S&W has made was the 25-7, at least in my opinion. 25-5s have suffered from a spotty reputation for accuracy. They're pretty though, which drives the price through the roof these days...

 

[bananaman]

I would like to own a -7 or 9 with the unfluted cylinder and black mat finish. They just look so cool to me! Have a 25-15, {much newer} but love the Colt cartridge. Bob

 

[Jack Flash]

Honestly, the nicest .45 Colt S&W has made was the 25-7, at least in my opinion. ...

I like this post but have one little quibble:
Didn't S&W chamber a few Triple Locks in .45 Colt?
If yes, it would be hard to top those!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Okay, my curiosity is aroused - are you telling me this 25-5 is now worth more than $2,000.00?

This model in .45/c was a grail gun for me for many years but I didn't think it was an investment of that caliber. Pun intended.

 

[jasnake65]

Are the -5 with 4" barrel harder to find then the 6" barrel?

 

[Pizza Bob]

I'm not so sure that the 25-5 is the most sought after - most plentiful, yes, sought after, doubtful, especially in light of the oversize throats found on the early guns.

I think the 25-7 and 25-9 unfluted 5" barrel guns are probably the most desirable and in far shorter supply than the 25-5.

And I'm not just saying that because...

What's not to love?

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[rct269]

This is off topic to the degree I'm talking about predecessors on the one hand--and a different caliber on the other hand---and only values.

Having decided it would be best to leave behind a pile of money rather than a pile of guns, I had my collection of target guns liquidated over the past three years ending about a year ago. The collection started at the beginning (NM #3's), and ended at the end of the 5 screws.

These are the sale prices of a Model of 1950, and a Model of 1955, both in .45 ACP---top condition guns both:

Model of 1950----$1990
Model of 1955----$2525

And somebody mentioned Triple Locks---those prices made me glad I was selling rather than buying!!

A 7 1/2" TLT----$10,000
A 6 1/2" King Super Target TL----$8825

Ralph Tremaine

 

[steelslaver]

The early 25-5s had pinned barrels. The pin however actual does nothing. They also have a reputation for over sized chamber throats. I have measured them with pin gauges as large as .458. It will effect accuracy to some degree. This can be dealt with to some degree using over sized bullets. I have heard that this is not true of the 25-7s so it would be a better bet for most people.

But as a side note I was reaming a new 44 mag cylinder to make a 45 colt cylinder (I like to do this to get .452 throats) and my reamers .429 pilot wouldn't go. Throats were .428 so undersized. I then measured all the 44 mag cylinders I have. One from a 29-2 measured .433 most were .430- .431, yet you seldom hear of throat problems with the 44s.

This 25-5 came to me with .458 throats and a 8 3/8" barrel. I "ruined" it by replacing the cylinder with one reamed from a recessed 44 mag cylinder to have a recessed 45 colt cylinder with .452 throats and then I chopped 3 3/8" off the barrel, so I have a pinned and recessed 5" 45 colt

 

[BigMuddy]

Syeelslaver, yeah it’s definitely ruined. Send it here to Missouri and I’ll hide it for ya.

My 25-5 4”, with proper throats, is a tack driver, as is my 25-7 5”.

Dan

 

[Nightowl]

There were only 1987 25-7s made with the 5 inch barrel and black satin finish. I believe there some 25-9s also made like that as well and I am not sure the 1987 number includes them or not. I've seen photos of 25-9s that were blue and either 4 or 6 inch. The ones I have seen are fantastic guns!! Never pass one up if you have a chance for one!!

 

[Model29-26.5]

Okay, my curiosity is aroused - are you telling me this 25-5 is now worth more than $2,000.00?

This model in .45/c was a grail gun for me for many years but I didn't think it was an investment of that caliber. Pun intended.

Full Target stocks, box and papers… great finish as is yours.
Do you have original target stocks? Box papers. That tends to fetch a premium price in my Me four months of experience of looking at GB on a daily basis and checking out values.

Just a moment...

This is the one that sold a couple of days ago.

 

[Model29-26.5]

The early 25-5s had pinned barrels. The pin however actual does nothing. They also have a reputation for over sized chamber throats. I have measured them with pin gauges as large as .458. It will effect accuracy to some degree. This can be dealt with to some degree using over sized bullets. I have heard that this is not true of the 25-7s so it would be a better bet for most people.

But as a side note I was reaming a new 44 mag cylinder to make a 45 colt cylinder (I like to do this to get .452 throats) and my reamers .429 pilot wouldn't go. Throats were .428 so undersized. I then measured all the 44 mag cylinders I have. One from a 29-2 measured .433 most were .430- .431, yet you seldom hear of throat problems with the 44s.

This 25-5 came to me with .458 throats and a 8 3/8" barrel. I "ruined" it by replacing the cylinder with one reamed from a recessed 44 mag cylinder to have a recessed 45 colt cylinder with .452 throats and then I chopped 3 3/8" off the barrel, so I have a pinned and recessed 5" 45 colt

That is fabulous!!

 

[steelslaver]

I also have a few 5 screw pinned and recessed 45 colts
A 3 1/2"

a 6"

and a 6 1/2"

Then a 16 1/2"

 

[sceva]

S&W corrected the throats in the 25-5 revolvers about the same time they eliminated the barrel pin. My 4" 25.5 with an un-pinned barrel had .452 throats if I recall correctly. I no longer have it so I cannot check. It was very accurate though.

 

[StrawHat]

The Model 25-5 mentioned in post #2 stops a .454 caliber bullet. So, that is what I sized to. It shot well.

Kevin

 

[buffalo4star]

My 6" 25-9 is definitely a tack driver. Went through a number of 25-5’s, all with very large throats, before finding the 25-9. My search for a post 1983 4" 25-5 was in vain. However, will not give up the search for that elusive 4" 25-9 or post 1983 25-5. But that’s part of the fun,isn’t it?

 

[Model29-26.5]

The early 25-5s had pinned barrels. The pin however actual does nothing. They also have a reputation for over sized chamber throats. I have measured them with pin gauges as large as .458. It will effect accuracy to some degree. This can be dealt with to some degree using over sized bullets. I have heard that this is not true of the 25-7s so it would be a better bet for most people.

But as a side note I was reaming a new 44 mag cylinder to make a 45 colt cylinder (I like to do this to get .452 throats) and my reamers .429 pilot wouldn't go. Throats were .428 so undersized. I then measured all the 44 mag cylinders I have. One from a 29-2 measured .433 most were .430- .431, yet you seldom hear of throat problems with the 44s.

This 25-5 came to me with .458 throats and a 8 3/8" barrel. I "ruined" it by replacing the cylinder with one reamed from a recessed 44 mag cylinder to have a recessed 45 colt cylinder with .452 throats and then I chopped 3 3/8" off the barrel, so I have a pinned and recessed 5" 45 colt

How did you attach the full sight back on after chopping 3 3/8 off of the barrel??

 

[steelslaver]

The ramps have a key like tab underneath them that is cross pinned in place. The pin is buffed flat and hard to see. I removed the pin. Milled a slot in the right location of the cut barrel, Then silver soldered it in place. I once tried to drill a new pin hole in a barrel rib and the tiny .050 drill wandered enough to come out the wrong spot on far side. Never again. You have to install a new red insert if you solder but that is easy.