thomasinaz
US Veteran
Here's what my 4" 25-2 looks like in pics.
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4" Model 25 in 45 ACP?
- Thread starter georgiajay
- Start date
Dave T
Member
Tom,
That is a fine looking 4". I still like my 5" but if I saw that one for sale I don't think I could resist it. (smiley face goes here)
Dave
That is a fine looking 4". I still like my 5" but if I saw that one for sale I don't think I could resist it. (smiley face goes here)
Dave
1-1917
Member
Interesting. I didn't realize the model 25-2's had a model 1955 stamped on them. Seems like an oxymoron. Is it a model 1955 or a 27-2?
thomasinaz
US Veteran
Thanks Dave. I couldn't resist it either 
Some help please
I have an S&W 25-5 Effector that I purchased at the Jovino gun shop in Manhattan around 1989. The problem is that it came with full moon clips for the .45ACP round (if you don't use the clips you can't eject the spent casings with the ejection rod as it does not catch the rim of the casing). It is very difficult to remove the spent rounds from these clips as well.
Does anyone know what other ammo I might use that could be ejected from the cylinder with the ejection rod? I tried the Winchester 45 colt but this round is too big for the cylinder.
I have an S&W 25-5 Effector that I purchased at the Jovino gun shop in Manhattan around 1989. The problem is that it came with full moon clips for the .45ACP round (if you don't use the clips you can't eject the spent casings with the ejection rod as it does not catch the rim of the casing). It is very difficult to remove the spent rounds from these clips as well.
Does anyone know what other ammo I might use that could be ejected from the cylinder with the ejection rod? I tried the Winchester 45 colt but this round is too big for the cylinder.
Attachments
There are a few out there. I have a 1955 Target five screw with a 4 inch. It was originally shipped to Badger Shooters Supply. It unfortunately letters as a 6 and 1/2 inch but the lettering is centered like thomasinz's. I think they were created from time to time on special order - probably for very knowledgeable police officers. It just didn't matter at the time to record them as varying from regular production. Mine incidentally was very, very worn.
Back in the 70's SG-688 and I both had 25-2's cut to 4in. by Curt Hardcastle who worked and lived in the St.Louis, Mo. area. Forum member Leroy Thomas wrote about him at the time in various magazines and we were very satisfied with his workmanship. Perhaps if SG-688 sees this post he may post a picture. I continue to be "photo challenged". I should also add that those "cut down's" are smooth shooters.
You can use .45 Auto Rim (also known as .45AR). It's the same as .45ACP except it has a thicker, larger diameter rim to allow ejection without the use of clips. It's a bit hard to find - your local Wal-Mart isn't likely to have it. .45AR is shown on the right.
Or if you're just shooting at the range you can just use .45ACP without clips. Nine times out of ten the empty cases will just fall out, and the ones that don't can usually be pulled out with a fingernail. Once in a while you might need a pencil or something to poke one out.
There are also the Rimz plastic moon clips, which people say are easier to load and unload than the metal ones. They're also more likely to lose rounds if you drop one. I haven't used them myself, so I can't offer personal experience.
Ez Moon Clips
Also there are any number of mooner/demooner tools for getting cases out of the clips.
Moon Clips B. Demooner Tool: Tools
Or you can make your own out of a piece of tubing. The caption in the pictures says stainless, but plenty of folks have used ordinary copper tubing from the hardware store:
Probably the best solution though is to sell that Jovino Effector to me.
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BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
It's my believe that S&W manufactured a small batch of 4 inch 1955 Target barrels at one point and used them for after-sales installations on customers' guns.
I have a M-25-2 with such a 4 inch barrel. It originally shipped in January, 1972, s/n N241XX. It went to Jonas Aircraft & Arms in NYC. It was shipped as a 6-1/2 inch gun. It now has the 4 inch barrel with centered markings and the same ramp front sight as Doc 44's and thomasinaz's guns.
Mine has a box marked "Chesire & Perez" in white grease pencil on the lid and the end label says, "Test Gun - DeCalb Co GA" in the "Special Features" section. Inside the lid are stamped 2 dates, in red, JUN 3 1974 and OCT 18 1974.
It also has a cylinder chambered for .45 Colt installed. It's the short cylinder, like used in the Model 25-3, not the longer cylinder used in the Model 25-5.
The seller, well known in the S&WCA fraternity, said that it was a test gun for DeKalb County. Cheshire & Perez was a well known S&W dealer, distributor and warranty repair station. DeKalb adopted, bought and issued the Model 25-5 when it was introduced. Chesire & Perez would have had access to non-standard factory parts, like the 4 inch 1955 barrels and .45 Colt cylinders. The seller believes the gun was modified, and the 4 inch barrel added, in 1974, at Cheshire Perez, as an evaluation gun for DeKalb County.
I agree that S&W would have sold a bunch of 4 inch, .45 ACP 1955 Targets had they cataloged and offered them. They are a handy, useful revolver. Besides the one above, I have 2 other 4 inch Model 25-2's that were cut down to 4 inches. I really like shooting them.
I have a M-25-2 with such a 4 inch barrel. It originally shipped in January, 1972, s/n N241XX. It went to Jonas Aircraft & Arms in NYC. It was shipped as a 6-1/2 inch gun. It now has the 4 inch barrel with centered markings and the same ramp front sight as Doc 44's and thomasinaz's guns.
Mine has a box marked "Chesire & Perez" in white grease pencil on the lid and the end label says, "Test Gun - DeCalb Co GA" in the "Special Features" section. Inside the lid are stamped 2 dates, in red, JUN 3 1974 and OCT 18 1974.
It also has a cylinder chambered for .45 Colt installed. It's the short cylinder, like used in the Model 25-3, not the longer cylinder used in the Model 25-5.
The seller, well known in the S&WCA fraternity, said that it was a test gun for DeKalb County. Cheshire & Perez was a well known S&W dealer, distributor and warranty repair station. DeKalb adopted, bought and issued the Model 25-5 when it was introduced. Chesire & Perez would have had access to non-standard factory parts, like the 4 inch 1955 barrels and .45 Colt cylinders. The seller believes the gun was modified, and the 4 inch barrel added, in 1974, at Cheshire Perez, as an evaluation gun for DeKalb County.
I agree that S&W would have sold a bunch of 4 inch, .45 ACP 1955 Targets had they cataloged and offered them. They are a handy, useful revolver. Besides the one above, I have 2 other 4 inch Model 25-2's that were cut down to 4 inches. I really like shooting them.
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stevieboy
Member
Aren't we all forgetting about the 4" 625JM? I have one and they're pretty common.
You know...I might be willing to sell my Effector...I might consider replacing it with the S&W Govenor.You can use .45 Auto Rim (also known as .45AR). It's the same as .45ACP except it has a thicker, larger diameter rim to allow ejection without the use of clips. It's a bit hard to find - your local Wal-Mart isn't likely to have it. .45AR is shown on the right.
Or if you're just shooting at the range you can just use .45ACP without clips. Nine times out of ten the empty cases will just fall out, and the ones that don't can usually be pulled out with a fingernail. Once in a while you might need a pencil or something to poke one out.
There are also the Rimz plastic moon clips, which people say are easier to load and unload than the metal ones. They're also more likely to lose rounds if you drop one. I haven't used them myself, so I can't offer personal experience.
Ez Moon Clips
Also there are any number of mooner/demooner tools for getting cases out of the clips.
Moon Clips B. Demooner Tool: Tools
Or you can make your own out of a piece of tubing. The caption in the pictures says stainless, but plenty of folks have used ordinary copper tubing from the hardware store:
Probably the best solution though is to sell that Jovino Effector to me.
ammoman
Member
S&W Model 25-2 with 4" Barrel (Cut Down in 1971)
I had read on the forum of the S&W model 25-2, other than issued barrel lengths. This history concerns the M-25-2 pictured herein.It has been over 30 years
since I had handled and shot this revolver, so, I had to dig it out of the vault.It was purchased along with nine others, just as it came from the factory.
Several club members that I used to shoot with expressed the question " We would like to carry a S&W .45 caliber revolver, but not in the current barrel
configuration" A 6 or 6 & 1/2 inch was just to long for a concealed carry weapon.
The M-25-2's in question was purchased from Charles Greenblat, who at the time was the sole distributor for Smith & Wesson in the Northeast.he in turn sent
the pistols back to S&W for modification.This was late 1971 or early 1972 when the pistols were returned.
Our specifications were:
4 Inch Barrel
Red Ramp White Outline Rear Sight
Complete Re-Blue
Wide Trigger (.500) Wide Hammer (.500)
Target Stocks (They Came With Magna Grips)
Hand Tuned
Needless to say we had some support from the distributor and S&W.
I can't recall now if the barrels were the same, or different ones were installed at the factory. (See lettering on both sides of barrel)
It was one hell of a carry gun at the time, when it was finished.Price?? under $100.00 at the time, for the work, if I remember.
Best Regards to all our learned S&W fanciers
ammoman
I had read on the forum of the S&W model 25-2, other than issued barrel lengths. This history concerns the M-25-2 pictured herein.It has been over 30 years
since I had handled and shot this revolver, so, I had to dig it out of the vault.It was purchased along with nine others, just as it came from the factory.
Several club members that I used to shoot with expressed the question " We would like to carry a S&W .45 caliber revolver, but not in the current barrel
configuration" A 6 or 6 & 1/2 inch was just to long for a concealed carry weapon.
The M-25-2's in question was purchased from Charles Greenblat, who at the time was the sole distributor for Smith & Wesson in the Northeast.he in turn sent
the pistols back to S&W for modification.This was late 1971 or early 1972 when the pistols were returned.
Our specifications were:
4 Inch Barrel
Red Ramp White Outline Rear Sight
Complete Re-Blue
Wide Trigger (.500) Wide Hammer (.500)
Target Stocks (They Came With Magna Grips)
Hand Tuned
Needless to say we had some support from the distributor and S&W.
I can't recall now if the barrels were the same, or different ones were installed at the factory. (See lettering on both sides of barrel)
It was one hell of a carry gun at the time, when it was finished.Price?? under $100.00 at the time, for the work, if I remember.
Best Regards to all our learned S&W fanciers
ammoman
Rugskipper
Member
Ammoman,
I am officially in love. Thank you for your post. I'd say that the original barrel was cut down, judging by the forward of center roll marks. I'm going to do just such a project as soon as I can find a donor gun. I'm curious if the factory would still do this work. Anybody know?
I am officially in love. Thank you for your post. I'd say that the original barrel was cut down, judging by the forward of center roll marks. I'm going to do just such a project as soon as I can find a donor gun. I'm curious if the factory would still do this work. Anybody know?
Thunderball
Member
You can' be serious!? If so, I'll go buy a governor and trade with you.
I have a 4 inch S&W 625 in 45ACP marked as a Mountain Gun; also marked as a 625-6
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Here's one S&W built for Remington from a 1950 Target 45 in 1955.
Bill
Bill
Leroy Thompson
Member
S&W did make 4" .45acp revolvers. I have a 4" Model 26 that letters as one of two to the State of Maine. Some years ago I posted info about it and a copy of the relevant part of the letter.
