625-3 in .45 Colt 1989 model

[Southern1964Shooter]

I have a S&W 625-3 Model of 1989 in .45 Colt with the 4" barrel. Timing is spot on. Lock-up is vault tight. Trigger is very smooth. Single-action is like snapping a thin piece of glass. The only mark on the revolver is the cylinder ring. No box or papers...just the gun.

What is the market value range of this gun in stated condition?




I recently removed the Pachmayr grips that came with the revolver. Put them in the safe till I decide what to do with them. They did not work well in my hand.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

I'll weigh in since no one, who might be more in tune with these, has. It's a very desirable gun. No lock, forged parts, flash chromed trigger and hammer. I don't think I've ever seen a 4-inch -3 that wasn't a .45 ACP, so it's uncommon in that regard. .45 Colt is a popular cartridge in certain circles. No box might eliminate a few hardcore collectors. I'd say it's worth something in the $1100 to $1400 range. In a bidding war on GB could go higher, I don't see these come up for sale very often.

 

[Southern1964Shooter]

Thank you, Kernel Crittenden.

I have really struck out in search of information, opinions, experiences about this gun. Kind of frustrating. Was not sure if the silence concerning it was good or bad.

 

[regalsc]

I have 2 45acp revolvers & have read a lot on them. I wish I could help you but I have never heard of a dash 3 45colt. It could be possible that they put the wrong dash# on the frame. I have seen some guns with the wrong model# on GB. I as you would like to see a definitive answer on this.

 

[drgbike]

The Catalog say the -3 was a 1990 change in the stop notch and was made in 45 acp and Colt. It doesn't specify barrel length.

 

[drgbike]

Sorry page 254 bottom right corner.

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM! That would be an interesting gun to own & shoot. I have a 625 JM in 45ACP. Recently bought a 25-15, 6.5" 45LC. They are both accurate. Enjoy your 625! Bob

 

[murphydog]

My apologies, I saw your question soon after it was posted but yours is the first I've ever seen.

As far as a value estimate, you can search Gunbroker.com for completed auctions with a selling price, but I suspect you may find not many (or none) have sold recently. There are plenty of N frame .45 Colt fans and I wouldn't be surprised if someone would pay $1500-2000 for yours, but that is speculation without any data.

 

[Hoosier45]

Your barrel says .45 Cal, which indicates .45acp not .45 Colt. That being said the four inch 625s are seldom sold and would likely sell for a small premium over the 5in standard 625 in .45acp. Probably $1100-1200 or so with only the gun and no box or documents.

 

[Frizzman]

I've never heard of or seen a 625-3 in .45 Colt but I don't know everything. I have a four inch in excellent condition with original Pachmayr stocks. I have only seen one five inch 625-2 in my for sale in my area in the last twenty years and that was at an asking price of $800...I had one that I bought new in 1989 but stupidly traded it a couple years later. It was the most accurate revolver I ever shot when Loaded with my own 200 gr LSWC. It didn't shoot ball ammo very accurately...The 625-3 I have came in a trade last year. I traded a CS-1 for it. I haven't ever seen a four inch 625-3 in any shops or gun shows around my state before so I guess they aren't common. They seem to be popular for IDPA and it seems everybody wants no lock revolvers...I would guess perhaps $1000+ as a starting point.

 

[Allen-frame]

I have a S&W 625-3 Model of 1989 in .45 Colt with the 4" barrel. Timing is spot on. Lock-up is vault tight. Trigger is very smooth. Single-action is like snapping a thin piece of glass. The only mark on the revolver is the cylinder ring. No box or papers...just the gun.

What is the market value range of this gun in stated condition?

View attachment 199413

View attachment 199414

Greetings and welcome to the forum.

The model 625-3 was never produced in 45 Colt Cartridge, period.

Any revolver Smith & Wesson ever produced in 45 Colt said just that on the barrel 45 COLT CTG.

That said the gun has been modified with a later 45 Colt cylinder
possibly from a model 625-5 Stocking dealer special.
The barrel has been removed and cut back at the back end
and the forcing cone to accommodate the longer cylinder.

The barrel is an original 45 A.C.P. barrel and as such
the rifling is very fine with only 5 lands and grooves.

All modern Smiths in 45 Colt have much deeper rifling with 6 lands and
grooves to accommodate large predominately lead bullets.

All that said the value of this particular pistol would be in how
well it does its job.

How well it SHOOTS.

Since we have no watermark from which to measure I will say
from the $800.00 range up to much more money if there is
a testimonial as to its function and accuracy.

I own many Smiths in 45 Colt and only 2 have early 6 1/2 in.
45 ACP barrels. These have both been professionally converted
and shoot acceptably although I have not tested them at any great
distance.

Where are you located? Perhaps we could have a
forum member or competent revolver smith
look the gun over as to quality of work done.


Good luck,

Allen Frame

 

[Southern1964Shooter]

6 Grooves and Lands

The model 625-3 was never produced in 45 Colt Cartridge, period.

Any revolver Smith & Wesson ever produced in 45 Colt said just that on the barrel 45 COLT CTG.

The barrel is an original 45 A.C.P. barrel and as such
the rifling is very fine with only 5 lands and grooves.

All modern Smiths in 45 Colt have much deeper rifling with 6 lands and
grooves to accommodate large predominately lead bullets.

Not sure if this is of any use. But, I did some checking. The bore has 6 lands and grooves. The barrel measures just short of 4"...from the back of the frame just ahead of the cylinder to the front end...3.75".

See attached pictures. And, yes...I know the bore is need of a cleaning. I was a bit lazy this weekend.

 

[Allen-frame]

Not sure if this is of any use. But, I did some checking. The bore has 6 lands and grooves. The barrel measures just short of 4"...from the back of the frame just ahead of the cylinder to the front end...3.75".

See attached pictures. And, yes...I know the bore is need of a cleaning. I was a bit lazy this weekend.

View attachment 199623

View attachment 199627

It appears, upon inspection, I was mistaken.

Regarding the bore configuration between 45 Colt and 45 ACP.

The 45 A.C.P. bores have 6 lands and grooves.
Very fine thin.

The 45 Colt bore in my model 625-5 has 5 lands and grooves
and these are very wide and pronounced.

Apologize for any confusion.

Allen Frame

 

[b_san]

Let's be honest here, rebarreled, recalibered, modified whatever revolvers aren't worth what they would be were they unmolested. Unfortunately a modified by unknown gunsmith 625 is just not going to be worth very much to very many people. Original no box 4" 625-3 shooters are typically going in the $800-850 range on GB so considering the steep discount you're going to be taking to sell this one you'd probably be best off keeping it, shooting it and just enjoying it for what it is.

 

[ddixie884]

The longer cylinder caused the barrel to be shortened inside the frame. This makes it a little under 4"........

 

[Southern1964Shooter]

BUMMER !!!!!

Thank ya'll for the information.

I must say that I am disappointed. Not that the gun is not worth as much as I had hoped. But, that I feel a bit taken by the gun shop that sold it to me. The guy knows I have a thing for .45 caliber guns and sold it to me implying it was all original. I paid $700 total for the gun a couple of years ago. I should have waited on the buy and done some research, first.

Anyways, I thought that I had something special here.

What are the best kind of bullets to shoot through it given that it has a .45 Colt cylinder and a .45 ACP barrel?

Attached is a picture of the target when I used 12.5 gr of HS-6 and a Lee 452-255-RF at 15 yards.

 

[Bigdog357]

Back in 2002 my stepfather passed away he had two Model 625's one 4" and a 5", I had a friend that was interested in buying one. He wanted to know more about the two guns and he sent the attached e-mail to S&W. It came back stating that the Serial #ben4042 which is a 4" model 1989 625-3 was made in a long colt and that the 5" was made in 45 ACP. My friend bought the 5" and I purchased the 4", I have always shot 45 ACP with moon clips out of it, the barrel reads 45 Cal and has 6 lands and grooves. My stepfather was a Smith and Wesson trained gunsmith and possibly changed out the cylinder, I know he did a killer action job on all the revolvers that I got from his estate. It would appear from the e-mail that we received that S&W indeed did make a 45 long Colt in a 625-3. Pics are a little blurry, but I think you can make them out

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

It would appear from the e-mail that we received that S&W indeed did make a 45 long Colt in a 625-3.

Sometimes a letter (or an email) from S&W is wrong. It happens. They will often issue a correction if you point it out to them. Can't say if your gun is, or isn't. Just a possibility. I know it's blasphemy, but the mothership is not infallible.

 

[Bigdog357]

Sometimes a letter (or an email) from S&W is wrong. It happens. They will often issue a correction if you point it out to them. Can't say if your gun is, or isn't. Just a possibility. I know it's blasphemy, but the mothership is not infallible.

I agree, just thought I would throw it out there, since my stepfather has passed I really don't know the complete history of the gun, at this point all I have to go on is the e-mail. The one thing I do know is I am really glad I bought it for $200, it a fine shootin revolver, I wish I had purchased the 5" as well.

 

[Stu1205]

Don't be all disappointed. According to the SCS&W, on the
bottom of page 254, it lists a 625-3 (1990) 45 Colt Caliber.
The others are referred to as 45 ACP. I think you might have
something there.

Stu