Bright 625

[The Kid]

Years ago I bought a NIB 3" 625 from a gentleman at the Tulsa gun show. In my youthful ignorance I told him to keep the box and the S&W branded holster if he'd knock $50 off, which he did. It had finger groove combats, standard plain black adjustable sights, and the normal brushed finish of most SS S&Ws. It had a small round sticker under the stocks that was stamped 89, which I took meant it was shipped in 1989 but I don't know for sure. I'm %99 sure it wasn't polished by a previous owner, everything was still crisp and sharp and the finish was an exact match for other SS S&Ws. Not knowing any better and thinking it was nothing special I shot the heck out of it and stupidly traded it off.

I've been searching for a replacement for 7-8 years now and I've never seen another. I bought a run of the mill Model of 1988 today and I'm excited to get it but I'm curious if any of you have ever run across a bright finished 625 in 45ACP that isn't a Mountain Revolver.

 

[K-22]

Years ago I bought a NIB 3" 625 from a gentleman at the Tulsa gun show. In my youthful ignorance I told him to keep the box and the S&W branded holster if he'd knock $50 off, which he did. It had finger groove combats, standard plain black adjustable sights, and the normal brushed finish of most SS S&Ws. It had a small round sticker under the stocks that was stamped 89, which I took meant it was shipped in 1989 but I don't know for sure. I'm %99 sure it wasn't polished by a previous owner, everything was still crisp and sharp and the finish was an exact match for other SS S&Ws. Not knowing any better and thinking it was nothing special I shot the heck out of it and stupidly traded it off.

I've been searching for a replacement for 7-8 years now and I've never seen another. I bought a run of the mill Model of 1988 today and I'm excited to get it but I'm curious if any of you have ever run across a bright finished 625 in 45ACP that isn't a Mountain Revolver.

Sorry, but I am confused. Are you looking for the usual matte finish, or one that has been polished.
Best,
Gary

 

[CH4]

Years ago I bought a NIB 3" 625 from a gentleman at the Tulsa gun show. In my youthful ignorance I told him to keep the box and the S&W branded holster if he'd knock $50 off, which he did. It had finger groove combats, standard plain black adjustable sights, and the normal brushed finish of most SS S&Ws. It had a small round sticker under the stocks that was stamped 89, which I took meant it was shipped in 1989 but I don't know for sure. I'm %99 sure it wasn't polished by a previous owner, everything was still crisp and sharp and the finish was an exact match for other SS S&Ws. Not knowing any better and thinking it was nothing special I shot the heck out of it and stupidly traded it off.

I've been searching for a replacement for 7-8 years now and I've never seen another. I bought a run of the mill Model of 1988 today and I'm excited to get it but I'm curious if any of you have ever run across a bright finished 625 in 45ACP that isn't a Mountain Revolver.

I am far from an expert on this question, but I never seen a non matte 625 except the mountain gun - I have a few of both.

 

[DR505]

I bought this 3" 625 yesterday. The finish is matte. It is a 625-3 variant. Exceptionally clean and tight.

Here is a 5" 625-6 I purchased several years ago. It is also matte.

 

[YkcorCal]

Ok, stop that. You are making me drool.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I know where there is a bright, polished 3" 625 with Lee Horton Combats. It's on consignment and they want too much for it. I think the price is 1700ish. I will try and get some pictures tomorrow.

 

[YkcorCal]

I see custom .45 ACP revolvers for sale every so often but I have no money to buy them; as most of us have that same problem.

 

[The Kid]

Sorry, but I am confused. Are you looking for the usual matte finish, or one that has been polished.
Best,
Gary

I'm asking if anyone else has seen or owned one that was polished from the factory.

 

[bamabiker]

Never heard of one polished from the factory. But that don't mean there's not some.

 

[The Kid]

The other thing that lead me to believe it was factory was that it was roll marked instead of the laser etch. They were all sharp with no signs of washing out like it had been buffed.

I traded it off at the gun shop I worked at back then and they listed it on GB. It quickly brought way more than I got on trade and way more than I thought it would. Oh to have a time machine.

 

[PALADIN85020]

If you are looking for an example of a factory-polished stainless revolver that is normally brush-finished, I have one. This Model 64 received special treatment for marketing purposes. The factory letter is shown here with it. I don't know if it was unique or if there were others.

John

 

[CH4]

If you are looking for an example of a factory-polished stainless revolver that is normally brush-finished, I have one. This Model 64 received special treatment for marketing purposes. The factory letter is shown here with it. I don't know if it was unique or if there were others.

John

I sent my 627-0 to the mothership for a tune up and they polished it for me.

 

[The Kid]

The term is hard to define, I would say brushed I suppose, same finish as a run of the mill 686 of the same era had. Either way not the standard bead blasted finish the 625s usually had. Certainly polished but not to a high shine like the one Paladin posted above.

I suppose it doesn't matter now, I'm not likely to see it again, I was just curious as to whether it was a special run others had seen or knew about.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I have no reason to believe this is an original finish. I also don't know that I have ever seen a 625 with wooden combats. It looks nice. My $1500 offer was refused. It's not worth anymore than a 95% bead blasted 3" with Pachmayrs. This one does not have the factory box. This gun was one of about 50 that came out of a collection seized by the feds and released by the courts only so the defendant could gather legal funds.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

Looks like a Jovino sitting just above the 625. ^^^^Did you get a gander at it?

Klyde

I don't believe there were any Jovino guns in this collection. I believe that one and about six others are Magnaport guns.

 

[The Kid]

I have no reason to believe this is an original finish. I also don't know that I have ever seen a 625 with wooden combats. It looks nice. My $1500 offer was refused. It's not worth anymore than a 95% bead blasted 3" with Pachmayrs. This one does not have the factory box. This gun was one of about 50 that came out of a collection seized by the feds and released by the courts only so the defendant could gather legal funds.

That looks very similar except the combats have a little more figure and it maybe a little higher polish than I recall. Did it by chance have the caliber roll mark on the other side of the barrel, I cannot remember which side it was on but I know it was rolled and not etched?

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I believe both sides were smoothed and polished without rollmarks.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I reread your original post. I could be wrong but I don't believe any 3" models of 1989 actually shipped in 1989. I was thinking the 3" Model of 1989 actually shipped for a year in the mid-90s.

 

[1911-10MM]

I have had mine for several years. Not bright, Original bead blasted finish. BEN serial #.