Does Anyone Know?

[Doug627]

How many Pre-25, Model 25s and Model 25-2s were manufactured with the wrong barrel markings? I have seen a lot of them with "Model of 1950" on them. How many actually have Model of 1950 barrels as apposed to the correct Model of 1955? I understand that the 1950 barrel is tapered and the 1955 is straight. Just wondering.

 

[Doc44]

Only the roll marking was incorrect on the Model 25-2. I don't think it happened before then. The 25-2 had the correct barrel, just the wrong roll mark. I don't know how many were made.

Bill

 

[moosedog]

I remember hearing the figure of 200 thrown around when it happened.
Don't know how we can verify though.

 

[kscharlie]

The SCSW 4th edition states that perhaps 1,000 to 1,500 25-2s were shipped with the incorrect barrel stamping. Many sellers seem to think that this error makes the gun a high value collector piece. Collectors see this as merely a factory error, giving it no additional value. Factory errors were not rare.

 

[Doug627]

Were there any 25-2s that simply had the Model of 1950 barrel attached rather than the correct barrel? I saw a 25-2 on Gunbroker with a tapered barrel marked Model of 1950. It had a Jinx letter that said the Model of 1950 barrel was put on the firearm after it left the factory. How would he know that? It is Gunbroker item 848959731.

 

[Vettepartz]

I have a 25-2 that has the mis-marked barrel. I lettered it and Mr. Jinx said that about 1000 in that serial range had barrels as such. Every true collector that I have talked to says that this anomaly in the barrel marking WILL usually bring a slight premium, although not very much at this time. As time goes by, this may change or maybe not.

 

[kscharlie]

Were there any 25-2s that simply had the Model of 1950 barrel attached rather than the correct barrel? I saw a 25-2 on Gunbroker with a tapered barrel marked Model of 1950. It had a Jinx letter that said the Model of 1950 barrel was put on the firearm after it left the factory. How would he know that? It is Gunbroker item 848959731.

The seller also said that "...it was reported that around 100 guns were shipped from S&W with this barrel, the gun did not letter as such but did any of the other 99 guns letter as shipped with the 1950 barrel...".

I learned a long time ago to never say never in regards to anything S&W, BUT I have never heard of any 1950 tapered barrels being shipped on a Model 25. I would be very interested in the seller providing a verifiable source for his information.

Further, I would find it extremely unlikely that there were any Model of 1950 barrels remaining in stock at S&W in 1975 AND being placed on a Model 25-2. The Model of 1950 was discontinued as the Model 26 in 1961.

Finally, the serial number on all of the 1950 and 1955 models are stamped inside the ejector shroud. I would be willing to bet a whole bunch of money that the serial number on this particular gun does not match the serial number (Nxxxxxx) stamped on the butt of the revolver. The seller does not bother to show the serial number in the ejector shroud. I further find it extremely unlikely that 100 guns would have ever left the factory this way.

I would believe Roy.

 

[Doug627]

I noticed too that the seller did not show the number in the ejector rod cover. However, I have read many entries on the forum that S&W never wasted anything. Therefore, it appears possible that a Model of 1950 barrel could have been placed on a 25-2, however unlikely. Oh well, we will never really know. I don't believe it would add value to the firearm even if it did happen.

 

[Vettepartz]

Hopefully this will help answer your question. My 25-2 has the wrong roll mark and the barrel is NOT tapered. The ejector shroud on the barrel has the same serial number as stamped on the butt of the frame. Here is a picture of the letter from Mr. Jinks. I was mostly interested in the stocks when I requested the letter.

 

[Narragansett]

I will have to check mine. It should say model of 1955?

 

[Doug627]

I understand about the non-tapered barrels. What about 25-2 with tapered barrels marked Model of 1950?

 

[tenntex32]

The SCSW 4th edition states that perhaps 1,000 to 1,500 25-2s were shipped with the incorrect barrel stamping. Many sellers seem to think that this error makes the gun a high value collector piece. Collectors see this as merely a factory error, giving it no additional value. Factory errors were not rare.

I find it funny that so many people say to believe Mr. Jinks when he says one thing and then completely disregard other things he says such as "These miss stamped Model 25 have become popular with the Smith & Wesson collectors as a variation of the Model 25-2."

I for one could see paying a premium for a "miss stamped" Model 25...……..so am I a collector (or not) considering what Mr. Jinks stated in the factory letter in Post #9?

I think one would be silly to sell a "miss stamped" Model 25 for the same money as a correct example, when they only had it happen on 1000 or so examples...………...versus the many more of the correctly stamped revolvers they produced.

I guess maybe 'ole Roy has recently changed his mind about them being popular with collectors? ;) (What the heck does 'Ole Roy know about Smith & Wessons anyhow?)

I for one would love to have someone sell me a "miss stamped" example for the same money I paid for my correct 25-2. (About $400 in trade.) I might even bump it up to $500 to allow for inflation if a true collector just can't stand to look at their factory mistake any longer.


Dale

 

[Vettepartz]

kscharlie says:'Finally, the serial number on all of the 1950 and 1955 models are stamped inside the ejector shroud. "

To kscharlie - Where did you get this information? My 1950 model does have the serial # here, but another forum member says his 1950 marked gun does not.

 

[kscharlie]

kscharlie says:'Finally, the serial number on all of the 1950 and 1955 models are stamped inside the ejector shroud. "

To kscharlie - Where did you get this information? My 1950 model does have the serial # here, but another forum member says his 1950 marked gun does not.

Perhaps this is "my bad", but every source I have at my disposal, including members here who know way more than I do, tells me that there are 5 locations where the serial number is located. I have not read where there are "sometimes" 5 locations.

That does not mean that there may have been an occasional gun shipped from S&W that was not properly marked. We have all seen guns like that. In the past week, I have seen two Model 1950s that did not have a serial number in shroud. One of them did have a S stamped followed by a diamond, which made me assume it was a replacement barrel.

I also had a gentleman tell me once that S&W never stamped a serial number in the shroud because it was impossible to stamp a flat number in a round tube.

It would be interesting to hear from some of our more knowledgeable members here on the forum regarding this.

Ralph??? Hondo??? Jack??? Anybody???

 

[hibbs]

This is my experience with shipping dates and serial #. I have a bunch of 1950/1955 targets. Sn. range from 80xxx to 165xxx.All of them have sn. in the ejector housing and face of cylinder. The later guns, S145xxx and S165xxx were shipped in 1958 and 1959. I also have a pre-29 sn.177xxx that has no sn. in ejector housing or cyl. face.I don't know the date or sn. when this change took place. I rcall 1958 being mentioned. Shipping date and manufacture date make all the difference.

Richard
.

 

[Walter Rego]

The "original" Model 1950's and 1955's (Pre-Model 26 and Pre-Model 25) would have had the serial numbers on the butt, on the frame under the crane, inside the barrel shroud, rear of the cylinder, under the extractor star, and visible when disassembled, under the sideplate as well.

Around 1957 with the introduction of the model numbers, the Model 26/1950 and the 25/1955 and 25-2/1955 were only marked on the butt, frame under the crane and under the extractor star. And I think the sideplate was still matched, with either the S/N or assembly number.

I have a Model 1950 pre-Model 26 that shipped in April 1956 which is marked inside the ejector rod shroud and a Model 25-2 with the mis-marked MODEL 1950 barrel which only has the serial numbers in the post-1957 areas.

Vettepartz gun with a serial number in the shroud is a puzzler.

 

[kscharlie]

The "original" Model 1950's and 1955's (Pre-Model 26 and Pre-Model 25) would have had the serial numbers on the butt, on the frame under the crane, inside the barrel shroud, rear of the cylinder, under the extractor star, and visible when disassembled, under the sideplate as well.

Around 1957 with the introduction of the model numbers, the Model 26/1950 and the 25/1955 and 25-2/1955 were only marked on the butt, frame under the crane and under the extractor star. And I think the sideplate was still matched, with either the S/N or assembly number.

I have a Model 1950 pre-Model 26 that shipped in April 1956 which is marked inside the ejector rod shroud and a Model 25-2 with the mis-marked MODEL 1950 barrel which only has the serial numbers in the post-1957 areas.

Vettepartz gun with a serial number in the shroud is a puzzler.

Thanks for that info Walter. It served to jog my memory. I think it was May 1, 1957 when S&W issued the order to eliminate soft fitting of their guns. I believe it was part of that order that eliminated the serial number in the shroud.

I have a pre-25 5-screw with all matching serial number S130xxx stamped in the ejector shroud. That frame was one that was made in 1955 and had been set aside by S&W to build the new .44 magnum on. For whatever reason, it never got used for that purpose. The gun was not shipped until March 31, 1959.

 

[Vettepartz]

Charlie - That is interesting. I also have a pre-25 5 screw with a serial number close to yours. Mine is S130969 and was shipped in January 1957.