Information about S&W Model 25-8 revolver.

[oworthsr]

I'm considering the purchase of a Model 25-8 - a 4" stainless revolver chambered in .45 ACP. I'd like technical info, why the Model 25-8 was built, and in what configurations was it sold (i.e., square butt? round butt? both? What grips came standard. Etc.)

Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[Doug M.]

I do not recall a -8, nor would it be stainless as for the last 40+ years (since the 629 was introduced, and I think ending with the introduction of the model 69) generally the 3 digit model numbers for stainless start with a "6". Could it be a "625-8"?

 

[steelslaver]

I have never seen one either. 25-3, 25-5 25-7 and 25-9 and a few higher I have. Numerich shows parts for a 25-8 though. Almost every model 25 with an even dash number was an acp and the odd dash numbers were 45 colt. Could it be a nickle 25-5?

Like Doug M said all the model 25 were blue or nickle from factory. and the 625 guns stainless. From time to time one shows up that got a hard chrome aftermarket finish which looks veery much like stainless

 

[Hair Trigger]

M25-8 released in 1990. The original production discontinued in 1991 with the dash-9 (.45 Colt) and in 1999 with the dash-10 (.45 Auto). They were reintroduced in 2001 with a new frame and MIM parts, and floating firing pin. Not sure if the new frame is round or square butt, but original production models are all square butt. M25's are either blued carbon steel or nickel plated carbon steel

If you want stainless steel, you need the Model 625, which started production as the M625-2 in 1989. On Model 25 and Model 625, the odd series number will be chambered in .45 Colt, even series numbers are chambered in .45 Auto. The M625-11 has a Scandium frame.

I find trying to sort out the different variations in the M25 model line confusing as heck, but the older ones are beautiful revolvers whether you have the .45 Auto version or .45 Colt. I have a M25-5, nickel 4".

 

[oworthsr]

Correction - I was cross-eyed when I made the original post. The revolver is a 4" barreled model 625-8 .45 ACP.

So, with that major correction, who knows whether these revolvers were square butt or round butt? What grips came stock on them? Why did S&W introduce the -8 sub-model? What was wrong with the prior sub-model?

 

[Doug M.]

Probably round butt frame. Don't read too much into the change. Sometimes it is for a product improvement or to distinguish it from other (25-2 vs. 25-2, for example - different calibers), sometimes a different (cheaper) manufacturing process. I suspect that the -8 was the first of that type to show up with the integral lock, but that's an educated guess and not guaranteed to be right.

 

[boatswainsmate]

It's a Round Butt. Mine was converted to 45 colt by someone before I bought it. Excellent Shooter.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Knowing 625-8 only doesn't particularly narrow down what variation it could be.

It could be the standard production model like above, or it could be a JM (Jerry Miculek) model, or it could be a Performance Center model, all 625-8s, with the first two slightly different & the later the most different.

Grips are different & values would be different but they all have round butts.

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[oworthsr]

Found the info. The 625-8 was the first model with an integral lock - that was the reason for the new model number.

Apparently all N frames sold after (about 2000, maybe as early as 1995) were round butts. So the 625-8 would be a round butt, too.

The as-sold grips were standard Hogue rubber grips (with S&W logo).

Thanks to all who responded.