Is this gun unfired?

[Easy]

I found this in a local shop and couldn't pass it up. An M25-2with case, manual, unused cleaning tools, rare yellow front sight insert and in excellent condition. The flocking in the case had deteriorated to the point that it had turned to dust. So until I decide what to do about it I have laid in a bit of felt.

The only faults I can find are some micro-scratches on the barrel from handling and a scratch on the frame under the thumbpiece. It is obvious the previous owner (who I believe bought it new) opened and closed the cylinder many times. But the lockup is still excellent.

I was wondering if anyone had any opions on whether this gun is unfired? From the condition, I would say it has had very few rounds through it, if any. And if it is unfired, am I going to greatly reduce the gun's value if I shoot it? I bought it to be a shooter, but now I am having second thoughts. What do you think?

Thanks

 

[sonny]

One place to look is at the front of the cylinder. The black carbon rings lift by fired cartridges are difficult to clean off without leaving some visible residue. At least I cannot clean a gun that well...to make it look new and unfired, whether blue or stainless.
Sonny

 

[Easy]

A few more pics

I apologize for the dust. Haven't even given it a good cleaning yet. Oh yeah, I paid $695 Canadian ($660 US) which I think is a pretty good deal. The shop owner wouldn't come down in price...probably because he knew I was hooked as soon as I saw it.

 

[Easy]

One place to look is at the front of the cylinder. The black carbon rings lift by fired cartridges are difficult to clean off without leaving some visible residue. At least I cannot clean a gun that well...to make it look new and unfired, whether blue or stainless.
Sonny

Thanks sonny. See the above extra pictures. I don't see any carbon rings.

 

[bamabiker]

+1 on what sonny said. And if I bought it to shoot I'd shoot it. Just clean it good after each shooting session. Nice gun and welcome.

 

[s&wchad]

Welcome to the forum.

That's a lovely gun. Smith & Wesson test fires each one at the factory, so there's really no such thing as unfired. Since it's already been shot, you might as well enjoy it!


Keep it out of holsters and the gun will look great for a long time. You may want to shoot it with some different stocks, so the originals stay crisp. I suspect the yellow insert is aftermarket, but it's easy to change.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=22791/Product/FRONT_SIGHT_INSERT_KIT

 

[bamabiker]

I apologize for the dust. Haven't even given it a good cleaning yet. Oh yeah, I paid $695 Canadian ($660 US) which I think is a pretty good deal. The shop owner wouldn't come down in price...probably because he knew I was hooked as soon as I saw it.

I've had that happen. I think it was the drool on the counter top that gave me away. Your additional pictures does make me think it is unfired...if I had to guess. The front of the cylinder looks new.

 

[murphydog]

It looks as close to unfired as possible - even a very few rounds will leave powder or lead/jacket residue on the frame around the forcing cone, and in the center of the cylinder face (where it rotates on the yoke), that is very difficult to get 100% clean again. Also, one of your photos shows no recoil shield mark; also very difficult to hide evidence of firing there.

Welcome, and enjoy!

 

[epj]

I bought a 25-2 from Lee a couple of years ago that was apparently unfired since it left the factory. Looked just about like your gun, except the fron sight was a red ramp vs yellow. There is no question the red ramp was factory. Not sure about the yellow ramp insert. Never saw one of those from the factory, but I haven't seen everything yet. Anyway, while it is a spectacular gun, it isn't like it's a NIB registered magnum. Shoot it, take good care of it, and it will retain about 99% of its value. I see many 25-2's sell on GB for more than you paid that have been shot a lot.

 

[Easy]

Thanks for the comments. That was just the encouragement I needed to take it out to the range and enjoy it. Yes, I already have a set of Hogues for everyday use. I really like the factory grips and want to keep them in original condition. Re the yellow front site insert. I came across a comment...I believe on this site... that yellow as a rarely ordered factory option. I stand to be corrected as I am a newbie here. Thanks again for all the good comments.

 

[Dave500]

Great looking gun I think you got a good deal at the price you paid,I`ll give you a cleaning tip, Buy a tube of Flitz its for cleaning gold and silver, you can get it at jewlrey stores and some gun shops, it`s a tube like tooth paste comes in, silver in color and the writing on the tube is blue, take an old tooth brush put some of your favorote bore cleaner on it, remember the old brill cream commercail "a little dab will do ya" well same is true with flitz just enough the see it on the brush is enough, use this combo to clean the face of your cylinder and it will look new try it you`ll like the results.

 

[epj]

The 25-2's with factory red ramp/white outline sights are a bit scarce, but not really a rare commodity. I have seen a few (2 or 3) advertised on GB in the past couple of years. If I had to guess, I'd say less that 5% of the 25-2 production had this option. Maybe no more than 1 or 2%. I suppose it would be as easy for the factorty to do a yellow insert as it would be a red one. Never say never with S&W. Does your gun have the WO rear sight?

 

[tjsguns]

The yellow insert on your front sight is definitely original factory equipment. S&W offered this as an option on any target sight ordered during the time period your gun was manufactured.
I've actually seen quite a few of them over the years.
Another users reply was also correct. There is no such thing as an "Unfired" Smith & Wesson Revolver. All are test fired before they leave the factory.
From what I can see in the pictures your gun is very clean but I doubt it's never seen the "field"
I base my opinion from what looks like a very slight amount of holster wear on the left side of the muzzle. If this is just a reflection of light in the picture then I may be wrong.
The cylinder face is certainly one of the most pristine I've seen.
I use a lead removal cloth to get rid of the carbon on the cylinder face of my guns. It's the only thing I've found that gets carbon off of stainless steel. You have to use a lot of elbow grease as well but it doesn't mar the steel as anything you would use with a brush would. You can buy a lead removal cloth at any gun shop. They are also good for removing residue from around the forcing cone and top strap. I cut it up in small pieces that I can use to get into all the nooks and cranny's. A dental tool used by Hygienists to clean teeth is helpful for guiding the cloth and applying sufficient pressure to clean tight areas. If I work at it long enough and with enough diligence, I can get they cylinder faces of even heavily used guns to look similar to new. Its always harder with blued guns than stainless or nickel as some of the blue is always disintegrated off the cylinder face just from the gasses discharged in firing the gun even once.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

Beautiful gun, I will vote for unfired. Don

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

That is a beautiful gun. Congrats! Shoot it and enjoy it. I have one with the Patridge front sight, but prefer yours by far. Plus, your is a 6" barrel which I also greatly prefer.

As to whether or not it had been fired previously. I'll say yes. Your excellent photos show telltale signs. The one of the recoil sheild, shows a small semi circle about 1/10" above the firing pin hole, and an even smaller, fainter one the same distance away from the pin hole, at about the 10 o'cloack position. That same picture also shows some light gas cutting at the right edge that's visible. The picture of the cylinder face shows some very light striations from a bullet passing through it in the chamber throat that's at the 6 o'clock position too.

It takes a little work, but you can make a fired gun look pretty darn new again with the right tools and cleaners.

 

[tops]

Easy...I don't know whether or not it has been shot but if you want to shoot it, I say go ahead. You paid less than $700. How much can you lose by shooting it? You buy a car and start driving it and you lose thousands of dollars and probably don't even think about it. Why worry about $700.Life is too short to worry about a few dollars. By the way, don't pay any attention to my advice. My wife says I am dumb as a clam. Larry

 

[Centenniel]

That is one nice S&W revolver. Shoot it and enjoy the ride. It would be a crying shame not to use it for it's intended purpose. Just my .02. (US)

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

It looks new to me. You could order yellow as a factory option. Do you have the blue box? look at the 'sights' window if it was ordered red it will be marker "RR".

 

[29aholic]

Welcome to the forum

I would be totally shocked if Smith ever installed a yellow insert. I would say that revolver has been fired a fair amount but been well taken care. I say this due to your pic showing the blast shield shows a fair amount of wear in that area from the ejector ratchet. Typical prime examples of unfired since leaving the factory guns will still have a carbon ring around every other chamber which is what the factory fired.

Nice gun

 

[TDC]

I would be totally shocked if Smith ever installed a yellow insert. I would say that revolver has been fired a fair amount but been well taken care. I say this due to your pic showing the blast shield shows a fair amount of wear in that area from the ejector ratchet. Typical prime examples of unfired since leaving the factory guns will still have a carbon ring around every other chamber which is what the factory fired.

Nice gun

I agree with 29aholic's assessment completely... I have very rarely, if ever, seen any factory front sight on a 25-2 other than a patridge. I'm sure they exist, but that's why it's so important to keep the original box for option confirmation. Anything deviating from the common must be considered "after market" if there isn't documentation to support it.

The material inside the presentation case doesn't appear to be correct and that may be another clue not mentioned.

We all know much can be hidden or influenced using digital photography. I could take a heavily used S&W and make it appear brand new using using digital "dark room" programs like Abobe PhotoShop and others.

I have a large collection of new S&W's that are new and unfired after leaving the factory. I try to always keep the front of the cylinder untouched and clearly showing the test fired holes and how much they do contrast with the unfired holes. The S&W paper that cover the guns, especially the older ones, should also be pristine and uncrumpled to be convincing to me.

JMHO....

TDC