It Lettered!! 25 snubby, Gun show find: Jovino? (Post #27)

[quinn]

Here's the story: I meet my son (another forum and SWCA member) and daughter-in-law (we don't dare let her join the forum for a number of reasons) at the San Antonio gun show this morning. About a third of the way into the show, my son spots a 1919 vintage commercial Colt 1911. He promptly borrows every penny I bring to the show to snare this item. About 20 feet further, my DIL spots a Colt 1911 CCO. Fortunately, that guy takes credit. We get another 40 feet or so--still on the same row--and my son spots the Mod 25 snubby hanging on a rack. Well, I have no money but do have a spare Sig. That with my cc, the snubby comes home with me. My son is sooo fortunate this guy took trades and credit. I cannot imagine what I would have done if I'd had to leave this behind because I was flat broke.

Is a Model 25-5, 45 Colt
Approx 2 5/8ths barrel non pinned
rounded butt (K RB?)
rounded hammer spur
Smooth trigger
Crane detent, spring loaded
red ramp front, white outline rear

SN N 9048xx puts it about 1983
action is smooth as glass

 

[quinn]

More photos

of my new snubby

 

[mc5aw]

Randy ... Jovino or not, that 25 is a great score! Enjoy it and shoot it well.

 

[66f100]

I would say yes, I just sold one on GB for 1,700. It looks just like the one I had. Good luck with It, Mine was a great shooter.

 

[jjbrewst1]

Super Jealous. Nice find. Wow

 

[Nframecollector]

And I decided not to go to that gun show today! Nice find!

 

[quinn]

I really have to give my son the credit for finding it and not having the money to buy it for himself.

 

[ringo1597]

Randy,

Very nice find, I'm happy for you.

Did you happen to hear what happened at that show today. A guy walked in with a Registered Magnum, The gun made it back to the rear of the show, where a friend of ours has a table. He owns it now.

Larry
SWCA 2494

 

[ladder13]

I really have to give my son the credit for finding it and not having the money to buy it for himself.

'Cause you know Scott would have been taking it home.

 

[shouldazagged]

Oh, my, my, my...

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Is it just me or is the barrel a plum color?

 

[Fessor]

WOW! I love it. My grail gun is a .45ACP RB revo with an approx. 3" barrel.

 

[quinn]

Is it just me or is the barrel a plum color?

Yes, the barrel does have a plum cast to it... turning a little brown under the blue possibly. Obviously, the barrel would need to be reblued after the mods. The frame hasn't been refinished and the detent in the crane was left in the white.

 

[SAFireman]

Had I not found the 1911 Commercial that I had been looking for a few tables before that, it would have been coming home with me for sure.....I have been wanting one for a few years now, and have never come across one that was decent for reasonable $$$.

I don't know which 'smith did this conversion, but it is very slick. I want to say that it will come back as Jovino or Behlert, but only a letter will tell for sure. Either way, that 25-5 is way too cool for words.

I guess that I should begin taking more cash to the shows...I have slowed up a little due to the crazy prices, but we have found some really nice guns at the last two shows.

 

[SAFireman]

I really have to give my son the credit for finding it and not having the money to buy it for himself.

If it had been a model 57, I would have sent you for another round of coffee, and this would be my gloat thread



.....I tell you, it was that dang Brazilian that started all of this 45 ACP madness

 

[TheHobbyist]

You know, there is a lot wrong with that piece. Barrel length is off. Hammer has been modified. Someone has worked on the action; and it's no longer factory spec.

Yep. You should just sell it to me to avoid any future buyer's remorse.

 

[holo]

wow great find and your a nice dad

 

[Biginge]

Wow Randy. Great grab. Way to go.

 

[jwk]

Great find. Sorry I missed that show and didn't see it first. Sure looks like a Jovino conversion.

 

[wheelyfun66]

Super Nice!
I would cut a deal with Lucifer himself for that revolver! (well....maybe for a NIB one...)

 

[bettis1]

quinn,

Yep, I'd bet a bunch that the modifications are Jovino's. All things point to it. You will look long and hard to find a better large bore carry revolver. I'm always on the look out for them. Was the seller aware of what it was?

Sounds like I need to take a trip down to SA if there are RM's, Jovino's, and APD HD's floating around down there.

I spent yesterday at the Dallas show but I was tied up with a display so I didn't get to look too much and didn't find anything that called out to me.
Bob

 

[MikeyB]

That is nice! Great find!

 

[hotrod150]

I seem to recall seeing an ad in Shotgun News years ago for an "Effector" which was a snubby n-frame. I think it was a 45 Colt model 25-5 but not sure. A special run for one of the big distributors.

 

[bettis1]

Some, but not all, of the Jovino modified guns were marked "Effector".

Bob

 

[WC145]

The Effector guns had slightly longer barrels and kept the full length ejector rod. They were all N frames and made in any caliber you wanted, though most of the ones I've seen were .44 and .41 mags. Never heard anything about them being made for a distributor.

 

[bettis1]

Here is one of the few nickel "Jovino" guns that I know of. It is unmarked but shipped to John Jovino from the Factory. Looks a lot like yours, except for the finish.

Bob

 

[quinn]

Letter came today. Did in fact get shipped to John Jovino, NY, in June, 1982.

Makes me wonder if Jovino did many 25's in 45 Colt... Anyone have any idea? Or how late the Jovino company were doing these mods?

In studying this critter I have noticed that the K/L RB grips profile the frame very well but that the alignment pin at the bottom of the grip frame is slightly lower. The grips that came with the gun have another hole drilled into the grip about 1/4" lower than the original hole/recess. I guess if I want to put combats on it like Bob's (Bettis!) above that I'll need to drill into the grips.

 

[bettis1]

Good report, Randy. I would have bet the farm that your's was also a Jovino custom. Just too many identifying characteristics not to be one.

I would love to stumble onto a .45 Colt Jovino but in the mean time, the nickel .45 ACP with moons brings a smile to my face every time I handle it.

Bob

 

[SAFireman]

Letter came today. Did in fact get shipped to John Jovino, NY, in June, 1982.

Makes me wonder if Jovino did many 25's in 45 Colt... Anyone have any idea? Or how late the Jovino company were doing these mods?

In studying this critter I have noticed that the K/L RB grips profile the frame very well but that the alignment pin at the bottom of the grip frame is slightly lower. The grips that came with the gun have another hole drilled into the grip about 1/4" lower than the original hole/recess. I guess if I want to put combats on it like Bob's (Bettis!) above that I'll need to drill into the grips.

Those Factory Combat grips are getting really pricey to be drilling extra holes in....

Now all you need is to find some good 45 Colt dies and start reloading

I would bet that a 45 Colt 245gr SWCHP @ 1000 FPS will rehabilitate any wayward goblins

 

[Jaymo]

Mein Gott! That's a nice N frame. All kinds of N frame goodness in that package.
I can't believe someone would sell it.
I find more nice Smiths these days, that have been sold/traded to an FFL in order to purchase a Guh, guh, guh, guh, Glock. (retches)
I don't get it. Trade/sell a gorgeous, accurate, reliable revolver of extremely high quality, for Combat Tupperware that is ugly as a monkey's butt. Uglier than Eleanor Roosevelt and Susan B Anthony, combined.
I'd rather smoke feces in Hell, than to own a gun as damned ugly as a Block.

Anyhoo, if that was my 25 snubby, I'd be buried with it.