Model 1955

[DVD]

Years ago my uncle gave me his Model 1955 45cal. It is very used,and a little rough. It has a 61/2in barrel I changed out the front sight, red ramp (I don't think it is the right sight of the day), new hammer nose and bushing. He did his own table top smithing, reason for sight change. He shot it at Camp Perry and at other shoots. It has 45cal Model 1955 on the barrel and the numbers are S 146349, on the butt and barrel. I don't know any more than that. Can I get a little more history, if possible?

 

[BADSBSNF811]

For 50 USD you can request a letter from the Mr. Roy Jinks, the S&W factory historian. Check out the S&W website

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...catalogId=11101&content=25301&sectionId=10504

 

[DCWilson]

That serial number could have shipped in -- no surprise here -- 1955. But because S&W did not make it a policy to ship in serial number order, that gun may have left the factory many months later in 1956 (or even after that).

 

[Art Doc]

The Model 1950 Target 45 had a heavier barrel put on and became the Model 1955. This became the Model 25 in 1957. By the serial your gun was shipped in the Spring of 1956 (I have a gun about 3,000 older than yours that shipped 10/55) but some guns were actually shipped much later than the serial would suggest due to slow sales.

The 1955 is a deluxe, N frame target grade revolver. Most do not suffer abuse as yours sounds like it has experienced as they were rarely used for duty or serious field work. But maybe yours was.

With minor changes in 1961 the M25-1 was born (if any were actually made) and then the 25-2 in 1962 until 1981. The 25-5 is the same gun in 45 Colt with other available barrel lengths (the 45 ACP models all had 6.5" barrels until the very last of the 25-2 run when a 6" barrel was made standard).

Here's my 25-2 c. 1980.

 

[DVD]

Thanks for the come backs. It has been used, but not used up. Timing is right on, and is still tight. It be my keeper