MODEL OF 1989 QUESTION

[kraynky]

I AM A FAN OF 4" S&W REVOLVERS. IMHO, THEY BALANCE PERFECTLY, BOTH VISUALLY, AND IN THE HAND......

I AM ALSO A HUGE FAN OF THE .45 ACP CARTRIDGE. MY EDC WAS A COLT GOLD CUP, FOR 3 DECADES. PHYSICAL DISABILITIES HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO RELIABLY, AND SAFELY HANDLE SEMIAUTO PISTOLS, SO I AM EXCLUSIVELY A REVOLVER SHOOTER.......

I DID SOME RESEARCH, AND DISCOVERED THE M625, MODEL OF 1989. I LEARNED THAT THEY WERE OFFERED IN BARREL LENGTHS OF 3", 4" AND 5". OF COURSE THE 4" MODEL WAS MY CHOICE. I SEARCHED FOR OVER A YEAR IN VAIN, FINDING 3" AND 5" VERSIONS FOR SALE WERE PLENTIFUL. FINALLY, I FOUND A PRE-IL, 4" ON GUN BROKER. I PAID MORE THAN I WANTED TO, BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE IT MINE. THIS WAS CLOSE TO 4 YEARS AGO, IIRC, AND I HAVE YET TO COME ACROSS ANOTHER 4" VERSION FOR SALE.....

MY QUESTION IS, JUST HOW SCARCE OR RARE IS THE 4" VERSION ? ? ? WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT, I BELIEVE MY GUN IS A M625-3. WHAT % OF THE TOTAL PRODUCTION WAS THE 4" BARREL VARIANT ? ? ?

I'M IN LOVE WITH THE REVOLVER, AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SELLING IT---I'M JUST CURIOUS. IT HAS THE NICEST STOCK TRIGGER, AND IS PROBABLY THE MOST ACCURATE, OF ALL OF MY S&W REVOLVERS WITH IRON SIGHTS. IMHO, THE POTENTIAL OF THE .45ACP CARTRIDGE CAN'T BE FULLY APPRECIATED, UNTIL IT IS FIRED FROM A REVOLVER........

I don't know the answer to the scarcity of the 4". But you've certainly got me wanting to see one! If you've had it for 4 years, it's probably already been shown, but I missed it I suppose.

Congratulations on finally finding it however. (better late than never) Looking forward to a photo.

 

[one eye joe]

I don't know the answer to the scarcity of the 4". But you've certainly got me wanting to see one! If you've had it for 4 years, it's probably already been shown, but I missed it I suppose.

Congratulations on finally finding it however. (better late than never) Looking forward to a photo.

SORRY THAT I CAN'T OBLIGE YOU, kraynky. UNFORTUNATELY, MY CAMERA SUFFERED AN UNTIMELY DEATH, AND I HAVE YET TO REPLACE IT.......

COINCIDENTALLY, I NEVER TOOK A PIC OF THIS REVOLVER. AS A RESULT, ITS NEVER APPEARED ON THIS FORUM, NOR DO I HAVE A FILE PIC, THAT I COULD USE......

THERE HAPPENS TO BE AN EXCELLENT PIC, OF A 4" GUN, WITH BOX AND PAPERS, IN POST#29. ITS WEARING A SET OF FINGER-GROOVE PACHMAYRS, WHICH I ASSUME TO BE THE ORIGINALS. THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PIC, FOR REFERENCE.....

I PURCHASED MY M625-3 ALONE--NO BOX, NO PAPERS, AND AFTERMARKET, FINGER-GROOVE, WOODEN GRIPS......



IN POST #29

 

[bigggbbruce]

THERE HAPPENS TO BE AN EXCELLENT PIC, OF A 4" GUN, WITH BOX AND PAPERS, IN POST#29. ITS WEARING A SET OF FINGER-GROOVE PACHMAYRS, WHICH I ASSUME TO BE THE ORIGINALS. THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PIC, FOR REFERENCE.....
9

Thanks.. yes it is factory issued grips. I found it in the local classifieds in my area..
i jumped as soon as I saw the listing. No regrets..

 

[s&wchad]

Gentlemen,
I deleted a number of replies to this thread.

Please note (from our general posting rules):

10. NO Links to current or upcoming auctions or promotion of current or upcoming auctions or discussion of current or upcoming auctions, even in vague and general terms, or GunsAmerica ads, Guns International ads, or other internet listing sites should be posted without permission.
Do NOT participate in discussion of current auctions or ads.

This applies to both online auctions/ads and live auctions. Sellers would flood us with creative promotions if allowed.

Regards,
chad

 

[RSBH44]

I've seen a couple early 4" 625's for sale recently out on the interwebs.
I haven't had the pleasure of handeling one of the original 625-3 's with the 4"barrel but I do own a pair 625-8's with a 4" barrel and I find them to be superb shooting revolvers.

 

[one eye joe]

Gentlemen,
I deleted a number of replies to this thread.

Please note (from our general posting rules):

This applies to both online auctions/ads and live auctions. Sellers would flood us with creative promotions if allowed.

Regards,
chad

I KNEW THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME, chad........

 

[bigggbbruce]

I KNEW THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME, chad........

Still scratching my head as to my post being deleted.

 

[S&W Fan]

Color me a fan of the 4" -3 as well. Added the SDM front sight and Hogue grips too. This one is currently with my older son, he borrowed it for a range session last year ahahahahaha. Had another with the original box and all the goodies, it's now living with a friend that talked me out of it. Both "BEN" serial prefixes.

 

[jcelect]

For the record on my 625 no dash? Here is the info from the original Box end label:
SerialNumber: BEN5530
Model Number: 625
Product Code: 100925
Spec. Ord. 9332
There is also a Pinkish stick on label with the number 65918.
Since I do have the original box I can probably post a Pic if I
can figure out the way to do that. Perhaps the good Col Crittendon (SP)? if he sees this can shed some light on the situation?

Your serial number dates to 1989, the product code dates to 1989, and the Spec Ord number is the 332 day of 1989. I think it is safe to say your gun was made in 1989 and maybe(probably) stamped incorrectly. There is no documented 625 and 625-1 guns! For some unknown reason S&W started the 625s with the model of 1988 on guns marked 625-2
jcelect

 

[s&wchad]

Still scratching my head as to my post being deleted.

My apologies; it's been restored.
I mistakenly thought you referenced the photo of an auction gun that I deleted.

 

[shottist]

Thank you jcelect. I dug out similar info to that you provided. The gun is a 625-? but the frame stamping under the Yoke is "625" with no dash or number. Factory omission.

 

[one eye joe]

My apologies; it's been restored.
I mistakenly thought you referenced the photo of an auction gun that I deleted.

KUDOS TO YOU, CHAD. IT TAKES A STAND UP GUY, TO ADMIT IT, WHEN HE'S WRONG.....

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

Gotta tell 'ya the -3 with a 4" is my favorite.

625-3 model of 1989

 

[Gunaholic]

I traded into my -3 in January 1990. It was NIB. The box is long gone. It currently wears Ahrends walnut grips. BEN prefix. Great shooter. It gets shot fairly regularly. Took it to a few USPSA matches years ago.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I shot a box through my 4" dash 3.It is fantastic.

 

[ReloadforFun]

Maybe I messed up. When I got my M635 (I dn't recall it being marked as Model of 1989) I received a 4" instead of the expected 5".

It was fully worked over by Cylinder & Slide into double action. I've not sot it much.

Without being able to check at presentt, my recollection is that it ia a "BEN" prefix SN.