MY GRAIL GUN...

[ST BERNARD]

Thought long and hard about cutting the tape on the shipping carton after I paid for this Thursday..... but just had to see what was in that box. Wanted to see if the wooden case for it was in there. It was. Got it home today, and unwrapped the paper. First time it's seen daylight since it was packed.
Finally got a 4 inch 25 (-5). Sitting here thinking about how I could have bought a few of these back then.....but blew the extra money on women and cars etc. Funny how a guy's priorities change in 35 or so years.
There's a coating of white colored wax or something on it. Wondering what to use to clean it off before oiling it and cleaning out the bore and chambers, and getting it ready to shoot.
Yeah,.. we are going to shoot it. Almost left it in the sealed carton for my grandson some day,.. but he and I are BOTH going to shoot it together. None of us are getting out of here alive anyway.
Life is good;
Bill

 

[ST BERNARD]

One more ......

 

[jinx]

WOW! How in the world does one ever find something like that?
Nice

 

[Springfan]

I had a text exchange with one of the premier collectors/sellers in our hobby not long ago. He had posted some nice thoughts about one of our members who was in difficult times. My response was something like, "This is about more than the guns, isn't it?" He responded that it is overwhelmingly about the people. Bill, thank you for your post, especially the last paragraph. If you get one trip to the range to shoot that revolver with your grandson, then it is worth every penny you paid for it. Then again, you knew that.

 

[weatherby]

Enjoy the range and a heartfelt congratulations to you and your grandson.
That in my opinion is what will make it an heirloom for him.

 

[Stirling]

Nice one. Keen to see you get her all cleaned up. Enjoy the shoot!

 

[billwill]

Wow...didn't know vapor paper came without wrinkles. All mine are of the wrinkled variety!

 

[ST BERNARD]

Well, we did get all the coating off with Frog Lube CLP... was really stuck on the grips, and I bet it would have came off easier about 30 years ago. Took some cast 45acp bullets and dropped them into the fronts of the chambers and they hung up just before the lube groove....pretty sure we beat the light on the oversize throats on this one. Knew about that going in, but bought it anyway for what it is. Brand new and sealed in the shipping box.
Thanks for the kind words about our opening it.....truth be known, it was a done deal from the start. Couple guys who know about it on this end said "Hell yes!! Open it and shoot it."
Thanks again fellas;
Bill

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Are You going to at least leave the Presentation case sealed? That would lend a lot of credibility to your story down the line,That and a few pictures when it was still sealed.

 

[ST BERNARD]

The wood case will stay in the shrink wrap Carbon. So will the tools and the blank warrenty registration card. Would hate to open that case and find it full of blue dust..... will let the next guy worry about that.
Bill

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

The wood case will stay in the shrink wrap Carbon. So will the tools and the blank warrenty registration card. Would hate to open that case and find it full of blue dust..... will let the next guy worry about that.
Bill

Good call Bill!

 

[Watchdog]

Finally got a 4 inch 25 (-5)...

Almost left it in the sealed carton for my grandson some day,.. but he and I are BOTH going to shoot it together.
Bill

Bravo! I know that's going to be a special moment between you and your grandson.

That's a revolver anyone would be proud to have.

 

[ST BERNARD]

What if a guy were to take a fine cratex stick and polish the very top of the cylynder stop, and also break the crisp edge on the LH side of it.... not much ... just barely put a small, smooth radius on the leading edge of it. May not prevent a drag line but could minimize it??? Probably 'been done before.. but not by me. Don't see how it could hurt.
Thanks in advance;
Bill

 

[A10]

Beautiful revolver! Congratulations on a great find!

 

[ST BERNARD]

Well,... this morning we went ahead with taking the cylynder out of the gun to polish and de burr the edge of the stop. Had to twist and wiggle the yoke to get it free of the frame...bone dry, and gritty. Same for the bearing surfaces the cylynder rotates on. Extractor rod also. Didn't intend to open it up yesterday, but it had to be done, and now glad we did. Internals were dry and powdery.... two spots of rust inside the frame where the sideplate mates down on it. Did not strip it at this point... just lubed it all up with a needle oiler, and killed and cleaned the rust spots. No polishing or springs yet,but we did take a little tension off the strain screw.
The leading edge of the stop was sharp....would dig into a fingernail. There was plenty of room in the frame winow to reach in from the right side with the tip of a stone and roll a tiny radius on that sharp edge, and also polish the top that rides on the cylynder. Put it back together and cycled the action two revolutions......No drag line in the blueing.
Maybe all this new in the sealed box buissness aint what it's cracked up to be, even though I'll still be a sucker for it. The revolver needed attention inside after it's 35 year nap, and I can't see where we did it any harm today.
Bill

 

[ColbyBruce]

A S&W 25-5 is a wonderful handgun. DeKalb county GA PD carried this model for years. Here is mine, likely a former LE gun, though it is unmarked.

 

[DevilDog72]

I would like to have this gun as well.... but my true grail gun is a fixed sight 45acp 4" barrel...blued

 

[RobertJ.]

Enjoy the range and a heartfelt congratulations to you and your grandson.
That in my opinion is what will make it an heirloom for him.

Exactly!

If you left it NIB for your grandson, it wouldn't be NEARLY as special as it will be now!

Beautiful revolver!

 

[theoneff]

I would like to have this gun as well.... but my true grail gun is a fixed sight 45acp 4" barrel...blued

Was there ever one made like this,

 

[jhde69]

I just had the safe open this afternoon and handled two revolvers that my grandson loves to shoot. It gives me a warm feeling just thinking about our range time together. He is in high school now but when I get to the city the first thing he will ask is " grandpa did you get any new guns?'. We have found guns and shooting a great bond. You and your grandson enjoy that revolver as I know you will.