S&W 25-5

[BiggerHammer]

I have this 25-5 and I see the prices of a lot of guns going a bit hi and I took it in on a trade it is a gun in great shape and no lock can one of you fellas give me a better Idea of what it is worth I am going to try to get a picture of it up I only have two smiths and I wouldn't sell my 4014 for love or money it has been my best carrie gun but the 25 is one I don't realy need and I was thinking of trading it on a AR 10 so a value of the 25-5 is a start thanks BiggerHammer http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg278/BiggerHammer24/ct452.jpg

 

[BiggerHammer]

I have this 25-5 and I see the prices of a lot of guns going a bit hi and I took it in on a trade it is a gun in great shape and no lock can one of you fellas give me a better Idea of what it is worth I am going to try to get a picture of it up I only have two smiths and I wouldn't sell my 4014 for love or money it has been my best carrie gun but the 25 is one I don't realy need and I was thinking of trading it on a AR 10 so a value of the 25-5 is a start thanks BiggerHammer http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg278/BiggerHammer24/ct452.jpg

 

[Jack Flash]

I can't tell for sure from the photo, is the finish nickel or blue?

I note that this one has a pinned barrel, so that's a plus. An even bigger plus is the 4" barrel. If nickel, some folks pay a premium for that. The replacement stocks are a negative.

As far as price: (this is a guess) I would think that $650 - $700 would be the low end starting point, assuming the condition you describe. Folks who cherish an N-Frame in .45 Colt do exist. I don't know how rare the 4" barrel is, but it is highly desirable. You may get $800 for that one if the right person comes along.

BTW, welcome to the Forum!

 

[panamajack310]

Hi, in my buying expierence with out the box, papers and correct grips. Being Blued brings a higher price. I would say $600.00

 

[Klatuu]

$550 at most without box, tools, papers, and especially the original stocks. $625-650 with S&W target stocks. You might get someone who'll want one bad enough to pay more, but it'll be hard to get someone who's informed to jump on one with rubber instead of factory wood when you get near $600. Right now the factory stocks run $75-100, which is %15+ of the total value.

Nickel will go for slightly more than blue, generally, if in excellent condition.

I'd keep it, too.

 

[Jack Flash]

One further comment:
With the coming change in administrations, the market is currently in turmoil. Hard to know what things will sell for with all the binge / panic buying going on.

You said you are "thinking of trading it on an AR 10 ..."

Right now, it's a seller's market for ARs. The seller will have NO motivation to give you much of a deal when you trade in an "old fashioned" revolver on a high-demand black rifle. He will offer you a minimal trade value, since he can probably get cash anyway from the next guy. If you don't take the deal, he knows that someone else will, usually in a matter of minutes!

My suggestion is to sell it on this Forum, GunBroker, or on consignment in a shop.

 

[Klatuu]

To post the picture, you can either type (without the quotation marks) "

" after, or just hit the 2nd button from the right on the on the reply window.

Like so:

 

[Klatuu]

Originally posted by Jack Flash:
One further comment:
With the coming change in administrations, the market is currently in turmoil. Hard to know what things will sell for with all the binge / panic buying going on.

You said you are "thinking of trading it on an AR 10 ..."

Right now, it's a seller's market for ARs. The seller will have NO motivation to give you much of a deal when you trade in a revolver on a black rifle. He will offer you a minimal trade value. If you don't take the deal, he knows that someone else will, usually in a matter of minutes!

My suggestion is to sell it on this Forum, GunBroker, or on consignment in a shop.

Absolutely concur. Worst time EVER to by a black rifle. It should subside somewhat in 4-6 months unless the gun grabbers move very fast.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Where you are located can make a HUGE difference in value. I saw a 6" go for $1250 in a local shop last spring. But that is a California thing. It didn't take long either. I considered it but was waiting for the price to drop to about $950.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

To those in the know, if they want a shooter, yours is a P&R gun and they have the oversized throats, therefore are down on value compared to a later model. I'm a 25-5 fan, and have a few. This is one time when non P&R is more desirable to most guys.

If someone buys it for a safe queen, then you'll probably do OK on price.

 

[Jack Flash]

I can't tell how accurate it is from looking at the picture. Personally, I think its accuracy should be determined empirically. People report that some pinned barrel M25-5s are very accurate, while others are challenged in that area. It seems to depend a lot on the individual revovler.

But how accurate does it need to be, anyway? If I wanted something for hunting or precision target shooting, I would look for one with a longer barrel, and probably chambered for a different cartridge.

 

[Pizza Bob]

The early 25-5's had the cylinders made to pre-war dimensions and the forcing cone and barrel to post-war dimensions. The resultant expansion and severe swaging resulted in keyholes and terrible accuracy. Mine went back to S&W, and although it no longer keyholed when it came back, it's accuracy was less than stellar. I think this was before they realized they had a problem because the cylinder throats on the returned gun were still large - just not as large as the original. I still have a box of 500 oversized swaged lead bullets (Taurus or Alberts) for that gun and I got an oversized expander plug from RCBS. Gun was stolen before I had a chance to see if that corrected things. Only gun of the six stolen that I really don't miss. LOL. To add insult to injury, I sold a mint Ruger .44 mag flat top to finance the 25-5 purchase. Ah well, live and learn.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Sorry to hear about your loss Pizza Bob.

I have posted about this in several threads here, but will post it again. If your gun has the three letter/four number serial, it'll have the correct size throats. If it has an N pre-fix it might. Take a .452 jacketed bullet and drop it in the chamber from the rear. If it falls through, you have oversized throats. If it catches in the throat, you should be able to push it on through with a pencil or pen with just a little pressure. These will be the correct sized chamber throats to give peak performance in a 25-5. The 25-7's and later guns, as well as the serial numbered guns I've already mentioned will all be good shootres.

 

[BiggerHammer]

First I have been away from my puter for a few days and now will try to awnser some of the post I have the grips and the wood target grip are S&W but to big for my old farmer hand so I like the hoag grips it is Nickle and it shoots right on the money I have learned it don't pay to fix something that don't need fixen it does have the N prefex but like I said it is a very good shooter. I don't understand what the fella said about posting the picture I did it the way it said it the pryer post I am a old man and don't know about these cumputer things I had to learn what I do know by myself no schools or kids around my area to help but I try. The S&W 25-5 is in great condition and it has all the bells also No Lock and it is tight I haven't shot it much about 25 shots at most the barrel is pinned and if any one wants or needs any other information or pictures let me know and I will try to help thanks for the replys BiggerHammer

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Welcome to the forum and I think you did fine. I'm new to this picture thing too! Nice gun and if it does what you want, what more can you ask?

 

[BiggerHammer]

Gun 4 Where are you in Mi I am 20mi east Muskegon BiggerHammer

 

[S.B.]

Originally posted by Jack Flash:
I can't tell for sure from the photo, is the finish nickel or blue?

I note that this one has a pinned barrel, so that's a plus. An even bigger plus is the 4" barrel. If nickel, some folks pay a premium for that. The replacement stocks are a negative.

As far as price: (this is a guess) I would think that $650 - $700 would be the low end starting point, assuming the condition you describe. Folks who cherish an N-Frame in .45 Colt do exist. I don't know how rare the 4" barrel is, but it is highly desirable. You may get $800 for that one if the right person comes along.

BTW, welcome to the Forum!

I don't know where you got your information but, John Linebaugh likes the non pinned better and one of these goes for $750-$800 around here in Illinois?
Steve

 

[Jack Flash]

Originally posted by S.B.:

Originally posted by Jack Flash:
I can't tell for sure from the photo...

I don't know where you got your information ...

What information are you talking about, Steve?

If it's about the value (or not) of the pinned barrel, that may be more of a personal thing. I know I prefer pinned, (and recessed where applicable), but others care less about this (these) features. I haven't done a scientific study, but I believe that, all else being equal, models with pinned barrels sell for more than models without.

If it's about accuracy, I think that has been pretty thoroughly discussed in the previous posts. I would just point out that BiggerHammer is satisfied with the accuracy he gets with it.

Anyways, since it has the original stocks, I feel better about my earlier prediction regarding its value.

 

[Klatuu]

Originally posted by BiggerHammer:
... I don't understand what the fella said about posting the picture I did it the way it said it the pryer post I am a old man and don't know about these cumputer things ...

You just get the link in there, then, and we'll help you post it

Jack Flash is correct, regardless of any performance plus or minus, pinned barrels are preferred over those that are not, and command a premium.

It should be noted that Mr. Linebaugh's expressed preference in the non-pinned barrels is due to the chamber tolerances on the older guns, which were pinned, generally not being as good as the later ones, which were not pinned, and not due to the pinned barrel itself.

Link to that article:
Gunnotes...Smith & Wesson Mod 25-5 By: John Linebaugh

When buying and selling, pinned = more money 99.9% of the time.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Originally posted by Gun 4 Fun:
To those in the know, if they want a shooter, yours is a P&R gun and they have the oversized throats, therefore are down on value compared to a later model. I'm a 25-5 fan, and have a few. This is one time when non P&R is more desirable to most guys.

If someone buys it for a safe queen, then you'll probably do OK on price.

No 25 is recessed. Only magnums and rimfire were ever recessed. Some are pinned, some are not.