S&W 625-3 model of 1989 .45 ACP

[CecilB]

Much appreciated S&W Fan!

 

[jspick]

CecilB
The Pachs on your gun are OEM and are marked K Frame as you pointed out. I checked my -2 and -3 to verify.

Very interesting! So I went and looked at my 625-3 and the grips say N-round. So are your grips mis marked or did they make some 625's with K round butt frames?
This is another learning moment about Smith's!

 

[colt_saa]

625s (all of them) are N-frames

The confusion comes from the days where there were no round butt N-frames from the Factory. Custom Gunsmiths used to reduce the grip frame so that K-frame round butt grips would fit. After all no one made N-frame round butt grips yet for them to order.

There are a few K-round designs that will look acceptable on an N-frame, these are mostly rubber grips

The nice thing is the Custom round butts were so popular that the Factory adopted the idea

So if you are looking for aftermarket style grips like on my 5" Model of 1988 or Factory style grips like on my 3" Model of 1989 then you want N-frame grips

​

 

[CH4]

Thank you CH4 for answering my question.My research showed that the 625-2 model of 1988 came with Pachmayr Gripper but after reading an article by John Taffin he stated that the 625-2 has a “K frame style” round butt, that wording threw me off a bit. So I’m still not sure if I should be looking for a K or N round butt so I’m hoping that a couple of guys that posted pics of theirs with wood grips will chime in with whether they bought K or N.

I recall hearing something about the first few had K grip frames, maybe just a couple prototypes - I think it was the 625-2. I am confident yours has an N grip frame, my -2 does. Both -2 and three Pach grips say “K”.

 

[CecilB]

Thanks for all the replies, glad I asked the question. Looks like a few people learned something new today. Not sure what grips I might end up getting but at least I know what size. I’m not new to S&W’s even though the question may have made me sound like a novice. I have J, K and N frames and can totally disassemble/reassemble them, but this being my only round butt N frame and not wanting to buy yet another grip (to add to my already overflowing box of grips) I put my lack of knowledge on this subject out in the open here for answers. Never too old to learn, even in my 70’s.

 

[colt_saa]

I have been finding Brownell's de-mooning tool (screwdriver handle version, new-old stock for $10 at several LGS's for a year and a half, so there must have been a closeout someplace.

Ivan

Myself and buddies made our de-mooning tools for pipe just like others have

However we made our's very long so that as we de-mooned the brass slid down the pipe and right into the brass bucket . . . . very convenient

 

[jspick]

I would like to find a 5" barrel for my 625. Any ideas on where to find one. I already checked ebay.

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

625 & new 3D printed moon clip pouches

 

[45Wheelgun]

The very first gun I owned. Still have it today 34 years later. Started my love affair with 45Wheelguns.

 

[Kolus]

I only shoot 45 Auto Rim in mine.

 

[gator59]

45AR is your friend…

 

[N_Frame]

I have both a 625-6, .45 ACP, Product Code: 100927 (5" barrel, ".45 CAL MODEL OF 1989") and a 25-7, .45 Colt, Product Code: 100924 (5" barrel, unfluted cylinder, also with a ".45 CAL MODEL OF 1989" imprint on the barrel, and "Midnight Black" finish). I picked these up separately, both with boxes and all paperwork, not realizing they were both called ".45 CAL MODEL OF 1989". The gentleman I purchased the 25-7 from was originally intending to rechamber/rebarrel it to .44 S&W Special. Glad he decided to sell it to me before ruining it like that!

 

[Papa32129]

I got one to post.
Bought it used about 20 yrs ago. No box. 5 full moon clips and two half moon clips.

Papa

I have shot it very little.

 

[bgrafsr]

I have a 625-3 and i bought several hundred .45 Auto Rim cases for reloading and shooting. Much easier to use AR cases than .45 ACP with moon clips.

 

[AJ]

The only problem that I see with AR cases is that they don't function well in an M1911......

 

[tejano]

I have two. Here is one.

 

[tejano]

And the 2nd.

 

[KurtC]

All 625's are N frame Round Butt. Before Pachmayr made proper N frame grips, the K frame rubber grips could be made to fit. That's where the myth started.

The 625-2 (Model of 1988) had a floating hand, which we all hated. It was dispensed with for the-3 revision and never reappeared.

I have pretty much owned and qualified with every 625 made prior to the lock. The only one I still have is this 625-4 with Performance Center parts and tuning.

 

[tejano]

What was/is the issue with the floating hand on the 1988 model, which I bought new way back when?

 

[KurtC]

The floating hand made for a crappy DA trigger pull, particularly in N frames. When qualifying or in competition, all shots are DA.

If you only shoot SA, the floating hand isn't noticeable.