Value of a 25-9 in .45 Colt?

[fat tom]

I looked at a couple of 25-9's today,one in 98% condition with no box,etc.,the other 99% with box and docs. Both with 6" (may have been 6 1/2") barrels. The seller said that the 2016 Blue Book showed something like $1300+ for a 25-9 in .45 acp,but double that for the .45 Colt. Why are these guns valued so highly? I'm not that familiar with the newer guns and pricing,but there must be something here that I'm missing.

f.t.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

$2600? Sounds insane to me!

I won't say that some Model 25s might not go for 1300 bucks or even more, e.g., NIB, early models in boxes and with everything, any specially marked ones, etc., but you can buy a Model 25 all day long for 1000 dollars.

98%, & no box? That's a thousand dollar gun. Check the auction sites and see if I'm wrong.

 

[fat tom]

The apparent reason for the difference in price seems to be the .45 Colt chambering. The book says add 100% for .45 Colt? Was there only a VERY few made in this caliber? I certainly don't know. Help!

f.t.

 

[Bat99]

Well if a 25-9 in 45 long colt is a $2600 gun, I screwed up big time just a few months ago. I found one LNIB with a holster and they only wanted $1200 for it. I can't imagine the caliber on a mod 25 making that kind of difference.

 

[lamarw]

You had best have him show you where the 2016 copy of the Blue Book states these prices. I don't believe it.

I have a copy the 2014 copyright which is the 35th Edition. Yes, prices may of gone up some but not this much. The edition I have shows the Model 25 (1955 Target Model) at a rather elevated value but not others. The Model 25-5 and the more current Classics are way below the prices quoted by your seller.

Believe it only after he shows it to you. By the way, many believe the values shown in the "Blue Book of Gun Values" by S. P. Fjestad are understated compared to real world prices.

I sure did not pay close to his prices for my Model 25 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt.

 

[Candrews86]

I believe the 25-9's were made only in 1991, these had the correct throats along with the endurance package. You don't see them too often and I'd value a 6" nib with papers and box for around 12-1400.

 

[DR505]

I bought this one in 2014 for $725 on Gun Broker. It is a 6" barreled .45 Colt. I was the only bidder for 4 cycles and never bid above $725 and never hit the reserve. The seller contacted me and sold it for $725.

 

[S&WIowegan]

The dealer you talked too is either giving you the "business" or he is an ignorant 'something'! I believe(and so does SWCA 3) all 25-9s are 45 Colt. I have a 4" 25-9 that I bought many years ago for $540. all in. These aren't scarce or rare but also not common. Originally made in the early 90s and many more dash numbers have come along since. The guns have correct size throats and shoot great!

I'd say $1000. with no box, etc is fair.

 

[DR505]

FWIW,he has an anib Mountain Gun in .45 Colt tagged at $1,000. They don't mind negotiating either,at least with me. So my question remains unanswered. Why so much for a 25-9 in .45 Colt. It is NOT a Model 25 Model of 1950,it is NOT a 25-5,it is NOT a Mountain Gun. Those I have and know their value,so those comparisons leave me un-informed as to the SPECIFIC model I'm asking about.

f.t.

f.t.

In my opinion the 25-9 that has the fluted cylinder (not the 5" unfluted Model of 1989 variant) are the cream of the crop when it comes to .45 Colt revolvers. They are pre-mim, pre-lock, have the endurance enhancements, and fewer of the fluted cylinder variants were made than were the 25-9 Model of 1989. As Candrews86 stated, they were made only during 1991 for a very short run. I have both a 625-7 MG and the above referenced 25-9 .45 Colts. Both are great, but I like the 25-9 a bit more. Would I pay that much for it? No. I was happy with $725. For a 4" version of the same revolver, I would go up to $1K.

 

[ameridaddy]

I agree with DR505 that the -9 is the best of the 45 Colt Model 25's for the reasons he stated.
My very, very slightly used 25-9 with 6" bbl (no box) was $1000 in Jan 2015 off gunbroker. It grouped well, has a great trigger.

It's only downside was that it shot ~6" high over POA at 25 yd with a 8 gr Unique, 255 gr lead load even with rear sight bottomed out.
Unfortunately, it did not have a pinned front sight that I could change, but a one piece sight and barrel. I had a smith cut a slot and pin on a taller Patridge front sight. Now I can shoot bullseye with a 6 o'clock hold or tin cans with a dead on hold after a small elevation adjustment.

I suspect Smith actually bored out a Model 29 to get the 45 Colt, using the Model 29's all one piece barrel and sight. It was cheaper than redoing the casting/forging/machining process to provide a taller front sight. The heavier, slower bullets from the Colt 45 hit higher downrange than the faster 230 gr 44 mag bullets with this sight, and there was not enough down adjustment in the rear sight to compensate.

 

[fat tom]

In the words of the immortal Roseanne Roseannadanna: "Nevermind!"

f.t.

 

[pittpa]

I agree with DR505 that the -9 is the best of the 45 Colt Model 25's for the reasons he stated.
My very, very slightly used 25-9 with 6" bbl (no box) was $1000 in Jan 2015 off gunbroker. It grouped well, has a great trigger.

It's only downside was that it shot ~6" high over POA at 25 yd with a 8 gr Unique, 255 gr lead .

Is that your bullseye load? I've been interested in trying my 25-9 on the line but haven't found it to be nearly as accurate as my Python.

 

[bananaman]

Yes it is newer. Yes it has the lock. My 25-15, (45 Colt) with box & papers was at gun show for $850. Seller told me I could have it for $750. Bought it on a whim, & glad I did. I do prefer the older Smiths, but you can't always have what you want. I put S&W 80's factory target grips on it after buying. Bob

 

[SmithNut]

In my opinion the 25-9 that has the fluted cylinder (not the 5" unfluted Model of 1989 variant) are the cream of the crop when it comes to .45 Colt revolvers. They are pre-mim, pre-lock, have the endurance enhancements, and fewer of the fluted cylinder variants were made than were the 25-9 Model of 1989. As Candrews86 stated, they were made only during 1991 for a very short run. I have both a 625-7 MG and the above referenced 25-9 .45 Colts. Both are great, but I like the 25-9 a bit more. Would I pay that much for it? No. I was happy with $725. For a 4" version of the same revolver, I would go up to $1K.

Couldn't agree more, the M25-9 in 45 colt is the best, specially if you can find a 4" version.

My journey, getting mine where I wanted it is shown in this link:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/440211-m25-9-45-colt-bit-journey.html


Gratuitous pics below :

 

[ameridaddy]

Is that your bullseye load? I've been interested in trying my 25-9 on the line but haven't found it to be nearly as accurate as my Python.

Nah, just fun lobbing pumpkins downrange, and the satisfaction of working up a good load for it. Current group size is about 3-1/2" at 25 yds with Unique and 255 gr RPFN. Not there yet. I'm going to try different powders and bullets as soon as it warms up a bit.
My best bullseye revolver is an old .38 Spec Mod 14, 8-3/8 bbl, loaded with .38 wadcutters. It shot better than I could even when I could shoot well. From a rest, 5 shot 25 yd groups were about 1-1/4"
My best bullseye semi is a ca 1975 Gold Cup.

I suspect the .45 Colt will never come close to either of the above, because otherwise, there would be lots of people using it for revolver bullseye shooting.
Most likely reason IMHO is the large case size and the difficulty of filling it.
It makes nice big holes, though.

 

[ameridaddy]

Couldn't agree more, the M25-9 in 45 colt is the best, specially if you can find a 4" version.

Gorgeous! Whose grips? Who changed the front sight for you?

 

[SmithNut]

Gorgeous! Whose grips? Who changed the front sight for you?

The grips are from Craig Spegel, the factory (Performance Center) changed the front sight several years back.

tx

 

[DR505]

The photo here is the reason I think I was the only bidder on Gunbroker for this beautiful 25-9:

I contacted the seller and she sent me 8 great, crisp, clear photos showing every aspect I needed. If she had posted those photos on Gunbroker, I think I would have had to pay MUCH more. It is a good looking revolver. Now to find one in 4" trim.

 

[pittpa]

Nah, just fun lobbing pumpkins downrange, and the satisfaction of working up a good load for it. Current group size is about 3-1/2" at 25 yds with Unique and 255 gr RPFN. Not there yet. I'm going to try different powders and bullets as soon as it warms up a bit.

My best bullseye revolver is an old .38 Spec Mod 14, 8-3/8 bbl, loaded with .38 wadcutters. It shot better than I could even when I could shoot well. From a rest, 5 shot 25 yd groups were about 1-1/4"

My best bullseye semi is a ca 1975 Gold Cup.



I suspect the .45 Colt will never come close to either of the above, because otherwise, there would be lots of people using it for revolver bullseye shooting.

Most likely reason IMHO is the large case size and the difficulty of filling it.

It makes nice big holes, though.

Few people even use any revolver (for bullseye )out my way. I've shot the 38 Python a long time and would like a new challenge. My 8" 25-9 does about 2-1/4 inches at 50' with a 255 lswc on top of around 5 gt Trail Boss. Need to improve that.

 

[ameridaddy]

pittpa -
Extrapolated, it looks like your Trail Boss group size at 50' is the same minute of angle my Unique are at 25 yds.
I just got some BE86, and I'm anxious to see how that does in various bullet weights.
I shot revolver in bullseye in the 70's and 80's because the matches were in a league that required 38 revolver, iron sights. Nowadays, I shoot them just for fun. A couple friends and I have dogs and cats, and we like to shoot the pet food tin cans off a log. The .45 Colt really makes them jump, and the .38 makes them jump more than a .22
Besides, .38 reloads are in current .22 cost range, and I don't lose any brass with revolvers. ;>)