S&W Revolver in .45 ACP?

[doc540]

stumbled across this in a local pawn shop, and the darned thing followed me home like a puppy

Model 25-2

'80-'81?

At least it shoots .45 ACP.

[19112474me]

gorgeous buy!

[zdragon52]

recessed cylinder/pinned barrel are fantastic features....they don't make wheel guns like that no more. Congrats.

[4XLT]

very nice find !!

[GKC]

You done good!

[Tug66]

Big time score, that is a beautiful revolver. I have been wanting one of those for a few years now. I can never find one when I can afford to buy it though

[jfwest]

Very nice!

[buck-boost]

Doc, that is a beaut! I would guess early to mid '70s.

[supervel]

Reminds me of my wifes John Jovinio snub-nose with a long barrel,same model anyway.They don't make them like that anymore,and their getting very expensive.

[supervel]

hey Doc,does yours have a step in chambers for headspace,my wifes does not.some of the newer ones i think did.i am not positive though.There is one model smith and wesson made that takes .45acp and .45 colt.I know it is not the 25-2.25-5 is .45 colt.It may have been a model 21 or 22?

[GOVTMODEL]

Use .45 Auto Rim brass and you can ditch the moon clips and use the extractor

[hberttmank]

Nice score!

[Oldsalt65]

That's a beauty; congratulations on snatching it up.

[USMM guy]

Originally Posted by zdragon52

recessed cylinder/pinned barrel are fantastic features....they don't make wheel guns like that no more. Congrats.

Then it is a pretty rare gun.

[cdhbrad]

Those 25-2s are great shooters. I have one and it is one of my favorite revolvers. Is the barrel 6", most were, if it is a 5" you have really hit a home run as those are quite rare.

[Pizza Bob]

Nice find and it looks to be in great shape.

@zdragon52 - Model 25's & 625's (chambered for .45 ACP/.45AR) do not have recessed cylinder charge holes.

@supervel - The gun you're thinking of is the S&W Governor. Smith's answer to the Taurus Judge. On those .45 ACP rounds headspace on the moonclip while .45 Colt rounds headspace using the cartridge rim resting on a ridge around the circumference of the rear of the cylinder (moonclips fit within this ridge when using ACP's).

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[doc540]

6 1/2"

My intention is to shoot it a bit, but eventually I'll probably trade it for a decent Colt 1911 without frills.

Mod's, this is not a stealth trade post, ok?

S&W says it's a 1981 build.

[ope135]

Very nice looking. Enjoy it while you have it. I have a hard time giving anything in my inventory up, even for a good trade.

[AreB]

I see a lot of 625s but hardly ever a 25. Beautiful finish on that piece, really fabulous for a pawn shop puppy. Someone must have been really desperate or ignorant to pawn a classic like that.

[pendennis]

If you can provide part of the serial number, we can provide its ship year from S&W. Use NnnXXX.

I own one, and it's a ball to shoot.

[BYJO4]

Great looking Smith. I really like the the 45 revolver. I have the 625 and shoot it on a regular basis.

[RickB]

Originally Posted by GOVTMODEL

Use .45 Auto Rim brass and you can ditch the moon clips and use the extractor

Ditch the Auto Rim brass and you can use moon clips!

[doc540]

Hoooly Moooly!

50 yd steel swinger didn't have a chance today.

It got PINGED!

[Caminoman]

My guess is mid 1970's. The 25-2 was a six and a half inch gun. As far as I know, SW made NO guns that could fire both the .45acp and 45 Colt rounds. If a gun like that existed, one would need two cylinders. In the early 80's Smith did make the 25-5 which fired the 45 Colt round, and continued to offer variations of each caliber.

Around the time the new 25-5 45 Colt guns came out, Smith went to a six inch barrel, and dropped the extra 1/2 inch. It also came in a four inch length. Both guns were polished blue. Also at that time, the 25-2 was continued in the six inch but no four inch.

It goes without saying that 45acp guns use moon, or half-moon, clips, and can also fire the 45 Auto Rim cartridge, too, but without clips. Acp rounds headspace on the case mouth. The Auto Rim round has a thick rim in order for the cartridge to be extracted. Acp rounds are for an auto, and therefor have no rim for the extractor to engage, hence the need for moon clips.

Through divine inspiration, S&W started the 625 series, best recollection is 1988, and they came in every length possible, at one time or another, including three-inch, four-ince, and five, and probably some I dont know.

[Caminoman]

I forgot about the new Governor. Not my cup of tea, but it DOES interchange the two 45 rounds...and 410 shells...sheesh.