[Guillermo]

Buddy showed me a S&W 25-5 that has "44 magnum" clearly marked on the barrel.

Blue is even...looks factory. Serial numbers match.

Is this a mistake or a cobbled up conversion?

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt82/BillLoeb/IMG_1152.jpg
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt82/BillLoeb/IMG_1150.jpg

[SharpsDressedMan]

Very possible that someone had a cylinder and barrel and put them on a .45 Colt frame. I do not know if any structural difference might be a concern as both are N-frames, and possibly heat treated the same, etc. It COULD be a factory mistake, and a factory letter (you have to purchase a historical letter) would tell you if the number and caliber match.

[Jim Watson]

Which is the actual caliber, .44 or .45?
There have been some factory mismarks but there have been a number of parts guns made up, too. A friend had what looked like a real nice "Model 26" that was really a rebarrelled and rechambered .357.

[Fishslayer]

Mismarked S&W are not particularly uncommon. While a curiosity, I'm told that they aren't even rare enough to be of any particular interest to collectors.

[Guillermo]

it is chambered 44 magnum

If it is a conversion, kudos to the smith...the blueing is identical on the frame and the barrel.

Looks factory

[Fishslayer]

it is chambered 44 magnum

If it is a conversion, kudos to the smith...the blueing is identical on the frame and the barrel.

Looks factory


Then my guess would be that somehow a 25-5 frame got into the wrong box or the correct frame got misstamped. Not really sure how the process goes but I'm pretty sure all the stampings would be done prior to final assembly.

[rcmodel]

I think somebody bubba'd it.

Look at the scratch marks on the top of the crane where it is apparently rubbing hard in the top of the frame cut. The top of the frame cut looks like it has buggers there too where it is rubbing too hard.

S&W didn't make no 25-5 OR Model 29 like that.

rc

[SlamFire1]

Call Smith and Wesson. You have the serial number. If they tell you it went out the door as a 45 LC, then it went out the door as a 45 LC.

While it makes sense that all N frames might be made of the same materials and receive the same heat treatment, I would not assume it. Might be wrong.

[Guillermo]

If they tell you it went out the door as a 45 LC, then it went out the door as a 45 LC.

that supposes they caught the mistake

[StrawHat]

I have owned a few mismarked S&Ws and handled a lot more. I still have a 45 long Colt that is marked M25-2 and over stamped -5. It happens, but S&W will know how it left the factory.