S&W Model 1955 25-2

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Runningman

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2008
Messages
1,230
Location
Northwest
Yesterday I looked at a S&W Model 1955 25-2. It has an original box with a price of $105 dollars hand written on it. It also has what looks like the original shipping box on the outside of the factory box. There is a date of 2-62 on the outside box. Has factory papers in the box also. There is a package of 4 half moon clips and one full moon clip in the box. It is a 6 1/2" barrel and looks to be unfired and NIB (100% condition).

Not sure I want to get this or pass. My question is what would be a fair price to buy something like this?
 
What I would do is get hold of a Blue Book . If you can't find a book check the auction sites. GunBroker and Auction arms. This gives you a ball park value at least. Hope this helps.
 
You guys are fast, Thanks for the info. Let me ask this I'm more a shooter than a collector.

If you bought this would it be a sin to shoot?

Does S&W still make a 45 ACP revolver? If so what price do they go for?
 
I saw a real nice one go for 555 recently. I paid around 500ish for mine with target grips on it. I have also seen them go for over 700.

They are superb shooters. You won't be sorry if you grab it at any reasonable price.
 
If you pay collector price to shoot it then you paid too much.

If you get it at a reasonable price ($400-$500 IMO) then the 25 is a great shooter.
 
I've learned over these past few years that people who write these blue book prices, write books for a living, not buy and sell guns.
 
I'm more a shooter than a collector.
Click to expand...

For target work?

Others with way more experience ought to chime in, but I recall some of the early 25s were notorious for having oversized chamber throats, which hampered accuracy somewhat. At some point and design change, these issues were supposedly resolved. As I recall, the 25-2s were among those with oversized throats.
 
I paid $700. for a NIB one with the wooden box and all, and I love shooting it. I bought it because it was in such good shape, not really looking for a collector's item.

.45 acp is my favorite caliber to shoot and to load for and the big Smith lets me shoot when the ground is covered with snow as I don't have to chase my 1911 brass that's usually hot when it ejects so it burns it's way to the ground.
 
I paid 685 face to face for this one in great shape without a box. But I got a S&W performance center rug with it along with 25 moon clips and the demooner tool. I don't really need or use them though because I purchased a 1000 pieces of 45 autorim brass and reloaded all of them. Mine is a tac driver especially with 185gr SWC. If it is as you describe I would surely say between 725 and 800.

45Cal-Model1955.jpg
 
Others with way more experience ought to chime in, but I recall some of the early 25s were notorious for having oversized chamber throats, which hampered accuracy somewhat. At some point and design change, these issues were supposedly resolved. As I recall, the 25-2s were among those with oversized throats
Click to expand...

The 25-2 was designed and built as a target revolver. I have owned, handled and shot maybe a dozen of them and never had any accuracy issues, at least none that could be attributed to the revolver.

S&W (all manufactureres actually) have had problems with revolver chambered for the 45 Long Colt but the M25-2 is a champ.
 
IMHO I think if you are looking for a piece to shoot then get one in 90-95% condition, maybe missing box and papers. Shoot it and enjoy it. Yes guns were made to be shot but they are only 100% and original once. Maybe you should leave the mint one for a collector. Or buy it if you can get it for a great price and sell it to a collector. There should be enough used ones around that would be perfect shooters. You'll pay less for a used one too. Just a thought. If you do decide to pass on it though, be sure to tell some of the fine folks here where it is and how much they want for it.:D
 
I was eyeing a 25-2 at a Gun Show recently. An S&W collector (whose opinion I respect) told me the same thing about the throat/accuracy issue with the earlier models.

All that said, there aren't too many around in that condition. At the right price, it would be hard to resist.

I have two of the M25-2 .45 Colt models (a 4" and a 6") and both are tack drivers. :)

In answer to your final question, yes, S&W does sell a modern 45 acp revolver, the M625. The most common ones are the JM (Jerry Miculek) model, stainless 4".
 
The guy wants $750 for it and he said price was firm. Seem kind of high to me at 1st but after seeing what new ones are going for and what on the auction sites price does not seem so out of line. I may go look at it again soon.
 
750 is a little bit high. I bought mine NIB w/tools, papers, cardboard and wood box for $320 in 1991. I bought the first one in 1979 for $350! Now THAT was too much!

Considering today's prices on pinned Smiths, without the wood box, 650 would be a acceptable price. At least that would be worth some consideration. I would try 575 and be prepared to go up.

The question is, what else in life have you spent too much on that is worth as much as a 25-2? If you want it, and it is as you describe, I don't think you could go wrong. What are the new 25's and 625's going for? Are the newer guns as nice at the one you looked at?

They represent the best of the Smiths. If the one you describe was local to me, I would get on down to that shop pronto.

Hey, I have had lots of practice justifying gun purchases!
 
You should ask yourself why you think you want it if the price is an issue. These are big heavy revolvers, heavier than most 1911s, and because of their long sight radius they are more difficult to hold for fine target shooting than a shorter barreled pistol will be.
 
krs,

That is different for sure. I have an easier time holding revolvers on target due to the longer sight radius and most do.
 
That is different for sure. I have an easier time holding revolvers on target due to the longer sight radius and most do.
Click to expand...
Likewise. And with the greater mass comes greater inertia, giving a significantly slower arc of movement. As a general rule, I shoot my 25-2 better than I shoot my 14. It just moves less.
 
Do you shoot bullseye, revolverguy? http://www.bullseyepistol.com/joyner.htm

Bullseye shooting relies on perfect sight alignment, not so much on holding on target.

A longer sight radius is more demanding because the eye will have a harder time resolving the small spaces to the side of the front sight within the rear sight notch, as well as the same difficulty detecting differences in the level of each sight in relation to the other, when the sights are farther apart.

This would be attested to by anyone who has participated in International Free Pistol events in which the pistols, in order to maximize accuracy, spread the sights as far as the barrel and sometimes appendages allow. Those guns are the most difficult to use with skill even though their triggers can break at 1 oz or less, their grips can be anatomically fitted to the individual shooter, and they are built with the finest possible barrels and attention to chambering.

Holding the front sight on target with only an approximate placement of that sight within the rear sight would be easier because the front sight is slightly closer to the target, but to shoot bullseye that isn't the task at hand. The target is and should be a vague blur over which the perfectly aligned sights move, sometimes a significant amount, while the shot is squeezed or pulled to breaking with the sights always in perfect alignment from aim, to fire, to follow through.

Bullseye shooting is what the whole line of 6" revolvers were developed to do even to the point that S&W designed their K22, K32, and K38 to weight the same amount loaded and be identically balanced regardless the caliber. The big old Model of 1950, later of 1955, now known often as the 25-2 for .45 acp came to offer an alternative to the service pistol in matches that allowed it's use for those who prefered to maintain their consistency by using only revolvers in all caliber events.

Casual use of such arms amounts to an insult to their heritage.

So there. :)http://www.bullseyepistol.com/
 
They are not cheap but they are lifetime enjoying great shooting guns. I have a six inch which is the most accurate gun I own(several). I traded for mine so I don't know a $ value to put on one but I love mine.
 
krs,

I do not shoot bullseye with my 25-2 thats for sure :). I am very familiar with bullseyepistol.com but thank you for the link anyway. Often there are a few exceptions to the rule :) I most definitely shoot more accurate with a longer sight radius than I do a shorter one. Well up to 6inches, anything over that seems to be nose heavy for me.

I was not speaking on the weight of the 25-2 just more about the sight radius.

Having been to many training classes as well as a range coach for 3 years while in the Marine Corps at Quantico Va. I think I may know just a little about sight alignment, sight picture, breath control, and trigger control as well. :)

It also falls in line with most people thinking snub noses aren't accurate. It's because they shoot them poorly most of the time and then it is usually due to sight radius. I had a friend that could not shoot his model 60 to save his life even after tons of hours of practice and low recoil reloaded 38spl ammo. I gave him a 4 inch Model 65 and with full house 357 he could keep all 6 in the 8 to 10 ring of the target. We knew it was not the gun because at 20 yards I had no issues with the model 60 keeping it in the 9 and 10 ring on a 8in target. Though not scientific he always struggles with with snub noses and we have tried everything with him. Now I will admit after he got his eyes checked he does a lot better now :) but 3 out of 5 even on paper is a good day for him at 20 yards with a snub nose. You can give him a 4 to 6 inch revolver even one he has never shot before and he will be able to at least have all 6 on paper in the 6 and 8 ring.

Now I will admit to shooting my k38 8inch way better than my 25-2 for bullseye. Now defensive shooting is a totally different scenario.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

bikemutt
  • Locked
My dream gun found, S&W 25-2 1955
Replies
13
Views
567
Capt. Ct.
C
P
  • Locked
S&W Model 940 five shot 9x19 revolver?
Replies
11
Views
2K
gotboostvr
gotboostvr
stonebuster
  • Locked
S&W 45ACP factory error model 25-2
Replies
11
Views
1K
bannockburn
bannockburn
B
  • Locked
S & W MOdel 25 1955 Target - Ballpark Figue Value ?
Replies
5
Views
590
Gordon
Gordon
Walkalong
  • Locked
1955 Target
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
Majic
M
Back
Top