625 Smith markings strange?

[judgedelta]

I got my new (to me) Mod. 625-3 yesterday and was puzzled to find that all that is marked on the barrel is: ".45 cal model of 1989". No indication that it shoots .45 ACP. The paperwork the FFL dealer sent with the pistol even showed it as a .45 long colt. I guess this is the only Smith I have that doesn't show the cartridge on the barrel. Just wondering?

 

[rcmodel]

That's the way they are marked.
Don't know why.

The gun was introduced in 1989, and only made in .45 ACP that year.
The .45 Colt chambering was added in 1990, and I think they must have had to caliber mark them from that point on.

rc

 

[Wil Terry]

S&W used such markings for decades. They figured that anyone smart enought to buy their sixguns was smart enough to know the 45 caliber cartridge it chambered.
And so it goes...

 

[dakota1911]

Interesting. I bought a new one in 2003 with a 5 inch barrel and it has .45 ACP on the barrel.

 

[Drail]

If it is chambered in .45 Colt it should be marked as a 625-5.

 

[mope540]

One easy way to spot the difference. The .45 ACP version has a larger gap between the cylinder and the front of the frame.
The 625-3 on the right is ACP. The gap for a .45 Colt version would be similar to that of the 696 on the left

 

[judgedelta]

Thanks. Mine is definitely a ACP.