what to do (new model 25)

[Y-T71]

I've got a German luger made at Eufurt state armory in 1917.

Complete gun with belt (with original owners name carved into it "Hielbeck", buckle, holster, 2 non matching mags with wood bottoms and bayonet.

Great uncle brought it back from the WWI and was his, passed to my grandfather, then to my dad, to me (soon to be handed over to my son)

It's 105 years old and I have shot the piss out of it with no intention of stopping now.

Guns are made to be shot.

 

[captain awesome]

The overwhelming and almost unanimous vote is to shoot it. Literally no one has said don't. I tend to agree. Good enough for me. I went out of town for the weekend/4th, as soon as I am back on Tuesday I am going to.
I'll post some target pics as requested.

 

[Jonesy814]

I bought a model 36, with box & documents that appeared unfired, but I couldn’t be sure.
I had it to the range within a week so now I don’t have to wonder. It’s had at least 25 rounds through it now

 

[Y-T71]

I bought a model 36, with box & documents that appeared unfired, but I couldn’t be sure.
I had it to the range within a week so now I don’t have to wonder. It’s had at least 25 rounds through it now
View attachment 1087947 View attachment 1087948 View attachment 1087949

.
Not normally a fan of snub nose or nickel but that is a downright gorgeous pistol!

P.S. I see you store some ammo the same way I do.

I lucked into 20-30 of those bins and use them for bulk, high turnover pistol ammo that I shoot the most of.

Specialized and small batch go into hinged top, small boxes.

 

[Rodfac]

That's a fine looking Model 25 with all the accoutrements as well...if you're collector minded, it's in great shape to maintain its value as an investment. That said, I'm a shooter first and foremost and I use all of my guns...several of which would probably rank as high grade collector items. I take care of them...dote on them actually, but there's no denying that their firing reduces their collector value....at 76 yo, my kin can worry about the resale values, I'm here to enjoy the years ahead.

One aspect of the .45 Colt Smiths which may color a shoot vs. collect only decision is that many of the early ones were turned out with grossly oversize cylinder throats...one that I owned, a 4" model, had throats that went 0.548"~, with a 0.452" groove dia...accuracy was abysmal with lead alloy or jacketed bullets....6-7" at 25 yds or worse. These were early guns, however, and later models had better throat/groove matching. A search over on the S&W forum will give you some idea of the ones to look out for.

Best Regards, Rod

 

[bannockburn]

Jonesy814

Another minty nickel plated S&W to add to the collection! Reminds me of a nickel plated Model 38 I had many years ago. I also added a Tyler T-Grip adapter to it like you did, then polished it a bit to a brighter shine to sort of match the gun's own brilliance.

Fast forward some time later, the Model 38 was long gone and I found a brand new stainless steel Model 649, just asking to be polished up. I did have the presence of mind to keep the T-Grip around which I promptly put on the 649 and there they have stayed ever since!

 

[Gordon]

I recently sold mine like yours, It would not work with the Hornady FTX load, too long in bullet point for cylinder to rotate had to file off just a bit. Being fired a little , few hundred rounds , and properly cleaned did Not drop the price as it was AS new in box still .

 

[Agsalaska]

I personally wouldn't shoot it. I own several old NOS guns like that and don't shoot any of them.

I used to be worse about it. I wouldn't shoot guns that had clearly been fired but were in 98% plus condition. But I do now.

Yes I understand that I am in the small minority and most of yall would shoot them. Which is exactly why I buy them and keep them.

 

[bangswitch]

That's a fine looking Model 25 with all the accoutrements as well...if you're collector minded, it's in great shape to maintain its value as an investment. That said, I'm a shooter first and foremost and I use all of my guns...several of which would probably rank as high grade collector items. I take care of them...dote on them actually, but there's no denying that their firing reduces their collector value....at 76 yo, my kin can worry about the resale values, I'm here to enjoy the years ahead.

One aspect of the .45 Colt Smiths which may color a shoot vs. collect only decision is that many of the early ones were turned out with grossly oversize cylinder throats...one that I owned, a 4" model, had throats that went 0.548"~, with a 0.452" groove dia...accuracy was abysmal with lead alloy or jacketed bullets....6-7" at 25 yds or worse. These were early guns, however, and later models had better throat/groove matching. A search over on the S&W forum will give you some idea of the ones to look out for.

Best Regards, Rod

I think one thing to consider about collectability of a model is, "how many of them are there like it?" Rarity adds value; if it were just a 1000 made, or better yet, a hundred, then I would really think hard about whether to shoot it or not. However, there were 10,000 of these made, so they're not especially rare. I'd call this more of a "Special Edition" than a commemorative and knowing how I enjoy my 4" version of the .45C, I'd be running to the range to try out a 6" version.

Which brings me to the "Big Issue" with M25's in .45 Colt, the oversized throats. I've read about them, and have heard umpteen comments about how bad the accuracy is with them. I don't buy it all. I measured the throats on my M25-5, a 1980 production gun, they spec out to 0.455". I'm loading and shooting 0.452" plated 250 grain RNFP's at 800-850 fps. I was at the range today, and this is what I did with 18 rounds at 25 yards, single action in a Modified Weaver stance. Most of the gap in the group is me being unsteady and unable to clearly see the front sight (stiff neck and bifocals). The sequence took about two minutes and two reloads (no speedloader).



I'm not trying to brag about my shooting; I'm just showing that my gun's accuracy is pretty darn good, and better than the guy shooting it. I think the only way to know definitively whether a particular "large throat" M25 is a poor shooter or not is to try it out, and compare it with a known good shooting gun, or let several different people try it, to remove the individual's acumen from the result.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have a safe full of guns that I bought in “previously unfired” condition.

In each case I tried to rectify that situation as soon as possible.

You bought the gun to shoot and not as an investment, I agree with what as the guys said above, “Choot it!”

And let us know how it shoots for you when you do,

Stay safe.

 

[1-12 INF (M)]

When I was a kid in 1980, my first revolver was a 8 3/8" Model 25. I've shot many 1000's or rounds through it and it's excellent. Been to the gunsmith twice for tune ups, it's still going strong, and looks as good as the day I bought it. Life is short. Enjoy your wise investment.

 

[Sudden Thunder]

Well I like S&W N frames. I own several. I like going to the range with them, one is my primary woods carry (629 classic 5"), others are range toys or on occasion hunting revolvers. I just Bought a new to me Model 25-3 45 colt anniversary edition off gunbroker. It looked nice in the pictures, and the price was way less than what others were listed for, I can only assume this was because the seller would only take postal money orders. No big deal. It came with the presentation box and the original cardboard box and papers, commemorative coin and the history of Smith and Wesson book. All in great shape. It was just delivered today, so I took it out and examined it. It is perfect. It is beautiful, and it has never been fired. I hadn't counted on that and the seller didn't describe it as such. I am sure that sounds like great news but I didn't buy it to put it on a shelf or display (though I may at this point) I bought it to play with at the range and enjoy going shooting.
So now, here I thought I was buying a range toy and ended up with this 45 year old brand new revolver they dont make anymore. The very definition of what a safe queen would be. I feel guilty even thinking about firing it. Should I? The 125 year commemorative editions aren't super rare, and I suspect many of them remain unfired as collectors pieces. But still, I keep going back and forth. I'll probably never get another opportunity to be the first one to fire a brand new pinned barrel N frame. What do y'all think?

Here is a picture, hastily taken, doesn't do it justice at all.
View attachment 1087354

GREAT REVOLVER
You need to shot it every chance you get!
I like that it already has smooth grips!
I have a much older model 25 and it’s only modification is a smoothed trigger (face and side) which made the double action pull “feel incredibly lighter”

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

If you don't shoot it you're just a "warehouse" for the next owner.............No fun being that.

 

[Ted100]

I'm perplexed by this whole 'safe queen' thing. Do you buy a new car to park it in the garage and never drive it? Do you buy a new shirt and never wear it? Do you buy food and not eat it?

The acquisition of this revolver is part of the ever changing life experience available to you, in the big picture, for a very brief time. Why curtail that experience?

Shoot that bad boy! And then shoot it again, and again, and again! Take the advice of the member on this forum who said he was busy turning all his firearms into smoothbores - by god, that's the spirit!

I think it depends on your reasoning for purchase like so many have called out. Purchase as an investment or purchase as a tool? I have an old Anaconda that I bought to shoot deer with and I did just that. When Colt discontinued the anaconda, I boxed it up, thew it in the safe and bought a smitty as my new deer killer. My $400 Anaconda investment became a $2,500 pistol in just a few years.