Picked this up today, should be a 1980 produced 25-5. It does have the oversized throats, but I'm not to worried about it. Should be able to get it to shoot. SN is N734xxx its does have the the three T's as well.

Very nice Smith

Yes, very nice revolver in large caliber suitable to frame size. Thanks to Taurus Judge/Defender boys and cowboys there is ammo selection galore including improved version of incredibly frightening "Black Tallon "😬🤣 now called Pdx1 or Defender. Nothing but👍👍 🤩👏

Far as I can tell it’s nickel finished 25-5 which I guess are hard to come by?? According to the guys over on the smith and Wesson forums these shouldn’t have nickel hammer or trigger? But I saw couple on guns international with nickel finished hammers and triggers. This pistol has me scratching my head. It’s lacking the N on the left side of the grip. Maybe it’s a 25-5 someone sent off to have nickel plated who knows. Did smith stamp all of them with a N. The ejector rod is not blued according to smith and Wesson forums they were all blued even on the nickel plated guns.

Very nice. Super collectable.

The finish looks like hard chrome to me, that would explain the hammer and trigger as they were usually matte after Mahovskys or APW did a brushed chrome job. The color looks more like SS than the slightly yellow tint on nickel which is an indicator too.

At any rate it’s a very good finish and a sharp looking revolver.

That’s a beauty!!

Id not fret the throats. My H&G 68 and 270SAA molds drop a little wide!!!

Finish and certain other info is contained on original shipping box label. Problem is geezers learned they can increase price and sales appeal by throwing in any period correct box or not with proverbial saying: "previous owner really took care of this gun...." The thing to remember is cardboards only usefulness lies from end label information. Blue plastic boxes can be bought for about $15 plus shipping. These at least protect the gun to certain level.

More reading I did on the S&W forums those two outfits you mentioned were very popular in the 60’s and 70’s with guys sending their pistols to them for refinishing. I took flitz to it and it cleaned up real good. Like you said looks more hard chromed than nickel. If it’s a non factory job which by all indications it is whoever did it did a fantastic job on it. I didn’t get hurt on the price either. Far as the box it’s not the right box it was for model 17-4. I could ask arctic ammo if they could give my number to the guy who had it on consignment. So I can ask them questions about it.

Uh ok I guess..

The aftermarket finish isn't ideal for a collector item, but very nice gun, regardless.

Yes you are correct. I looked all over this pistol for the N they say smith put on them nothing, indicate nickel finish. But as the kid pointed out it looks more hard chromed to me. Then pulled grips to see if a code was there to indicate refinish none. But read by the 80’s smith wasn’t really doing that anymore?? Who knows.. again I could get a factory letter that will tell the story. I can send it Ford have the finish removed and have it reblued.

https://cdn.hibuwebsites.com/8f11630c320b482d8df5e3c48a639ca2/files/uploaded/2024%20Retail%20Complete%20(1).pdf

I would say it's an aftermarket finish but I wouldn't let that cloud my mind on value. Basically, who cares? You got a great, beautiful gun there, my friend. Have a blast with it.

Looks like a fine example to me. I would find a moderate load that pushed a 250-270 grain SWC between 900 and 1K FPS and go find some critters to hunt with that. It would make both a great sidearm as well as a primary hunting gun.

You are correct, I did not get hurt at all on what I paid for it. I always wanted a smith a 45 LC. This one was priced right so I snagged it.

I have a 25-5 and a model 57 in 41 mag. The 25-5 is a later gun, but still a fantastic shooter. The Model 57 is a pinned recessed revolver in nickel. I pictured them here to see the nickel on the 57 and how the hammer and trigger are color cased, which is how the nickel guns were made...