??? on S&W 25-9 .45 Colt

V

vanfunk

New member
Hello all,
I've become interested in an S&W 25-9 .45 Colt available near me. It appears to be virtually new, as evidenced by very little wear on the recoil plate around the FP hole, and flawless 99.5 blue. It has certainly never seen the inside of a holster. It is priced right for these parts, and I'd really like to add it to my collection. Questions:

The cylinder has more rotational play than I expected based on its external condition. With the trigger back firmly, I can rotate the cylinder a bit from left to right. What is a "little bit". Well, I dunno. It just "wiggles" a little, more than other revolvers I'm familiar with. How much is too much in an N-frame Smith? Could this be indicative of the firing of "Ruger only" .45 Colt loads?
Should I just buy it (becasue I want it soooo badly) and see how it shoots? Will S&W take care of me if I buy it and have to send it back because it's spitting and shooting all over the place?
What to do?
Thanks in advance for your help!
vanfunk
 
Van -
Full lock-up is with the mammer DOWN, and the trigger held all the way back - In this position, the cylinder should be tight, fore and aft and side to side. I have had S&W return older N frames no charge, after re-fitting the yoke lock, and other relatively uncomplicated repairs. That model might (I can't say for sure) be under full warranty, but a call to CS should clear that up if you get the gun and still have questions.
 
A little bit of play, even with the hammer down and the trigger back, is normal. Anything more than the thickess of a dime, though, is too much.

What's the asking price on this gun?

If you really want it, get it and shoot it. If it spits, then it's time to have it repaired.
 
Thanks for your responses, guys. It's listed at $399, so I could get it for $350, I'd say. I'll go back tomorrow and check the cylinder play again. Mike, thanks for the "dime" tip - that ten cents might just save me alot of $$$:p

Anything else to keep in mind about this particular model?
I don't have a serial #, but when were the 25-9's made? I didn't know this variant existed until I saw this piece.

Thanks!
vanfunk
 
$350 would be a good price judging on what I'm seeing in Northern Virginia, which is a LOT more than that.

The 25-9 was made starting in 1990.

What Walosi describes is typical for lockup on a Colt revolver with the older lockwork, but not on a Smith.

In a Colt when the trigger is fully back the hand is pushing up on the cylinder indexing notches, and the cylinder stop bolt is holding the cylinder that way.

Smiths have a completely different type of lockwork, and some rotational play is normal.

Front to rear play (other than a TINY bit), along the axis of the crane, is not normal, however, and indicates wear or some other problem.

Anything else to remember?

Yes. The gun is NOT a .45 Magnum. Don't firewall your loads, and it will last a long, long time.
 
Thanks, Mike.
Nope, I don't want to hot-rod this one if I get it. Now that you mention it, though, there's a pretty nice Model 29-2 for sale across town for $450.

Things that make you go "Hmmmmm"...

vanfunk
 
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