S&W Pre-Model 26

L

lamarw

New member
I acquired subject revolver and will pick it up tomorrow.

The correct title I believe is 1950 .45 Target Model (Light Barrel) "Pre-Model 26". There was reportedly only 2,768 of these manufactured between 1950 to 1961. The serial number on this on indicates it was made prior to 1953. My new revolver is a .45 ACP; although 200 were manufactured in .45 Colt.

It is in excellent condition and here are a couple of poor quality pictures.
 

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That's a beauty. A friend found some NOS barrels and fabricated a couple of clones by rebarreling and rechambering .357s. I guess a 1955 M25 is better for target shooting, but the 1950 is a more graceful revolver, to the eye and in the hand.
 
One mistake on my part - The production period would of been 1956 to 1957 since the serial number is S166850.
 
I have a 25-2 in .45 ACP that looks just like that gun, It says .45 model of 1955 target on the barrel if I remember correctly, I also have a modern model 22-4 which is a .45 model of 1950. I have to admit I have never seen or heard of a Model 26, so what is the difference between a Model 26 and a model 25??
 
Master Blaster, I can not answer you question, but I will attempt to research it. Hopefully, someone who knows will save me the research time.

I do know the "As New In Box" book value guide on the Model 25 is $1,200.00. The same book says the Model 26 no dash is too rare to estimate value if I am reading it correctly. There has been one reported sale of $10,000.00. Once again someone will be along to confirm or correct me. Your 25-2 in .45 ACP may have a premium based upon rariety. I do not know.
 
Model 25-2 is not a rare gun but they are in demand. I like mine and would not sell it. The going rate for a nice one is about $1200 around here used in 90% condition.
 
I have a 25-2 in .45 ACP that looks just like that gun, It says .45 model of 1955 target on the barrel if I remember correctly, I also have a modern model 22-4 which is a .45 model of 1950. I have to admit I have never seen or heard of a Model 26, so what is the difference between a Model 26 and a model 25??
Click to expand...

The 25-2 has a heavy, bull barrel, and is marked Model of 1955.
The skinny-barreled gun is the Model of 1950, and apparently was also Model 26.
 
That sounds about right Master Blaster. I paid just over $1500 for this one and the "Standard Catalog for Smith & Wesson" 4th Ed. value guide is $3200.

I can appreciate your fondness for the Model 25. I have a Model 25 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. It is a well balanced handgun.
 
Howdy

Here is the 'heavy barrel' version, a Model 1955 Target Model. Chambered for 45ACP it is also known as the Pre-Model 25. You can see the barrel does not taper at all, it is the same diameter its entire length. This one left the factory in 1955.

Model195503_zps32aa87cf.jpg


Model195504_zps75858f84.jpg




This model usually left the factory with oversized target grips like this, but they were usually checkered. I believe these are replacement grips as they are not numbered to the gun, are not checkered, and appear to me to be made of rosewood instead of walnut. Another collector offered to trade these grips for checkered ones and I said no thanks.
 
If you only paid $1500 for a 26 then you really did get quite a deal as they are rare and worth several times that much.
 
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Driftwood, You have a beautiful revolver. There is no way I would trade those stocks unless they were for the correct numbered grips. Those stocks are just drop dead georgous on your revolver.

I was fortunate my stocks serial number matches.
 
and appear to me to be made of rosewood instead of walnut
Click to expand...

I had a late-'50s model 29 with checkered rosewood; was walnut ever standard?
I remember Goncalo Alves as being standard on S&W revolvers for most of my lifetime.
 
Master Blaster, There are at least 2 coming up in the Apr. 13, 2018 Rock Isaland Auction. It will be interesting to see what they sell for at auction. RIA sold one last year for close to 3 grand. The actual model 26 is too rare to appraise and the only one sold was reported to of sold for over Ten Thousand Dollars. I think there were less than one hundred produced by S&W.
 
No idea on total production but it is essentially a tapered barrel 1955 or Model 25. Story goes this was introduced and target shooters requested a heavy barrel version. The first model was dropped not long afterward.


That's a very highly sought after collector piece.

I prefer the look of the taper barrel. I hate 45 ACP revolvers because I can't make the damn moon clips work. I had a beautiful 25-2 that shot better than any other S&W I own but I sold it after struggling with those stupid clips.
 
I have a Brazilian Model of 1917, first series.

I use Beckham Products RIMZ polymer moon clips and have absolutely no problems with them at all.
 
I hate 45 ACP revolvers because I can't make the damn moon clips work. I had a beautiful 25-2 that shot better than any other S&W I own but I sold it after struggling with those stupid clips.
Click to expand...

All you had to do was buy some .45 Auto Rim brass if you didn't want to deal with the clips.

Don
 
While on the subject of theses .45 ACP target guns maybe somebody can show something I've heard about but never seen. One of those guns had a U-shaped mainspring, not too sure which. If anyone cared to remove a grip panel and show us and define which model it is?

Bob Wright
 
Bob Wright, I believe the S&W Revover you are referring to is the 1955 .45 Target Model (Heavy Barrel) "Pre-Model 25".

Hopefully this link will work for us: SmPebSgVevyGM%253A%252CXxgyXv0_Zl33JM%252C_&usg=__UFbvfPxfPg7ytzBueOnfvZfVzuA%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv0ZG3i-_ZAhXIy1MKHWIcBJQQ9QEINjAB&biw=1344&bih=747#imgrc=nSmPebSgVevyGM:


The above link does not seem to work. You will find pictures if you do a Google search of the following; Smith Wesson Pre-Mod 25 RARE 'U' Mainspring 45 TGT
 
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