
Smith & Wesson S&W 25-3 125th Anniversary Commemorative .45 LC Revolver C&R
SOLD FOR: $1700
LSB#: 220114KB010
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: The S&W 125th Anniversary Commemorative 25-3, The 1955 .45 Target Heavy Barrel
Serial Number: S&W5983
Year of Manufacture: 1977, ATF C&R
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: 6-Shot, Double Action / Single Action, Swing-Out, Fluted Cylinder Revolver
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “.45 CALIBER”, the right is marked “SMITH & WESSON / 125TH ANNIVERSARY”. The sideplate has the S&W 125th anniversary commemorative seal. The barrel and sideplate markings are gold-filled. The right of the frame has the four-line Marcas Registradas address. The crane cut is marked “S&W5983 / MOD. 25-3”, the butt is marked “S&W5983”. The crane and the sides of the grip frame have inspection marks.
There is a brass plate for the mahogany presentation case lid, it is marked “Smith & Wesson / 125th Anniversary Commemorative / 1852-1977”. A nickel-silver medallion is included with the S&W 125th anniversary commemorative seal on one side, the other with portraits of Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson. The included book is titled “125 YEARS WITH SMITH & WESSON” on the cover and spine and the cover has an inlaid silver-colored medallion with the same portraits of Smith & Wesson found on the commemorative medallion.
Barrel Length: 6 1/2″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade with red insert fixed to the barrel’s serrated rib. The rear sight is a square notched, white outlined leaf in a base adjustable for windage and elevation screwed to the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth Goncalo Alves presentation grips with gold-colored S&W medallions. There are some scattered light handling marks. There are some scratches on the bottom of the left panel. There is what looks like a small chip loss on the left panel right below the butt of the grip frame. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There are a few freckles of very shallow surface erosion in the bore at the midsection.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 95% of its metal finish. There are some scattered little nicks through the finish on the barrel, mostly towards the muzzle. There are a few light scuffs and draglines on the frame and cylinder. There are a couple tiny marks into the finish on the cylinder. There is a light turn line on the cylinder. There is some minor discoloration on the front sight blade. The screw heads are sharp to lightly worn with strong slots. The markings are clear but some of the gold color fill has been lost. Overall, this handgun rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The double-action trigger is smooth and the single-action trigger is crisp. The cylinder locks up with hardly any play on each of the six chambers. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a 125th Anniversary blue two-piece box, non serial matching shipping box, paperwork including the manual, and a mahogany presentation case with blue felt interior with fitted depressions for the revolver, medallion and inside the lid for the book “125 Years with Smith & Wesson” by Roy Jinks with thumb-snap straps to hold the book in place.
Our Assessment: In 1977, Smith & Wesson passed the milestone of 125 years providing the world with repeating cartridge handguns. In 1852, Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, along with financier Cortland Palmer, began work on their Magazine Pistols, which would go on to launch not just Smith & Wesson but also Winchester! While the Magazine Pistol, later called the Volcanic, would not turn out to be a major success, after obtaining exclusive rights to Rollin White’s bored-through cylinder patent, Smith & Wesson began producing cartridge revolvers, and they would continue producing revolvers to this very day. This is Smith & Wesson’s model 25-3, a heavy barreled target revolver chambered in .45 Colt with a 6 1/2″ barrel, adjustable sights, produced to commemorate 125 years of Smith & Wesson. The revolver is in about Fine condition with about 95% of its metal finish, and comes with its presentation case, blue box, shipping box, commemorative medallion and the book “125 Years with Smith & Wesson” by S&W historian Roy Jinks. This should make for a great addition to a Smith & Wesson collection and would make a great addition to any gun room in America. Please see our pictures and good luck!
