Unknown Smith in a .45 ACP with a PPC barrel?

[Paints-n-cows]

Ok, here is the deal.  I got a great deal on this pistol but I am trying to figure out exactly what it is.

On the heel of the frame, the serial number is "S 160XXX".  Inside where the crane meets the frame, there are some numbers.  There is a "2" that is slightly above the numbers "73805".  There is what looks to be a "9" on what would be the next lower line.

It is chambered in .45 ACP and uses the moon clips. 

Currently there is a barrel that has flat sides on it (ala PPC style) that measures 5.427" in front of the frame.

I'm not sure how to determine exactly what frame (i.e., K or N frame) this is but it is about what I remember being an N frame size.

There is the typical Smith and Wesson markings on the lower portion of the right hand side...however there is no large Smith and Wesson logo on the right hand side plate nor on the left side.

The frame has a pin that runs from side-to-side approximately 1/2" from where the frame meets the barrel.

The action is absolutely fantastic on this.  The double-action is as slick as butter and the single is crisp and clean.

Anybody have any ideas about this.

[Hammerdown]

Ok, here is the deal.  I got a great deal on this pistol but I am trying to figure out exactly what it is.

On the heel of the frame, the serial number is "S 160XXX".  Inside where the crane meets the frame, there are some numbers.  There is a "2" that is slightly above the numbers "73805".  There is what looks to be a "9" on what would be the next lower line.

It is chambered in .45 ACP and uses the moon clips. 

Currently there is a barrel that has flat sides on it (ala PPC style) that measures 5.427" in front of the frame.

I'm not sure how to determine exactly what frame (i.e., K or N frame) this is but it is about what I remember being an N frame size.

There is the typical Smith and Wesson markings on the lower portion of the right hand side...however there is no large Smith and Wesson logo on the right hand side plate nor on the left side.

The frame has a pin that runs from side-to-side approximately 1/2" from where the frame meets the barrel.

The action is absolutely fantastic on this.  The double-action is as slick as butter and the single is crisp and clean.

Anybody have any ideas about this.

Hello
It sounds like you either have a model Pre-26 or a Model pre-25 there. The model 26 is a fixed sighted larger Square-N-Frame that was also called The Military .45 revolver. The pre-25 would be the Target version with adjustable sights. The S Before the serial number tells me it is an N Frame revolver made between 1947-1969. If your revolver has a stamp on the side of the barrel that says "Model of 1950" it is the first version of .45 ACP Target revolvers built. The barrels of these revolvers were a tapered style light weight barrel, and serious Target shooters complained they were too light for competition so These were  later changed to a heavier style barrel and in 1955 they stamped "Model of 1955" on the barrels of those like mine shown. If your revolver does not have either date stamped on the side of the barrel being 1950 or 1955 it is an earlier one meaning it may even be a Pre-War version of this target series. The Pre-War version will have a large mushroom style extractor knob and may also be a Long cocking action as all Post-War models came with the short cocking actions. In 1969 S&W used The N Prefix before all their serial numbers in the N Frame series revolvers.Here is a later version of the model 25. This is a Model 25-2 known as the Model of 1955 Target .45. The flat sided barrel on your revolver sounds to me like an add on barrel not a factory round Target style barrel.  I hope this helps, Hammerdown

[Hammerdown]

Hi
Now that you Posted pictures I can see it is a Pre- model 25 made around 1956-1957. After 1957 the factory stamped model numbers in the crane area of all of their revolvers so yours shipped prior to 1957. It has the upper side plate screw and should have one in front of the trigger Guard. I Looked up your serial number and it showed to be somewhere in between 1956-1957 on date.That tells me your revolver is a Pre-25 which came with the Heavy barrel like mine shown and the original Barrel has obviously been removed and replaced with a slab sided PPC Barrel. The Original Barrel on your revolver would have been stamped "Model of 1955" and was 6-1/2" in length just like the one I have shown. These are excellent revolvers and believe it or not I have the original correct barrel for your revolver as shown with one I have for a model of 1950 revolver. Below is the Two barrels available on a model 25. One is the Tapered one that was The "Model of 1950" and the other one is the Heavier style "Model of 1955" I hope this helps, Hammerdown