I don't work with #25, but on #35, I just grind off the end of the pins on a bench grinder and gently tap out the link being removed. I grind out part of the sideplate, so it comes out quite easily. It takes very little time, though it cah get a bit hot to hold onto
Here's a breaker made in U.S.A.
http://www.pattontool.com/25thru60.htm