Many threads asking about the CS-1 grips were posted over the last decade.

SmithNut told us that the actual service guns were delivered to the Customs Service wearing Pachmayr Compact round butt grips with a "window" in the bottom.

These Pacmyar grips were created specifically to meet the Customs Service contract - which stated that the installed grips must allow viewing of the revolvers serial number.

Early production Pacmayr compacts did not have medallions - BUT - evidently SOME later examples DID.

Overun 686 CS-1 guns were sold directly to distributors wearing wooden magna style round butt grips with S&W medallions.

I have yet to locate a copy of the Customs Service request for proposal. I can tell you that it called for specific demonstrable accuracy and durability - above what the standard production 686's delivered.

So the rumor of these CS-1's being "better made" and having "DX" accuracy is likely true. Periodically a 686 CS-1 was selected from a production lot and required to demonstrate the durability and accuracy requirement. If it failed to do so it was sent back to S&W and a subsequent example pulled and subjected to the same test. We are told that there were few that failed - but there were a few examples.

More in a bit....