JWM
Member
Gee, if I had known at the time how popular the CS-1 would become, I would never had tossed my empty S&W box with papers in the FLETC dumpster behind our dorm rooms. Circa 1989, I was issued the three inch version.
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US Customs Service 686 CS-1
- Thread starter 18DAI
- Start date
"The dealer said it was a "CS" gun, which meant "Custom Shop". I didn't argue with him"
I believe that's how mine was described, Custom Shop. I didn't argue with her either.
I believe that's how mine was described, Custom Shop. I didn't argue with her either.
vegasgunhand
Member
I don't know if that will ever be know for sure. In March of 2003, the U.S. Customs Service was disbanded the units placed under Department of Homeland Security. The uniformed Inspectors became part of Customs and Border Protection, and the Special Agents were combined with former INS Agents and became Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
That being said the records of these firearms are probably gone forever. I know many were sold in exchange sales prior to 1992 when the Clinton administration came in. After an incident where some former Customs revolvers that had been surplus and sold to a distributor, were stolen. Even though the guns were being shipped from the distributor to a dealer, once it was determined the guns had originated from U.S. Customs, Janet Reno launched an investigation as to why the guns were sold. President Clinton ordered all sales of surplus firearms to cease.
I know after they were replaced, some were kept in field offices and converted over to shoot simunition only for force on force training. Some were rumored to have been sent overseas to friendly governments, and the rest I fear were destroyed.
I was lucky enough to get my 3 inch CS-1 when Lou Horton was selling them. It is a M2 stamped revolver, so I know the extractor star problem has been repaired at the U.S. Firearms and Training Staff facility at Ft. Benning, GA.
As a retired Agent, I will not ever sell my CS-1.
ldp4570
US Veteran
vegasgunhand, In 1996 while stationed at Ft. Benning one of my jobs was to inspect all buildings where ammo was stored, and monitor all movements of weapons onto and off of base. During inspection of the US Customs building I got to see lots of boxes of CS-1's and 6906's slated to be shipped out to Anniston for destruction. This also included all other seized firearms by US Customs an other fed agencies. I knew what they were then as I already had my own CS-1 3". It made me sick to see all those firearms that Cpt. Crunch would be chewing up!!!!
vegasgunhand
Member
Hello, everyone!
I'm French, and I recently bought a 686 from my local gunsmith. I was wondering about the stamps inside the crane area : CS-1 2M. There's the PACHMAYR windowed handle. The serial number is AZB7356. What a surprise to find all this information and to know a little bit about the history of this weapon. Apparently my gun is one of those which was used on duty. It is in rather good condition for a weapon of more than 30 years. It works perfectly and is very accurate. I am surprised to find this kind of model marked CS-1 here in France. I don't really know its history and I think the former owner didn't know much about it. But what I've read here has taught me a little bit more and it's very interesting.
I'm French, and I recently bought a 686 from my local gunsmith. I was wondering about the stamps inside the crane area : CS-1 2M. There's the PACHMAYR windowed handle. The serial number is AZB7356. What a surprise to find all this information and to know a little bit about the history of this weapon. Apparently my gun is one of those which was used on duty. It is in rather good condition for a weapon of more than 30 years. It works perfectly and is very accurate. I am surprised to find this kind of model marked CS-1 here in France. I don't really know its history and I think the former owner didn't know much about it. But what I've read here has taught me a little bit more and it's very interesting.
Allen-frame
Member
Very early CS1
I just this morning met with a gentleman and purchased what appears to be a very early three in cs1 serial is ANA 0174 so that places it in the 1986 time frame it was carried by an agent who is now deceased his name was Andy Pardo or Pardell. The man I purchased it from wasn't exactly sure he said he was going to try and find his name he attended his funeral some four years ago in 2016. it is in average condition having been fired quite a bit with boogerd side plate screws and a Hogue grip instead of the Pachmayr grip.
It is Mag na ported and the gentleman I purchase it from seems to recall that the agent that he got it from told him that it came to him that way through his armored.
I will see if this old dinosaur can figure out how to post a photograph on the Forum these days I've been away for a long time and just got a little bit excited about this latest purchase I have a set of 686 Plus has that have been modified to Mountain guns and we'll be happy to post photos of those along the way
regards Allen frame
I just this morning met with a gentleman and purchased what appears to be a very early three in cs1 serial is ANA 0174 so that places it in the 1986 time frame it was carried by an agent who is now deceased his name was Andy Pardo or Pardell. The man I purchased it from wasn't exactly sure he said he was going to try and find his name he attended his funeral some four years ago in 2016. it is in average condition having been fired quite a bit with boogerd side plate screws and a Hogue grip instead of the Pachmayr grip.
It is Mag na ported and the gentleman I purchase it from seems to recall that the agent that he got it from told him that it came to him that way through his armored.
I will see if this old dinosaur can figure out how to post a photograph on the Forum these days I've been away for a long time and just got a little bit excited about this latest purchase I have a set of 686 Plus has that have been modified to Mountain guns and we'll be happy to post photos of those along the way
regards Allen frame
Can’t help you but welcome back.
girvin02
Member
Pretty wild that one made a journey all the way to France!
Excellent timing for this old thread to be revived. I picked up this CS-1 2M stamped gun, this week (purchased on GunBroker). I own/have owned many S&W's and can without a doubt say that this one has the best action of any I have had the pleasure to dry fire. I don't know if it left the factory that way, or if someone did work on it at some point, but I like it (a lot).
Excellent timing for this old thread to be revived. I picked up this CS-1 2M stamped gun, this week (purchased on GunBroker). I own/have owned many S&W's and can without a doubt say that this one has the best action of any I have had the pleasure to dry fire. I don't know if it left the factory that way, or if someone did work on it at some point, but I like it (a lot).
dpast32
Member
I have always loved both the 3" & 4" versions of the C.S. Models, although wih a preference towards the 3" barreled versions. They were strong Revolvers, with their nice heavy barrels facilitated your keeping it down if, & when repeat shots are indicated. Years ago, my LGS / L.E. Equipment Dealer received a bunch of both barrel lengths in N.I.B. condition. Ohhhhh how I wish I had grabbed one of each barrel length, but money was very tight at that time in my career, so I had to unfortunately pass on them. One of my close acquaintances at the time was an Immigration Agent, & used to love his issued C.S. Model. IIRC, he had chosen the 4" version, even though he worked P.C. all the time. [ Can't recall his issue Load, but it was either .38 Special 110 JHP+P+, or .357 Magnum 140 STHP. ] As most of us now sadly realize, many shun the larger Revolvers for self defense use. Personally, I feel that's a big mistake. They're just as deadly,& just as useful as they used to be. The only 'true' drawback / liability is the lack of a rapid reload. If that tends to be an issue regarding your intended purpose, well then perhaps the Revolver is not suited to your purposes. But, if your purposes won't require an extremely rapid reload, then just maybe the Revolver's many 'other' attributes will be sufficient for what you have intended. As for me, I frequently rely upon my 'old' S&W M-64 4" H.B. D.A.O. for all around home defense, although I do have, & employ other models at times.
Best, dpast32
Best, dpast32
My brother ran a Customs go fast boat out of Key West in 1986-87 and always talks about the S&W revolver he was issued. I sent him a link to this thread and here is his response:
"That's the CS-1 and grips I had in 1986. The first time I fired it the grips fell off. I was going to put them back on, but the range officer said that in non-emergencies we could not do anything to our weapons except clean them. It went to the Customs gunsmith. That was true for our personal weapons that we carried as backup. Routine cleaning and nothing else. It was an excellent pistol. 357 Magnum is still my favorite pistol round."
In an earlier conversation, I remember him saying how much he liked the trigger
Paul, Ohio, USA
"That's the CS-1 and grips I had in 1986. The first time I fired it the grips fell off. I was going to put them back on, but the range officer said that in non-emergencies we could not do anything to our weapons except clean them. It went to the Customs gunsmith. That was true for our personal weapons that we carried as backup. Routine cleaning and nothing else. It was an excellent pistol. 357 Magnum is still my favorite pistol round."
In an earlier conversation, I remember him saying how much he liked the trigger
Paul, Ohio, USA
I still have my CS-1 I got maybe 30 years ago at a gunshow. I didn't even know it was a CS-1 till years later I saw a post about the 3 inch "CS-1" and sure enough, mine was one of 'em!
I'll dig of a pic later!
I'll dig of a pic later!
Pretty wild that one made a journey all the way to France!
Excellent timing for this old thread to be revived. I picked up this CS-1 2M stamped gun, this week (purchased on GunBroker). I own/have owned many S&W's and can without a doubt say that this one has the best action of any I have had the pleasure to dry fire. I don't know if it left the factory that way, or if someone did work on it at some point, but I like it (a lot).
Nice pick up! I have had my 3” CS1 since the mid to late 90’s and it does have one of the best actions of any S&W revolvers that I have owned.
This past Tuesday I walked into an area gun shop to do some window shopping. There in the case, are two pre-lock model 686's. One was a 3" and one was a 4". I asked to see them. First the 3" and then the 4", to my surprise both were marked CS 1. Both guns had the brushed or satin stainless finish. Neither gun had evidence of ever having the bead blast finish. I have a 4" CS 1, 2M stamped with the bead blast finish, so it left me wondering what is up? Both guns were mechanically pretty tight, but both had a number handling marks. 3" priced at $1499.99, 4" priced at $1199.99 This was guns only, no boxes. Thanks for all the information in this thread. I'm going to go back and get a more detailed look at these revolvers.
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Great info!
The 3” versions were more for the S/A’s, MEO’s, AIO’s and Pilots. However they did have the option of carrying a 4”. The 4” CS-1’s were more the CPO’s and Inspectors.
The US Border Patrol also extensively carried the 686 but I think they were more like production guns versions a specific order like the CS-1. The Border Patrol did have a special run of 3” GP-100’s instead of 3” 686’s.
Both Customs and Border Patrol have had specific firearms for each agency but none have had a following of the CS-1.
The “new” specific “Customs” Gun is a Glock called the G47. Try finding that one!!!!!
The 3” versions were more for the S/A’s, MEO’s, AIO’s and Pilots. However they did have the option of carrying a 4”. The 4” CS-1’s were more the CPO’s and Inspectors.
The US Border Patrol also extensively carried the 686 but I think they were more like production guns versions a specific order like the CS-1. The Border Patrol did have a special run of 3” GP-100’s instead of 3” 686’s.
Both Customs and Border Patrol have had specific firearms for each agency but none have had a following of the CS-1.
The “new” specific “Customs” Gun is a Glock called the G47. Try finding that one!!!!!
So, I have read through this thread twice now, and am still perplexed as to what I might have. By features and appearance, it would seem that my 686 is a CS-1, but it isn't marked as such. When I bought it from a forum member, he even said that it has CS-1 features. To be clear, he did not claim it is a CS-1. In the pictures, you can see that it has the bead blasted finish, pinned blade front sight, and plain black rear sight. The owner did say that it came with the same, or similar, pachmayr grips that the CS-1s came with. He however trashed them when he bought it new in 1989, and subsequently replaced them with the wooden Hogue grips that are on there now. It does have the round grip frame, despite the grips making it look like a square grip frame. I have also noticed that my box has the same product code of '104229' as I have seen on all of the boxes that were previously posted in this thread. Based on the serial number of BAN4290 and Spec Ord of '9229', it would seem that this would have been made at the end of the timeline in which the CS-1s were being produced. Regardless of whatever it may be, I love this revolver. I'm simply interested in the discovery of determining more about what it is exactly. Can anyone shed light on what I may have?
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