686-8 Price Check, Please

Hang-Fire Hank · #1 10-20-2009, 01:05 AM

I'll be attending an auction in three weeks, which has subject 2 1/2" barreled Smith in excellent condition. Also has S&W finger groove Combat grips & in original Blue one-piece cardboard box. Ultimately, would prefer a 3" version, so want to buy this one without getting hurt in order to recoup my investment. What would be a top price in your opinions?

Thanks in advance for your experienced help!

H-F Hank
USAF Vet
NRA Bene.

bamabiker · #2 10-20-2009, 09:00 AM

Well I'll throw out my opinion. This gun new at a gun store would probably be around $700 +/- $50. If I really wanted one I'd be happy to get it for $600 and my smile would get bigger as that number grew smaller. However that gun does have the internal lock and for a lot of people that would turn them off, me included. So for me, if I could get it for $300 or less I'd consider it. I'm not here to get in the debate about the lock, I just don't like it. That's my opinion and as the old saying goes, it's worth what you paid for it.

deuterij · #3 10-20-2009, 02:32 PM

Agree with bamabiker. I priced the latest 686 recently: ableammo online about 750, Academy and Bass Pro Shop 699, some gun show retailer about 630. I am also turned off by the lock, so prefer used from the 80s - 90s vintage. There are quite a few out there.

5Wire · #4 10-20-2009, 08:37 PM

Welcome to one of the most sought after barrel lengths, they don't show up used very often. Here's my track on it, there no dash eights in the data —are you sure the revolver is a dash eight? These data are dash six and earlier:

Smith & Wesson 686 Plus Revolver in .357 Magnum, .38 Special, Plus P, 2-1/2 in Bbl. Bluebook of Gun Values (30th Edition) indicates between $495 in 98% condition and $625 in 100% condition for this gun. I have 53 recorded prices for this model gun from $350 to $1450 over a period of 5 Yrs 3 Mos ending September 21, 2009. The average price as of that date was $535. No refurbs, no refinishes, regular sights, all represented as 95% or better, no distinction for engineering revision, if any, no special editions, no distinctions for box, papers, tools. Current or last MSRP is $932.

Here's how the trends chart out:

Hang-Fire Hank · #5 10-21-2009, 02:04 AM

After reading bamabiker & deuterij's responses, I'm beginning to believe I must have looked at the dash # incorrectly as 5Wire surmised. It definately DOES NOT have an IL. I inspected the gun & must have read "8" incorrectly instead of "6". Serial # is BNC75xx. Does that check out?

5Wire, this baby is NOT going to go for $535, but I appreciate your statistical efforts (more like really impressed)!

Having nailed the age down, sounds like $600 - $700 is about right?

Thanks!!

H-F Hank
USAF Vet
NRA Bene.

rollin_hot · #6 10-21-2009, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hang-Fire Hank

After reading bamabiker & deuterij's responses, I'm beginning to believe I must have looked at the dash # incorrectly as 5Wire surmised. It definately DOES NOT have an IL. I inspected the gun & must have read "8" incorrectly instead of "6". Serial # is BNC75xx. Does that check out?

5Wire, this baby is NOT going to go for $535, but I appreciate your statistical efforts (more like really impressed)!

Having nailed the age down, sounds like $600 - $700 is about right?

Thanks!!

H-F Hank
USAF Vet
NRA Bene.

The two 686's I traded FOR were around the $550-$600 range by the time I added my trade offers up. I believe I have a -2 and a -3 if I remember correctly.

5Wire · #7 10-21-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hang-Fire Hank

A...It definately DOES NOT have an IL. I inspected the gun & must have read "8" incorrectly instead of "6". Serial # is BNC75xx. Does that check out?
[...]
Having nailed the age down, sounds like $600 - $700 is about right?

Thanks for the kudos, Hang-Fire Hank.

The dash six would have the internal lock. No internal lock would make it a dash five or earlier. The serial number puts it somewhere about 1993 and it could be a dash 4.

Bud's Gun Shop will sell you one NIB with factory warranty for $664 delivered. The price trend in my chart puts the average used price at about $560 as of last April. I have four prices above $600 for used 686 Plus revolvers.

The one you're interested in may be worth that or more but only you can determine how much you want to pay. I certainly like mine.