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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 08-27-2015, 03:58 PM
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Default 686 Question: False Alarm

I got a call from a friend who owns a LGS inquiring about a Model 686, 2 1/2 inch barrel. The gun was a law enforcement gun and was manufactured in the early 1980's (not sure as to dash number as he did not have it in hand). The SCSW says that the 2.5 inch barrel was not introduced until 1990, but I am certain this gun is quite a bit older than that as the agency switched to semi autos about 1987, replacing the 686.

This gun was issued to a special unit and according to the current owner there are 8 like it with the agency badge engraved on it.

My questions are:

Was the 2.5 inch barrel introduced earlier than 1990 on the 686?

Could this have been a special order/run for this agency of a non-catalogued item? (there were probably 12 to 14 hundred 686's owned by the agency altogether).

If is was a non catalogued gun along with the agency marking does this increase the value of what has been described as a high 90% gun?

Thanks.

Last edited by WCCPHD; 08-28-2015 at 04:48 PM.
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Old 08-27-2015, 04:21 PM
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Looking through my SCS&W 3rd Edition there is mention of 2 runs of 2 1/2" barrelled 686's before the 2 1/2" barrel was catalogued in 1990.
1) "1st One Hundred" with gold filled engraving on the side plate "1984 Limited Edition Model 686 Compact". These were made for Lew Horton, approx 2500 manufactured. Product code 104212, 2 1/12" barrel, round butt.
2) Product code 104231 2 1/2", stainless, round butt, combat trigger, red ramp, manufactured from 1987-2001
The SCS&W mentions no other details on that model.

What agency are you taking about?
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Old 08-27-2015, 05:07 PM
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The 2-1/2" 686's are popular and are difficult to come by, so they do tend to command a premium unto themselves... LE markings, not so much, as that only adds value if the buyer is collector of LE marked guns in general or his an interest in a particular agency.

Many of the LE marked "special edition" guns were done post factory... it was not uncommon for large LE suppliers to special order a run of guns from S&W with their own specs, and then market to them to Agencies as a custom commemorative, where non-factory embellishments (engraving) were applied afterward as needed.
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Last edited by Gunhacker; 08-27-2015 at 05:08 PM.
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Old 08-27-2015, 06:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 824tsv View Post
Looking through my SCS&W 3rd Edition there is mention of 2 runs of 2 1/2" barrelled 686's before the 2 1/2" barrel was catalogued in 1990.
1) "1st One Hundred" with gold filled engraving on the side plate "1984 Limited Edition Model 686 Compact". These were made for Lew Horton, approx 2500 manufactured. Product code 104212, 2 1/12" barrel, round butt.
2) Product code 104231 2 1/2", stainless, round butt, combat trigger, red ramp, manufactured from 1987-2001
The SCS&W mentions no other details on that model.

What agency are you taking about?
The agency is NC State Highway Patrol. The guns were issued to the Governor's Security Detail.
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Old 08-27-2015, 06:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunhacker View Post
The 2-1/2" 686's are popular and are difficult to come by, so they do tend to command a premium unto themselves... LE markings, not so much, as that only adds value if the buyer is collector of LE marked guns in general or his an interest in a particular agency.

Many of the LE marked "special edition" guns were done post factory... it was not uncommon for large LE suppliers to special order a run of guns from S&W with their own specs, and then market to them to Agencies as a custom commemorative, where non-factory embellishments (engraving) were applied afterward as needed.
These guns were engraved (stamped) by S&W. These were duty weapons, not commememoratives. It was the second gun that S&W did for the NC SHP and all had their badge engraved (or stamped) at the factory. S&W would do it even for smaller agencies. My agency had Model 66s and Model 13's done with the agency seal and we only bought about 125. The SHP probably bought 1500 total, with most being four inch other than the group mentioned here.
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Old 08-27-2015, 07:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WCCPHD View Post
The agency is NC State Highway Patrol. The guns were issued to the Governor's Security Detail.
I don't know about anyone else but it sounds to me like a cool gun to own.
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Old 08-28-2015, 04:50 PM
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Got a call from the LGS and the gun is actually a 2.5 inch Model 66, not a 686. The gentleman said he paid $600 for it several years ago and wanted more so I passed.
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