I've been watching the auctions on GunBroker and Auction Arms, as well used stuff in the various forums. Is it my imagination or are the prices for used S&W 686s awfully close to the lower new prices? Yeah, there are some dealers that think their guns are "limited production rare models" and are asking rediculous prices, but, the prices from the more reasonable dealers are quite close to the used prices.

What gives? Why the high costs? These guns aren't rare. They've been around for quite some time now and there are a lot of them out there.

The vagaries of the gun market sometimes just boggle the mind.

SgtSam

I have experience with 686's in the 2.5" variety and what I have found drives the prices of them up is a few things....

1.) Older dashs or no dashs in 2.5" are'nt easily found
2.) No MIM parts
3.) No lock
4.) Original finger groove combat grips...some sellers add $150 to a $500 gun because of these grips.

If given the choice between an older 686 with combats and a newer 686 with the lock, MIM parts and a Hogue grip, I would take the older one everytime, even if it were a bit more.

If I told you how much I had to give for my 686-4PP you would be boggled for sure. I really think some folks bidding against me on GB thought it was a Python. But...it never fails to make me smile when I remove it from its case at the range. Sweet!

__________________
M629-4PP M686-4PP M617

I have a four inch 686 no dash I am going to sell. Can anyone give me a good asking price? It has been carried a lot and shot very little. I would estimate finish at 95%. Thanks!
Steve

__________________
Steve

In my observations, the more common 686s that "sell" are running about $450-500. Shorter barrels (up to 4") tend to go for more. Rarer ones (2.5", 3" pre-locks, CS-1s, etc.) are going for $100-300 more. There is a difference between what sellers are asking and getting, and the prices on the ones that sell (with a few exceptions, probably from a bidder with "new gun fever") are still pretty far away from the new gun asking prices.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Guns are like used motorcycles. Everybody thinks theirs is special. After the reality sets in, you can negotiate with them. They listen a LOT better! LOL!! The first question I ask when I call about a motyorcycle is how long have they had it listed? If they say abouit a week, I don't even try to negotiate. I just leave my number, wish them luck, and tell them to call me if they can't find a buyer at the price they ask.

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you I purchased an used 686-5PP, no lock, in 2003 for $500.00 with rubber finger groove Hogue grips. The owner, I knew from my local gun range rarely fired it. She was manufactured in 2000 and I still have it. I've never seen any long barrel used 686's listed under $500.00, most are higher in price.

I only paid $245 for my 6" 686. But this was in 1984. Still shots as good as ever. I don't think you can wear one out. One of the best guns ever produced by S&W.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

A used 686 in good condition is a better value than a new one.

Hey slowburninsteve, I currently have a 98% snubby 686-3 with NO IL, forged parts & original wooden combat grips on GB for $600 with FREE shipping That price is LESS than what the gun cost me. FYI in deciding what to ask for yours. Mine hasn't sold yet, BUT the older 686 is a BEAUTIFUL gun and I'm not going to give mine away. Don't give yours away either, you will regret it. Best of luck to you.......

It's not just S&Ws
The Economy still sucks and lots of people NEED to convert guns into
as much Cash as possible.

The really desperate ones usually cut teir price after a week or two.

It's your basic supply and demand. And as noted, a little bit of high hopes. It took me about 8 months, but I finally found a 686-5 seven-shot on GB for a reasonable price. I was the only bidder, I think because the owner hadn't bothered to clean it before taking the pictures. So was it smudge, or was it rust? No way to tell for sure, I took a risk, and it cleaned up beautiful!

I was very happy with the deal I got, it's the prince of my small collection.

TFred

On gunbroker $600 to $650

roaddog28

I recently paid $595 for a 686-4 (No MIM o rlock) 2.5 inch 7 shot and was very happy to get it.

The one on the left was my first one I bought and the one that fueled my interest in S&W revos, I traded an AR complete lower, ammo and cash for it...about $700 worth of stuff. Local trade

The middle one I had to have and traded a guy a new Glock 26 and a ton of mags and ammo for....about $600 worth of stuff. Local trade

The one on the right I bought out right for $550 and was happy to get it locally at that price.

They are worth what someone will buy them for. I have my limits, but I am not sure what that is as of yet. Do I feel I spent or traded more than I should, absolutley, but I wanted them and now I have them. I had a friend tell me, "you never pay too much for them, you just pay it a little bit sooner than some".

In the Washington DC metro area of Maryland, used 686's are generally on sale for $600 and up. I have not seen any below $600, and they disappear from dealers' displays, so I assume they're getting close to the asking price.

I have the same gun that I purchased used in 2007 for $275.00. I have turned down three offers of $600.00, and one offer of $650.00. (I have no plans to ever sell this gun!)

__________________
David
CW3 USA (Ret) 1968-1990

I bought my last 6 " 686 from a dealer for $450. He also had a number of 4 inchers for $425. Find a friend with an FFL and have them look around for you for the best price.

It's misleading to check the (active) Gunbroker auctions to determine the current value of a 686. FEW of the auctions are 'No Reserve" and MANY do not sell... and are automatically re-listed at the end of the auction. In fact, quite a few of the 686's you see listed have been on there for quite some time... It's a revolving, never-ending sales technique for gun shops that also have the gun displayed under glass in their shop.

Instead, do a Smart Search for closed auctions to what 686's have sold for. Simple and quite revealing.

This ain't a good time to be selling guns to raise money

__________________
Forum consigliere

I got this used 686-1 (with M stamp) for $350 last year from an on-line dealer...Allans Armory (he currently has some Model 10's and 64's...great dealer to deal with).

i just got screwed over on another deal. Waiting for this damn 686-4

Suggested retail on a new 686 is the better part of 1K. The new ones in my area sell a little below $800 so a nice used 686 in the $600 to $700 range is a decent price. If you want one buy it while your money is still worth SOMETHING!

Wish I didn't remember the days of NIB 686's at less than $450.

My 686-4 set me back just over six bills about eight months ago. I paid the price because it's in excellent condition, but thought it was high none-the-less. Now I'm glad I snatched it up.

I am new to gun ownership, love shooting with my family, and just purchased a used 6" 686 which from the serial # Smith and Wesson tells me was manufactured in the 1984. In looked very clean and tight, came with a high end holster, quick loader holders and quick loaders. I paid just over $600. The shop had new for high $700. Don't know if it was an impulsive stupid move? But can't wait for my NY permit amendment to pick it up.

New or used doesn’t matter as long as it works as it should and the price is good. I got my 3” 686 a few years ago for $550 used. I’d pay that today or higher for it too if it ever got stolen (as I like it that much.) I’ve seen some older used one’s go between $490-600. Best deals today are through private sales or if you can afford to trade a few items (ammo is worth a lot these days) and pay the difference.

__________________
Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

Got this 686-4 4" last week for $550 from a friend of a friend State Trooper. Only about 200 rounds through it.

SAM_0027.jpg
SAM_0038.jpg

Need this in my collection..Only in 7 shot of course. I have the 6" that needs a friend.

Yes, got the new 6" in a plus but the -4 is a six shooter.

Bought my 686-4 4"bbl a few months ago, very nice but no box or papers @ $565 + tax, and was happy to get it.

They had to widen the frames on K and L frame guns to add the lock to them. I prefer the slimmer look of the pre lock guns.
Here's mine, purchased in 1995 for $380 plus tax.

They are sought after guns but there's enough of them that you don't have to pay ridiculous prices if you shop around. I got a 6" 686 in top condition for $550 on GB. Not a steal but neither was it a rip off. The thing that counts is that it feels like a good deal to me!

Remember, whatever you pay for a quality firearm now will likely look like a good deal a few years down the road. I swallowed hard when I paid $800 for a like-new 5" 629-3 Classic DX two years ago but today...

Ed

I offered $700 for a 686-4 + with a 4" and it sold for more money. Just the gun, no box or papers. For something that is common, they don't come up for sale very often. I paid around $550 for my 6" 686-4 + 8 months ago and was happy about it.

I paid $705 for my 686 no dash about 2 months ago. It might be on the higher side but I am very happy with it. Finish is just like when it came out of the box 30+ years ago. Of course, I added Ahrend grips in cocobolo the first day I brought it home.

It just looks so good!

I gave $625 for my 686+ dash 6 in 2 1/2" about 4 months ago. I couldn't bear to part with it, and I'd pay it again.

I got mine about 1 week before TSHTF. I don't think I've ever had good timing, but this time I did.

What do you think top dollar would be for 686 Serial # AAA259. preproduction 6",box,papers, no (M ) ,supposedly built in the custom shop as sales samples before the production line was up and running. I think I am going to be putting this one up for sale. or the 66., or the 67.,.

The 686-4 and earlier ones are just better revolvers and knowledgeable buyers seek them out. They can still be obtained for usually less than the cost of a new 686, and if well maintained will always go up in value. The new ones are decent, serviceable revolvers but not the same fit and finish or overall quality.

Just lay a way'd (coming out party is 4/15 ) a sweeet 686-4 4", no box or docs but...it was $440 OTD at local pawn shop. And this was after the current weirdness with gun pricing had already been underway. It came out of pawn that morning, my wallet came out about 2 minutes after seeing it.

So...deals are still out there but GunBroker ain't the place to look for them imo. Not right now anyway.

You did quite well with that deal, quite well.

Probably gonna get booted from thread...but I just wondered if anyone has a 586? Aren't they identical to the 686 only blued steel?

You should used the 'sold' listings on GB for more accurate prices. Definitely not the 'asking' prices.

Many shooters and collectors prefer the older pre-lock guns for good reasons. The perception is they are a higher quality product than some of the new guns, and therefore are in a higher demand. Nice older models will often bring more than the new ones and the older models are much harder to find.

I agree. Bought my 6" no dash for $500 a few months back. I did a little trigger work on it and it shoots like a million bucks.

Used, any model without the retarded lock. I'd go for a 686-3 w/4 inch barrel myself.

My thoughts exactly! I had a -4 with a round butt and swapped another forum member for his -3 with a square butt, fitted a target trigger and hammer set and replaced his rubber grip with a set of checkered target stocks.



Then I ordered a lined Threepersons holster from Lobo Gun Leather for it.



Old school at its best! And the gun doesn't shoot too badly, either.

Ed

easy, They Just Don't Make Em Like They Used To. I Recently Bought A 1980 586 4" No Dash And Paid close To What I'd Have To Pay For A New Gun, But Mines Better Than New To Me.

__________________
Still got the shovel

If you have the original box and contents, someone looking for a 686 of this era may pay a premium, otherwise I would guess about $550. The longer barrels seem to go for less than shorter ones.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220