I purchased what I believe to be an unfired 686-3 6" with an adjustable front sight. It came with all the extras, tools, cleaning kit, papers and two sets of grips. I haven' shot it either. I"m having trouble finding out how rare these guns or sights are? All my Standard Catalog of S&W says about them is they are scarce. Can anyone provide any more info?
Thanks for your help.

Back when they were shooting silhouette Smith came out with this gun. You sighted it in at 50 yards and the adjustable sight was supposed to click you in at 100, 150 and 200 yards (or whatever the distances were). One of those good ideas on paper, but maybe not so good at the range. In any event, they seemed to disappear from the landscape. Never felt the need for one, but I guess as a variation for the compleate 686 collection, one would have to have one. Sounds like you have a good example of the genre. As far as cost, I have no idea-probably not too much of a premium-buy hey what do I know

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Forum consigliere

I don't know much more about them than is in the SCoSW, but I can tell you that for some reason, neither the 686 or 629 versions in either barrel length seem terribly popular. It's common to find three or four for sale on GunBroker and they don't attract a lot of bids.

Two years ago, I found a 6" in about the same condition as the one you're looking at but it had been fired a little. I bid it as high as I felt wise - $600 or so - but I never hit the seller's reserve. After it went through numerous auctions without selling, I contacted the seller and we exchanged several very nice emails over a two-week period. He felt it was worth somewhere north of $700. To my knowledge, it never sold.

Even I have cooled off on them because of their apparent lack of popularity; I haven't bid on one since then.

Ed

As often said on the forum, "It's worth what a buyer will pay for it." I have seen several on GB. A friend bought one at a low price because of no auction bids and a seller needing money about a year ago for $500 if my memory is correct.

I have two M29s with adjustable front sights. Fun guns to shoot, but not in high demand by shooters or collectors because Silouette shooting is not popular, compared to shooting matches with tactical polymer. I'm old, can't run, and don't care to beat "Fast Draw McGraw".

Bob

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S&WHF 366

There is another thing to consider about these guns. There weren't a great deal of them made and they are no longer made, so they could become major collector's items in the future.

I have an unfired 6" 686-4 PowerPort that I am keeping in that same condition because those weren't highly popular either and are now discontinued.

I collect Remington Model 700 BDLs made from 1997 through 2001. They have scroll-engraved receivers and might one day be valuable. Meanwhile, they are nice to look at! And did you know that the Remington XP-100R (repeater) version of the XP-100 was only made in 1998, the last year of XP-100 production? I have one in .223 and believe it might be worth more than I paid for it down the road.


I think you made a wise investment. Even if it doesn't appreciate significantly in time, you still will own a nice revolver that can provide you with hours of enjoyment!

Ed