I have a 686-2 that shoots great but shows a little cosmetic scuffs and scratches, perfect shooter. It has the red ramp integrated front sight. I guess it is fine for casual shooting but it does not work great for me. I have looked at a few options to replace the sight. S&W will mill it off and put in the newer pinned in style. I could also have a Weigand style base installed. Today i talked to Pinnacle Guns, they said they like to cut it for a 1911 dovetail sight that is .225 tall. Easy solution. I like this option the best. It is cheap,logical and has lots of commercially available sights to choose from down the road when i want to change.

Some people have questioned if it was a good idea to change the front sight. They felt that it would hurt the resale value. I didnt really consider a older 686 that "special" of a gun. What do you guys think? Modify it or not?

If you are selling it to the 10,000 purists on this type of Forum, it will hurt resale value.

If you are selling it to the other 160,000,000 shooters in America they probably will not even notice it has been changed.

Personally, I never worry what the resale value is going to be of a firearm that I use on a regular basis. 10 - 20 - 30 years from now when I sell it, I am not going to worry much about the $50 fewer dollars it will bring me, than the usefulness or enjoyment that it provided over those years.

Guns are for shooting. Change the sight if it will increase your utility and enjoyment of the firearm.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member

I had S&W put this patridge front sight on my 686-2. I had it done more years ago than I can count probably in the mid 90's. I would do it the same way all over again. This is my "range" 686. I'm an old bullseye shooter from way back, so this gives me the sight picture I like best.

I wouldn't worry about affecting the value of your 686-2. From what I can tell by reading this forum, it's the 686-4's that have the highest interest among collectors. I'm no collector, so take that input for what it's worth!

Lou

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NRA Certified Instructor & RSO

I have a 686-4 that had the red ramp insert also. The insert was beat up some and my eyes didn't see the color well.
These inserts are molded in place, some sort of acyrilic.
I bought the kit from Brownells and remolded a new insert, very easy to do. I didn't like the colors included with the kit, ended up using a Flo. orange paint to color the resin. (Krylon shortcuts paint)
Looks factory, bright enough for me to see well and easy to do!!

Modify and shoot, no question.

You’ll be happy and it be like a new gun.

This is a 686 no dash, and it came with a pinned in Patridge front sight. I have no desire to change it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

A long time ago I bought a Model 66 with a red ramp front sight. I too detest the red ramp front sight so I had Behlert Precision grind off the sight, cut a dovetail and install an ordinary blued sight. It was the best thing I ever did to that revolver. I still have that revolver.

Another alternative is to blacken the red ramp with permanent marker. I did this to my 627 as a stop gap measure until I can find a permanent replacement sight and it works well.

Dave Sinko

Do it.

But if it were me, I'd have Smith do the job. I'm just a fan of having the original factory do mods rather than most gunsmiths. Unless it's from a "name" smith like Wilson, Novak, et al (which may, repeat may, increase it's value) I think it does retain value to have factory vs non factory mods. The negative usually is that factory mods involve shipping and more time away from home.

Just my .02 but life's too short to have to accomodate the gun. Make it accomodate you.