Hi,

Picked up what looks to be a pretty close to unfired Model 586 - no dash. I see not scorching anywhere and only the faintest of cylinder lines.

I have no plans to shoot it much. But I do have to try at least one cylinder of .38s and a a cylinder of .357s to test the function of course.

My question is should I bother to send it to S&W for the "M" stamp modification or just let it alone.

And if I do send it in, will it affect the value of it at all? I can't find a mark on it anywhere and it has never been refinished, of that I am sure.

At first I thought it had to be a refinish but I went over it with a jeweler's loupe and it's the original finish.

I paid the full retail on it, $600, but the seller picked up the tax which would have been about $44.

I think the deal was fair to buyer and seller. Besides, I really wanted it.

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It is not really an improvement. Read the official S&W recall notice and use that to make your decision. It's your pistol.

Yes sir. My revolver, my decision. And I read the S&W notice a couple of times.

We have a lot of collectors here and as I asked before, what is the effect on the value if I don't send it in or if I do send it in?

In other words, will it be worth more if leave it in the present, untouched condition or will it be worth more if I send it in for the recall modification?

What is the preference of collectors on this matter?

Thank you.

This question gets asked about once a month...do a search and you will have all your answers.

I wouldn't. The "M" stamp is over-rated. I've owned several 586 and 686 "no dashes" without the "M" stamp and never had a problem.

Somebody else will post saying that they did have a problem.

You have to decide for yourself. For "collector" purposes, I'd leave it factory original, but that's just me. Others will have a different opinion.

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'Merica!

If it ain't broke......don't fix it.

You are correct in that a lot of folks have asked about having the modification done.

And I did the search.

And I read a lot of the threads. And the main theme of these threads always seems to deal with people who are trying to decide whether to have it done or leaving well enough alone.

BUT I don't think any of the threads mention how having the modification done or not done affects the value. THAT question is not asked monthly, my friend. Or if it is, I sure can't find it! Maybe I need a better selection of keywords or something.

And if there is a mention in one of these many threads on how the modification might affect a revolver's value, I must have missed it. I'd be here all night and into tomorrow morning if I read every reply in every thread that touches on this matter.

I thought it would be a simpler matter to just ask straight out since I have tried and failed to find an answer using the search engine.

I figure, as long as it doesn't affect the value, I might as well send it in. S&W still pays for the shipping both ways on it.

But if sending it in somehow DECREASES the value, I'll just put it in the safe and let it increase in value for 5-10 years.

(I really did do a search and found nothing that addresses this specific question).

Collectors, please provide your opinions. If there is disagreement among collectors on this matter, I will just go with the consensus.

I will never understand why some guys on forums get angry, upset, offended or just plain pissy when someone asks a question for which they can find no answer through the usual channels.

I always thought forums like this were designed for the exchange of information among people who have a mutual interest. A couple of the terse replies I have received thus far ... . Oh hell. Never mind.

Thank you.

Since you only plan on shooting 12 rounds through it I would not bother with sending it in for modification.

I would shoot the snot out of that gun.
It can take it, and much more.
Those are great revolvers.

__________________
What would Jim Cirillo do?

I vote to send it in for the product improvement and "M" stamp. I would not buy a used L frame without it.

I've shot the hottest loads that I care to out of my 686 no dash without the first sign of trouble. The only place I'm going to use such loads is the range. Also it was thought that soft primers caused most of the problem and when I reload I use Winchester, CCI and some Remington depending on what is available. I'll pass on getting the 'M' stamp.

There is no definitive answer on this forum. I own several early "L" frames (all bought used), and only two had been modified. I have had no problems with the unmodified models shooting all types of ammo. I have been offered stupid amounts of money for my no dash 581 and sold a CS-1 for an amount I couldn't refuse. Both were modified. Personally, l'm reluctant to return anything to the factory for service, even for free. Good luck.

If it had more mileage or you encountered the primer flowback stoppage I would say send it in.
Since your not planning to shoot it much and havent experienced the issue my vote is dont do it.
I have 2 Model 586's one with the M and one without and Im not sending that one in.

I dont think it really affects value either way since S&W is picking up the costs on the mod,
If the next buyer wants it done its free and so is the inspection and tune up.

Consider also the risks involved if you ship the gun and its lost or damaged and that CAN happen.
Put it in the safe clean and with a coat of Ren wax and make sure the South Florida humidity doesnt get to it while its in the safe.

This forum is just full of snippy people who would rather complain about your post than just answer the question. I have never seen a forum where people are treated as rudely as on here. They tell you to use the search function, and spend more time complaining that you didn't than it would have taken to just answer the question. I'm sorry you have had this experience on here, but believe me you aren't the first.

I agree with Engine49guy (among others). It rarely adversely affects collectors value to NOT have done a factory funded modification, but if someone doesn't like it, they can't have it "undone". Not having it done also adds to the "untouched" nature of the piece. I doubt if either choice will affect the value as much as putting 12 rounds through it if it is as yet unfired.

Since you plan on making it a safe queen then don't bother with the modification. The general consensus is get it modified only if you are planning to use it a defence gun.

Over time as more of them the get the "M" stamp those without may have more value to a collector, but it's hard to say right now as L frames are still new and not rare or collectable yet. In 50 years we can give you a better answer.

They do not touch the finish when doing the modification.

That's not bad, they seem to keep going up in value, in a few more years retail priceing on a used gun may well be in the $800 range. If it is like new what it the price for a new model 586, 7-800???

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Purely from a collecting standpoint, do not get the "M" fix. Collectors do not shoot collector quality items, so the update is irrelevant; the less the item is handled in any way -- even by the factory -- after its original ship date, the more the item is valued.

This isn't to say that the 586 is a particularly collectible piece, but if yours is to be treated as a collector would, leave it be.

Well, I consider this to be a very friendly forum.

And I've seen plenty of other forums where rude hardly covers the vicious behavior that occurs.

If I posted and someone told me the question had already been answered in detail before, I'd search for the answer and then post my question again if I didn't find it. That's what the OP did.

Now to continue the fun...

I concur with the comment that if someone buys your 586 and wants to do the M mod, then he can. But if you do it and a collector wants an original gun with no M mod, you can't have it undone.

So I'd say leave it alone unless you encounter the problem covered in the S&W notice.

Dave

I have a 686 no dash, put a few thousand rounds though it with no problems. I am not a collector, I shoot everything I own because that is what I bought them for. As to lowering the value, perhaps the better question would be will it increase the value. There are only so many no dashes around without the M modification. Each year a few more are sent in to get modified thereby making those still un modified just a little more rare and perhaps someday in the future collectors will be willing to pay a premium for a no dash that does not have the M. Since there is no deadline for having the modification done and the modification cannot be undone and you are going to keep it in a safe I would advise you not to have it done at this time.

I think Engine49guy and Call44 have it right.

Since my intentions are to put a total of only 12 rounds through and put it in the safe, I will leave it as is.

Later, if someone wants to buy it from me they will have the option to send it in for the mod or not.

Thank you, gentlemen, for the solution. It makes perfect sense. Wish I had been able to reason my way through it on my own.

And sorry if I started a bit of a ruckus.

Thanks again, fellas, all of you.

My opinion:
I say fire the gun - a lot.
If it binds up, send it in. If it runs smoothly (which it most likely will), don't bother.
The general consensus was that the problem was actually caused by a specific load of Federal ammo, and not so much the gun. With that in mind, I wouldn't send it in just for the sake of doing it.

I haven't heard of a single case where the mod done or not done affected value.
If you are thinking of any custom work, sending the gun in for the mod can save you the cost of shipping the gun (I chose that route with my 586 no-dash) - you can ship it on their dime for the recall, and while it's there, have the other work done.

The 4" Model 586 is my favorite gun. You've got a beauty on your hands.

From purely a collectors standpoint, don't fool with the modification, only bad things can happen. And a collector may pay a premium for an early gun like yours if it does not have the mod, but no one will pay a premium for a gun just because it does have the mod.

As for the sociability of the average member of this forum, it beats the others I've been on hands down, no contest. You will always find exceptions wherever you go, but this is by far the most easygoing forum you'll find.

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"We deal in lead, friend."

Oh I wasn't being pissy...sorry if you took it that way. I was at work and got interrupted during my reply and cut it short. I probably should not have hit send.

I've never taken offense here (or anywhere on the Internet), and don't worry too much about what is said in an e-mail or a post, because tone is hard to convey. One gent here suggested I was a poseur and had never been in LE...I had a real good laugh about that!

I have done searches for all manner of questions, and really didn't post here for about three years after I signed up. I usually answer any question with a search and saw this topic many times over the prior few years.

This is a great forum, and the folks are top notch.

The L-Frame Smith's are great revolvers...its a shame yours will be a safe queen!

I concur with wlp624....bad things can happen when returning a
revolver to the factory for modification. I've posted this before:
About 6 years ago I picked a nice S&W 681 off of GB. No import
stamps, no law enforcement stamps, and no modification. It came with rubber grips that covered the butt serial number,
but it also had a serial number in the crane area. People who
handled it before went with the serial number in the crane area
because they were too lazy to remove the rubber grips.

Well, I sent it back to S&W for the modification. A few days
later I get a call from S&W. The guy tells me my 681 has two
serial numbers, is illegal to own, and they are confiscating it.
It turns out the last two numbers of the serial numbers were
transposed; thus two different serial numbers. I didn't know
what to think. They replaced the 681 with a hardly used S&W
686 with a 6 inch barrel. I eventually sold the 686.

If I hadn't sent it in, I would have owned a very cool "mistake"
S&W that somehow made it through quality control and got
shipped out into the world. I often wonder what S&W did with
my 681?

So, the moral of the story: if it ain't broke....don't fix it!

I would say that we have a long wait before 586s become collectable. Desirable, yes, valuable , certainly, but not truly what I would consider collectable. But, that being said, based on Flat top Rugers, etc, unaltered firearms tend to be more valuable. There are plenty of modified L Frames out there, and fewer unmodified ones. Plus pristine is pristine, including modifications. When you factor all that in with the thought that its not really necessary, why do it?

I think you got a good deal by the way, I would have been all over that baby for six bones.

The smith mod is without expiration. Shoot it, enjoy it, if the time ever comes where you want to sell it or trade it off, the new owner will always have the option
to send it in or not. IMO make no difference on value. BTW nice looking 586!

vinny
RVN 67-68

I have a 586 no dash without the M. I had a 686 no dash with the M. Skeeter had a healthy load of 2400 and a Lyman 358156. I have several boxes of this load that I shoot in my 27s and 28s. The 586 handles it just fine but the 686, even with the M, would occasionally lock up the cylinder. In my experience, the M did not take care of the problem. The 686 went to the gun show and found a new home. Unless your gun chokes on these snappy loads, I would leave it alone.

I have a 586 no dash, no M. I planned on sending it in. Why? Shoot it, and if you do encounter a problem address it then. Just my .02 worth.

my no dash, no M, LNIB Nickel 6" does not get shot. original owner shot 6 rounds through it then put it in his safe since 1982! I got it for $200 and a Glock 17 Gen 1 for $200 since the guy was dying of cancer and just wanted the money to throw a great wake for him. i even offered more, but he refused.
i don't intend on getting the M but like i said, it will not get shot again at least by me.
that Gen 1 though, gets wrung out on the range....funny it has all the original black internals that Glock 'suggested' you replace, just like S&W 'suggested' you get the M mod....just coincidence, but funny.

I agree with lowriderfxr. Basic L frames aren't very collectible at this point. Maybe in the future. They are desirable now, particularly with the anti-gunners focus on self- loading pistols.

That said, I'm more of a shooter than a collector. I've had my 686-1 for 25 years. Not sure how many rounds she's fired. Mostly +Ps, but she's had her share of .357s. I never did shoot the 125 Federals that were supposed to be problematic. However I sent my 686 in for the bushing mod last fall. The work was well done and S&W even seemed to clean up the action a bit. S&W does test fire after replacing the bushing so if you sent yours in it would have 18 rounds through it.

No problems with the shipping. However on the return I had FedEx hold it at their service center for my pick up. That way I didn't have to try to coordinate delivery with the driver. An adult signature is needed for delivery.

For a shooter, I'd send it in. Might as well, then there are never any questions. For a gun that will be put aside and not fired, there is probably no disadvantage to not sending it in.

Had 3 New 686's and all 3 hung up when shooting Nobel ammo. Took them to a certified Smith armorer and had the hammer nose replaced. Didn't have to send them in. BTW that ammo was very hot. Primers backed out and hung up the cylinder. Probably didn't happen on all L frames but did on those 3. JM2CW

SSG Ret.
TANG
USA

My 586 no dash, no M hasn't gagged yet.
I'm not sending it in, unless it does.
I'll send some of Buffalo Bore's real .357s through it and see if they gag it.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

for some reason it was just on that 125gr, Federal .357 load. IDK if it was a HUGE bad lot and PD's qualifying with it got stuck, i'd like to know the whole back story on it, prolly interesting reading.