Finally made my last payment and took home my 686-4. Sorry good no pics yet but I was wondering if someone with the S&W book can tell me what year this piece may of been manufactured. Serial # on the yolk is BUA9920. Assuming it's pre 1994 as there doesn't appear to have the locking mechanism. Also, I don't think this gun had the recall work yet as I don't see a stamped M. Time to save some $ for a good holster and wooden grips. Can't wait to fire this thing. Any help is appreciated.

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Congrats on your 686 !ihave a 686-3 and if love it as far as the no stamp the -4 does not need the recall ony -0 and-1 guns need the mod

All the 686-4 are without the lock. Is it a square butt or a round butt? My 686-4 is a square and was made in 94 but I know that at some point before the transition to the -5s they changed to round butts.

586-4 and 686-4 have all the good stuff and none of the bad. Forged internals, drilled and tapped for scope mounts, no recall, no stupid lock. Congratulations on your purchase of one of the finest .357 Magnum revolvers ever produced at any price.
My 586s and 686s love 150 to 160 grain bullets in either .38 Special loads or .357 Mag loads, mild to hot. Some of the least finicky revolvers I've ever fired. Built to last too.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

Congrats! The dash 4's are the best 686's in my opinion. My 4" plus is pretty much my favorite handgun. You're going to love yours. Enjoy!

Not sure which butt as I haven't had time to strip it down yet. Let all know once I do. Any suggestions on OWB holsters and grips?

if you can see all frame to within a tad from the bottom of the grip (assuming they are Hogue rubbers) then square butt, if the frame disappears into the grip 2/3 ways down, then round.

I have a Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake holster for mine and love it. It has three slots so you can carry strong side or cross draw OWB and removable IWB straps. You can also get a harness that will turn it into a chest rig for hunting and such. I highly recommend Simply Rugged.

The -4's are great revolvers. I bought a whole bunch of Colt revolvers to look at, but I have the 686's to shoot. I only own 5 smith revolvers but 3 of them are 686-4" (2.5", 4" and 6" barrel).

Really nice.

June 1995.

The BU's were the last of the B prefix s/n, and they overlap the first C prefix guns. Smith started with the C prefix in October of 1994. Now, nearly 20 years later, they're still issuing C prefix revolvers, though they're getting close to running out of possible C prefixes combinations. I think before 2014 is out Smith will go to a new alpha prefix on their revolvers. Will they go to the D? Which they started in 2007, but abandoned in 2008, going back to the C. Or will it be something new?

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I think you will love your new baby. I just picked up a 686-5 6" 7 shot and can't wait until next weekend to shoot it. Mine has the mim trigger and hammer, but I think I got a good deal. It's going to be a shooter so I didnt mind the few nicks on the barrel. They will buff out. Then my neighbor that worked as a gunsmith to check it out. Plus it fits the same holster as my 6" 617-2 too. Congrats on a great firearm.

Mine has a few scratches as well so I'm interested in how you would buff those out and what most use to shine her up too

I have heard that mothers mag works really well there is another I can't think of it now, but there are plenty of posts on here that talk about doing it. From what I have read it takes at least 4 hours to do it. But like I said mine is a shooter and the marks on it just add character. But who knows I may get bored this winter and try it. Then all the character marks on it will be my memories.

Flitz is my favorite for doing the polish job. I have Mothers too. My 686-3, 6" is a blast to shoot! (no pun intended) Also have a 586 no dash 4". Can't go wrong with either. Enjoy your 686! Bob

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Yessirreee, some would say the -4 is the finest version of the 686, 66 and some others... I know they're my favorite versions.

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But then, what do I know?