Have a friend that his dad passed and left him a few guns, all S&W's, I have found values on all but this one, its a 686, 3" round butt, wood combat grips, marked cs1 on the crane, gun is new in box un fired. Any help to what it is? Customs, border patrol, or?

I hope it is a police gun to enhance its value for you and not just a manufacturing number. A 3 inch 686 is probably worth anywhere from 600 to 800 dollars, mostly on the higher side, especially NIB.

The CS1 was a Customs order and your friend's 3" will bring big bucks - north of 1K if NIB, etc.

I respectfully disagree,
A new in the box Model 686 CS-1 with the 3" barrel is the most sought after version. Yes, it's a U.S. Customs Service contract revolver. To the right buyer, close to 2 grand.

If it's stamped 2M inside the crane some will pay more for it(not me) otherwise it's an overrun and probably not one that was owned by a customs service agent.

BTW,it will look and shoot the same as a regular normal priced 686.

__________________
NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

with wood grips it is probably an over run gun from the Customs Service contract that managed to survive the Janet Reno purge... still a very collectible and sought after revolver... search the site for more info... there is a lot of info here on that one... price of NIB is probably $1500 plus... it will not shoot like any other 686... they were built to a higher level performance specification...

Here is information on it:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/searchr...F-8&q=686+CS-1

Be sure to let your friend know to hang onto it for now. I'd guess $1500-2000 as well, more to a really motivated collector.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Ditto about hanging onto it. Ask your friend to send you pics and post them here . We love pics.

__________________
"Happiness is a warm gun"

Thanks everyone for the input, he has a NIB 48-4, a NIB 59, and this NIB 686, they are all coming to my collection as he is not a "gun guy". Thanks agin, I will post pics later

Just got a picture of the crane, here is what is on it

cs 1
avz3716
M
mod 686

Great Find ! Would agree with Murphydog, that with the box it's a $1500 to $2000 gun. Things get a little confusing with CS-1's that were "in service" or "over run" guns. Example, I have a CS-1, 3 inch, No "M", factory lettered, that was shipped with WOOD grips before guns were shipped to the Customs Service. Another 3 inch , No "M", purchased NIB is clearly an "over run" gun (1988) but came with correct "peek-a-boo" Pachmayr grips (you can see the serial number through the bottom of the grip.

These CS-1's are great shooters and both of mine have smoother actions than a couple of my pre-lock Performance Center guns. Enjoy It !!!

The M indicates it went back for the modified hammer nose (aka firing pin) and bushing. Rumor has it the issued CS-1s were examined a second time, thus the 2M stamp.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220