So I found one at a pawn shop. $450 + tax.

4 inch bbl, stainless, fixed sights, rather large S&W wood grips (but they are plain, like older presentation grips.) Looks like no one messed with it. Has no endshake but a slight amount of crane shake (that is the crane moves very slightly to on side if pushed in the same direction as it opens Might be the ejector rod is very slightly bent

Are they really collectable or best as shooters? This one has no box or papers.

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Deaf

Not commonly seen, but certainly not rare. Some department marked guns may have a little more value to some. The 581, blue version, is probably a little more desirable. I have both versions, and they well used at the range. Collectible? Maybe. IMO, they two of the best looking revolvers ever made. Fixed sight service guns are among my very favorites. If you push on the cylinder of many newer revolvers, you can create a gap between the yoke and frame. I've found this to be more prevalent in stainless steel guns. I wouldn't over think that or worry about it if the gun wasn't abused. If the gun was worn out, the frame to yoke fit might be loose without pushing on the cylinder. My old blue guns have no such movement, and you can barely see the seam where the frame and yoke meet. One place where there is a real "gap" between the old and the new. I think you bought it at a fair price if the condition is really good.

The 681 is a lot of revolver for that money. I looked for years before finding one. Is it collectable, well there are a lot of people like me who
want one of everything so it is likely collectable to quite a few of us. If
I found another one at that price I would buy it too.

Several yrs ago , there was a bunch of them listed on Gunbroker . That was when I got mine . They were all roll stamped " CAI " Century Arms International . Supposedly either came back from Australia or New Zealand . I have carried mine for yrs now . It's very accurate , light and easy to carry .

If you are deciding whether or not to shoot this gun, I say shoot it - a lot! It is not so "collectible" that it will lose any value, especially at the your purchase price. Also, you do not have the original stocks or box, lessening its collector appeal. It will be a long, long time before this becomes a rarity and a shame if you missed out on shooting a great revolver.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

It's a good price, so whether or not it is in "collectible" condition you can enjoy shooting or just looking at it, and easily sell it for more than you paid if it doesn't suit your needs.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

had mine out yeserday -50 rds .38 lead flat nose -great shooting gun 15' out to 50' -better than me -the right size and balance- plus made for .357 -if you buy it -you collected it

The 681 was the issue revolver of choice for many police agencies. I have one from my old agency - New York State Police. The NYST 681 was the issue gun from 1981 - 1990. They bought several thousand of them for issue to uniformed state troopers. S&W marked most 681s destined for police service on the left frame below the cylinder cutout.

I've sold several out of my collection in the last couple of years. I got $600 for mine without box and papers. Your's sounds like a good deal.

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Dave

Not what I'd call collectable. But definitely very desirable. I have one that I'd hate to part with.

At the price given, if a man wants a 681, that would be one to jump on.

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America First

Maybe not "collectible" right now, but "likeable" for sure. I've had this one forever.




Bought a NYSP 681 just yesterday, waiting on the long coast to coast trip.

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Sure you did

Ok, a question. The underlug.

Now if I came across a 'shooter' that was used enough to not really qualify as a collector piece,
and it shot dead on, would having a smith take the lug off enough so it looked more like a S&W 66
or half-lug Ruger GP100 (instead of a fake Python which I think S&W wanted it to look like) would
the taking off of the metal warp the barrel or hurt it in any way?

I just don't need all that weight forward. I have a Ruger GP-100 half lug and that is they way I want it to be.

And yes, I know were a shooter version is and I could get it to!

Thanks!

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Deaf

Since you are probably one of the few people on the planet wanting to spend money on reducing a 686 underlug, very few people can answer based on first hand knowledge.

Your gun and money so do what you want. Let us know how it turns out.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

It's your money.

If/when I find a beater 681 I'd cut it down to 3", round butt it, and maybe bob the hammer.

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Sure you did

They aren't collectable to me!

Good shooter, but I have no interest in 3 model digit Smiths.

Yes, someone has done or has thought about doing the half-lug treatment on the 581/681, but by the time you pay for the gun and modification you might just look for a model 619, a 7-shot L frame but with the lock.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Before you butcher that 681, can I buy it so you can buy something without the full lug?

Ladder 13 has the right idea, here is the execution.


Enjoy.

Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

I knew you'd show up with that one.

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Sure you did

one of my favorites

Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

Wow two Model 681 threads in two days. And I thought I got a bargain at $550!

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Collectible.....Not as a entire model lineup. It is way too young....30 or 40 or more years from now probably.

However I have no doubt that individual 681s are collectible for many assorted reasons.

As far as accumulateable, at that price why not. I would probably do something similar to what Nedroe did. Though I think I might go 1/2" shorter and change it to a ball/detent lockup

I have a NYSP 681 M in 80% condition is it a keeper or shold I let a retired Trooper have it?

Might as well keep it. I've had 3 guys right from this forum say they were retired NYSP . All offered to buy it but nothing ever came of it. I got tired of all the BS stories and kept it. BTW mines shoots real well just another reason to keep yours.

i have a -1 M mod Ohio State Highway Patrol Marked Revolver Love This Gun

I'm not a collector but the 681 fits nicely in my accumulation.

I was buying guns from Gil Hebard Guns in Knoxville. Il. when the 581/681 came out/ I wanted a 681 but all he got were spoken for so I took a 581 in nickel. the 581 had a great trigger when I received it.
When a 681 came available I sold the 581 to another officer and bought the 681. the 681 had a terrible trigger wished I had kept the 581.

I found this 681 at a local show early in 2017 shoots great I put Bill Davis rubber grips on it. This is how the gun looked at time
of purchase.


This is 681 with Bill Davis grips.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Interesting. So the Model's 27 & 28 were popular in Law Enforcement, then the Model's 19 & 66 came along because the 27's, 28's weighed too much for all day carry. Recoil was too much with the 19's, so they came up with the L frame, and the L frame 4" weighs about the same as a 28. Go figure.

For me it wasn't the weight of a model 28 it was the grip size. The L frame has the same grip size as the K frame and that fits my hand better.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

L-frame combines the best features of the K and N frame guns...... the k frame's grip and trigger reach and the N frame's ability to shoot hot 125gr .357 without the worry of damage to the gun!!!!!

My favorite piece. Early 80`s 581 no dash. I picked it up for $400 At a Tampa gun show a couple of years ago. Guy said he was about to mark it up to $550 but he would let me have it at the marked price. Show had just opened. I like the original stock look. Thanks for posting yours...enjoy

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