Hi all, new here but been lurking for awhile and looks like a good place to get good info. I'm shopping for a new 686 and want a 4" with sq butt and wood grips. Doesn't look like Smith offers this combination. Can I just order the grips separate from Smith? I want the fit and finish to look factory. Don't care for finger grooves and I like the checkering (just like original with medallion). I'm aware of the aftermarkets and the Altamonts look nice but really want a factory fit. Any help would be appreciated.

If you wanted a factory new 686 you would have to settle for a round butt with rubber grips. You can buy wood grips that are round to square conversion. If you want a true square butt you would have to purchase a used revolver, 686-4 or earlier. The square butt was delete from the 686 in 1996. Also the -4 and earlier had a serrated back/front straps, which really adds to the look of the revolver. And they still had the firing pin mounted on the hammer, another feature I prefer. The next question is, do you want a 6-shot or 7-shot? To my knowledge there were no 4" 7-shot square butts produced, so you would have to settle for a 4" 6-shot. You can find 4" square butts with factory wood target grips. Or purchase the pair you like best.

Joe

My 686+ with wood grips. Think this is about what the OP is talking about (?) Round to square butt conversion grip.

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A round-to-square conversion grip will give you the look of a square butt.
Smith outsources the manufacturing of their wood grips to other companies.
These conversion grips come from Altamont but have been equiped as OEM on several Smith revolvers.
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Thanks guys I didn't realize that Smith doesn't offer a sg butt with a 4" barrel. That explains some things. Was it available on the earlier versions? Only concern going with conversion would be fit. Would like for the straps to show but not liking the idea of a plug.

Joe, sorry I see in your post now that they were available on earlier versions. This may have to be the direction I go to get a true sg butt. Redleg and revolver that is the look I'm liking are you guys happy with the end result with fit going with the conversion?

I think what he wants is the real factory McCoy, checkered target stocks like those on my 686-3s. S&W put really nice ones on some of their guns back in the day.



To be able to use those stocks, you have to buy a square-butt gun so as Joe said, you'll have to find a very early 686-4 or an older dash number gun.

Ed

AveragEd that is exactly what i'm talking about. Beautiful pieces.

Shopping GunBroker for this and they seem to be over 1K some well over. Are they really bringing this for LNIB?

Sure glad I got this 686 no dash from my bro in law. Seems to be what OP is looking for.

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Whatever they are selling for today will likely seem like a good deal in the future. Quality guns seldom depreciate much and no-lock S&W revolvers are no exception.

Ed

My 20 year-old 686 has a square butt frame, but I think the new frames are rounded. BEWARE that the S&W "rounded to square" replacement grips will leave you with the rounded metal curving into the wood, and leaving a gap. If you do not like this "unfinished" look, you can order Ahrends grips from "gripseller" on eBay. However, they will not have S&W metal logos. I don't think checkering is available, either.

Mine

This how my 686-3 came to me:

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Andy

The wood stocks used on new S&W's are Altamont. They have a decent variety on their site. Bob

Nice looking Smith. I have a 686-3, but 6" Bob

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To get the SB target stock look...you have to buy a SB revolver.
Except there's also the new 586 "classic" which is SB I think.

Learned a lot about this particular revolver in the last couple of days thanks to you guys. Looks like i'm going to have to go old stock (Pre-4?) to get what I want. I actually have a chance at a No Dash and seem to remember reading in another thread about a recall? Should I be looking for an M stamp? Looking at some of your pics makes me wish i'd done this a long time ago.

I'd like to confirm that sq butt 586 with a 4" barrel. May be the next.

Yes, the recall on the early 586s and 686s included stamping the frame with an "M".

Ed

Yes, the square butt 586 Classic was my first revolver, got it in January. It is really nice, and led me to the other two. The 686 no dash in February, and the 686+ Talo in March. Good luck searching for a 686. The no dash you mentioned would get my attention.

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Can someone tell me when the 686 No Dash was made? Does Smith have a place available to plug in a SN to tell when it was made?

You can learn the answer to your first question and a LOT more of them by buying a copy of the 4th Edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson from Amazon or other websites. That recently released hard-cover book will provide you with hours of enjoyable and informative reading plus hundreds of photos.

The answer to your second question is no. However, S&W can provide shipping records. For production records, they often refer to the aforementioned SCoSW.

Ed

Thanks Ed, sounds like a good book to have on hand.

A couple of recent acquisitions I'd like to share.

686 No Dash. 586-1.

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Longshanx, congrats on the new acquisitions! Looking nice!

Beautiful revolvers, congrats! Did you find them local, or GB...?

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Purchased on GB. Had zero luck trying to find locally. Went to a gun show yesterday and was disappointed. Hot dogs and jewelry!