I recently saw a nice 686-1 at a local pawn and naturally couldn't live without it.

I noticed that it did not have an "M" stamp denoting the recall modifications being done. I got this gun to shoot so I called S&W customer service who sent me an RMA.

While packing it up for the FEDEX folks I looked closer at the area where it should have been stamped and noticed a mark on the frame. Under bright light and a magnifier it looks like a lightly stamped "M" rotated 90 degrees clockwise and the lower part (side) of the M is over the 686-1 stamp.

Is this something commonly seen?

Very common....the "M" stamps can be all over the place around and over the ser# designation, and at various angles, etc.


Installers and techs are supposed to follow the instructions provided by the factory.....

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

If you gave them the SN of your gun they 'should' have a record of having the modifications already being performed. Perhaps the M you see is an assembler, fitter or inspector mark?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

That's what I thought too and that's why I gave them the serial #. I dropped it off this morning at FEDEX. If they don't have to do anything .....no harm no foul.

I recently bought a 686 no dash that doesn't have the M. It shoots fine and everything is nice and tight, seems to have had very few rounds through it in the 30?ish years.

Anything to worry about?