Browsing a bargain table at a gun shop, I happened on a very used 686. It had painted blue grips, the cylinder would not open, the rear sight was broken off and the sideplate was improperly installed. For $50 I took it home.

The blue grips indicated to me it was probably used for training by a PD, and a check of the cylinder showed it had Simunitions inserts.

I did a detail disassembly and found nothing wrong with it except the firing pin had been removed. The cylinder issue was due to the ejector rod being loose. I replaced the hammer and the rear sight and removed the Sim adapters while cleaning everything up. The bore was bright and clear. For GP I also replaced the springs. I also replaced the blue grip with a Monogrip I had in the parts box.

Once reassembled, the gun looked good. Timing was good, cylinder securely locked up, and everything seemed to work. So I headed off the range for a four-part test:

1. Would the gun explode?
2. Would the gun fire?
3. Would the cylinder operate properly?
4. Would it shoot accurately?

After about 100 rounds the gun had passed with flying colors on all counts.

For $50 plus about $95 in parts this is the best gun deal I ever found.

Nice Job, Of course before and after pictures would be great!

Pictures, or it didn't happen!

Congrats on what sounds like a good revolver, at a great price!

Absolutely love deals like that.

I'd found a 3" model 66 as disassembled parts rattling around in a box at a yard sale of all places and bought it for $25.00. The story from the recently divorced ex-wife was that it had been submerged in the flooding several years back in Cedar Rapids, IA. Her husband took it apart to clean and dry, couldn't figure out how to put it back together and just bought a new gun. The finish was trashed, but it was stainless. I had to buy some some parts and sent it into S&W to have it refinished, had to buy new grips. In the end it probably cost me about $400.

Great find!

I'll get some pics up soon.

Can anyone help me with identifying the date of mfg? Serial number is ADY22XX

Any updates and pics?