This weekend I picked up a very good to excellent condition 6” no dash 686. The gun was made in 1983, and is near mechanically perfect, but came to me with a particularly terrible set of Pachmayr presentation grips in place of the originals. I did also note that my 686 does not sport the “M” stamp to indicate that the 1987 recall work was done. I’m not too worried about it, as I don’t intend this gun for defense, purely as a range gun, however that said, I still have some questions:

First, it isn’t quite clear to me what parts were to be replaced under the recall. I’ve read some documentation and forum posts discussing the recall and the reasons for it, but nothing I’ve seen outlines the full procedure and parts list. I also have read that not all guns that went in for recall got stamped, so I’m curious if there’s a way to tell if the work has been done otherwise as well.

Additionally, and not related to the recall, what grips would this 686 shipped with? As I said, it came with an awful set of Pachmayrs, that I have replaced temporarily with Hogue rubber grips while working on a permanent solution. I assume that this gun would have shipped with walnut Target grips,would that be correct?

Now some eye candy - I call this my Miami Vice Box Set, the 686 paired with a 1990 or 91 4506-1, two of S&W’s finest firearms ever:



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Congrats on your find!

Concerning the lack of a "M" stamped above the SN#, I'd give S&W a call to see if they have a record of the mod. being completed on it. If not I'm sure they'll offer to send you a shipping label to return it for repair.

This is what I have on what's replaced:
"The "M" recall (1987) for the no-dash and -1 guns was to fit a new hammer nose and firing pin bushing to deal with certain brands of ammo causing (potentially fatal) binding when fired."

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Blue Dot nailed it.

Congratulations on the 686.

Yes, a 6" 686 no dash, should have shipped withtarget grips.

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I’ve got a 1987 586-1 with an M stamped, came with target grips.

My 1988 66-3 and 1991 29-5 Classic Hunter all came with target grips, so I assume those would have been correct for your 686 too.

Some of them came with Hogue grips. If you want looks, get something else They work well.

I've had mine since 2012 and I've put all kinds of hot loads through it and it never locked up, so I didn't bother.

UNTIL a few weeks ago. I don't know whether to blame my reloads (they were each carefully weighed out) but I shot two shots and on the third, it locked up.Ok, calle the factory and they said send it on and it was returned about 10 days later with the M stamp.

I do know that the firing pin and the firing pin bushing were part of the recall, but it seems that I saw a list of things that included some parts I didn't think were connected to the binding problem, but that may be bad memory. Here is what S&W says:

Firearm Recalls & Warnings Index


SMITH & WESSON
MODEL 581, 586, 681, 686, or 581-1,
586-1, 681-1, 686-1 & 686CS-1, REVOLVERS

RECALL: Reports have been received from the field where the combination of a SMITH & WESSON L-FRAME 357 MAGNUM REVOLVER and some .357 Magnum ammunition has resulted in unacceptable cylinder binding. L-frame revolvers bearing model numbers:

581, 586, 681, 686, or 581-1, 586-1,
681-1, 686-1, 686CS-1

Cylinder binding can cause a failure to fire. Mishandling a revolver while freeing the cylinder can result in accidental discharge.

Cylinder binding can result from a number of causes, including characteristics of an individual revolver or the use of ammunition, which does not conform to industry pressure specifications or is particularly fast burning. Recent developments in ammunition manufacture emphasize the production of .357 Magnum ammunition with increased velocity and greater primer sensitivity.

Although there have been very few reported incidents of cylinder binding, in view of our concern for our customer's safety and the reliability of Smith & Wesson products in all circumstances, we issue the following warning:

In a situation where a failure to fire can be critical - such as law enforcement or personal protection - do not use .357 Magnum ammunition with an L-frame revolver bearing model numbers 581, 586, 681, 686 or 581-1, 586-1, 681-1, 686-1, 686CS-1 without an "M" over the model number until you have had the revolver modified.

Those who need to use their L-frame revolver under these conditions prior to modification can safely fire .38 Special caliber ammunition.

Smith & Wesson has developed a modification to improve existing L-frame revolvers. This improvement enables them to fire all .357 Magnum ammunition, without cylinder binding. Shipments of L-frame revolvers from our factory after August 21, 1987 already include this improvement.

You can check if your revolver includes this improvement by looking at the left side of the frame when the cylinder is fully open. If your revolver has been stamped either with a "2" or higher number after the basic three-digit model number or with an "M" above the model number, your revolver includes this improvement and does not need modification. If your revolver bears the model number 581, 586, 681, 686, or 581-1, 586-1, 681-1, 686-1, 686CS-1 without an "M" over the model number, it does not include this improvement and your should have your revolver modified.

Smith & Wesson will modify your L-frame revolver free of charge to eliminate the possibility of cylinder binding with .357 Magnum ammunition. Law enforcement agencies wishing to arrange for modification of L-frame revolvers should call 800-458-8469 between 9 A.M. and 6 P.M. Eastern time (MA residents call 413-734-8244). Other users should send their revolvers to a Smith & Wesson Warranty Service Center, specifying "L-frame improvement program" and enclosing their name and return address.

One of the modifications to improve the L-frame revolver is the installation of a new hammer nose. This obsoletes all old L-frame hammer noses (part numbers 4702 and 7513) and all old L-frame hammer assemblies (part numbers 3366, 3378, 3380, 3382, 3391, 4722, 4723, 4726 and 4728) in field parts inventories. Superseded parts should never be fitted into a modified revolver as this may result in malfunction. It is essential for safety that you return these obsolete L-frame hammer noses and obsolete L-frame hammer assemblies for a free exchange to:

Smith & Wesson
Service Department
2100 Roosevelt Avenue
Springfield, MA 01101

Do not return L-frame hammer-nose bushings from your spare parts inventory inasmuch as they are useable in J, N and K-frame revolvers, which are not included in this Product Warning.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause. Smith & Wesson's first concern is the safety of its products and the protection of its customers.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Congratulations����

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Life is short,live it fully.

You can buy walnut grips, with or without checkering, on-line directly from S&W.

Target stocks for sure, but not walnut. Checkered Goncalo Alves with the speed loader relief cut. Rubber Hogues didn't come standard until the dash 4 models.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

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Those

Congratulations on the 686! Mine is a 1983 no-dash no-M as well, although it has the Patridge front sight versus your ramped front. I've not bothered with the recall as mine is strictly a range gun these days, and my 4"686-5 7-shot handles the hot magnum duties now.

Thanks for the replies all, I went ahead and called S&W this morning, and they didn’t have any information on file regarding my gun, so they requested that I send it in for the recall work to be done. I guess that I will be doing so later this week then.

As for the grips, I thought that the targets were correct. I have a set of 80s or 90s targets that came on a 1948-vintage K22 that I re-gripped with something more appropriate, however, whereas they fit the 686 nearly perfectly, they don’t fit my hand very well as it turns out. The rubber Hogues on the other hand fit my hand much better, but they don’t fit the gun well. When I tighten them down, the rubber separates at the backstrap, and the backstrap settles a bit recessed from the back of the grip as well. I also tried a set of Safariland combat grips I’ve had laying around, but they don’t match the backstrap profile at all, leaving raised sharp edges. Finally, I tried a set of Pachmayr Gripper Pros that I also have kicking around, and they also did not fit the gun well. As such, the Hogues are the best, most functional fit thus far, and have stayed with gun. I also found a set of Hogue Hardwood grips on slightly used from Numrich, so I figured they were worth a shot for $30. If not, the vintage Herretts high thumbrest Troopers I had on my K22, that unfortunately broke recently would make a good choice provided I can fix them back to usable shape...


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I’ve had my 686-1 6” since I purchased it new in 1988. It came mounted with Goncalvo Alves target stocks. Similar to you, I don’t fit the grips well, they are a bit large for my hands. I found that either Davis grips or Uncle Mike’s grips work well. Mr Davis originally designed his grips for competition revolvers and they have a coke bottle shape to them with one scallop for the shooter’s second finger. Very secure and comfortable. Mr Davis reacquired the molds maybe five years ago and I bought a brand new set from him to go with my older ones. The Uncle Mikes can be had from eBay. I modified a set of round butt to square butt ones to accept the square butt frame. The mod takes 10 minutes.

I finally returned my 686 for the M recall about three years ago. I decided to do it before there was any chance parts might run out. They replaced the bushing and hammer nose. Plus, I really think they lubed and adjusted the action. The DA and SA is better than when my revolver was new. Turn around time was about 2 to 2 1/2 weeks. I’m very happy with the work they did for the M recall

Interesting... I called S&W a few months ago because I picked up a 6" 686 (no dash) and when I asked about the recall the person in customer support told me to send it in if it had problems, not send it in and we'll fix it.

Great info! Think I'll call about my 686 no dash no M to see if I can get mine retrofitted as well.

Smith 686.... Maybe the best all around revolver ever built.

Thanks so much rwsmith. I called S&W yesterday, they emailed me a prepaid FedEx label, and I will be sending my 686 4" no dash to them later today. They said usually about a 4-week turn around.

Thanks again...sure glad I joined this Forum!