I am looking at a model Smith&Wesson 681-1 stainless steel double/single action .357 Mag. revolver with 4" barrel and 6 shot cylinder. This gun has some scratches on the barrel and receiver. Grips are in great condition. SN: AVV1615 He wants $629.00. Good deal or no?

I'd call it ...OK to fair....... issue is you don't see many for sale. Last one I saw for sale I bought about 4-5 years ago. Individual or shop? In Pa. taxes would add $45 to the price in a shop. If it's a shop I'd offer $600 out the door...... all he can do is say NO.

A 4" L-frame .357 is the best utility/duty/general purpose revolver you can have IMHO!

The 681 and 581 are strange birds in that you just don't ever seem them for sale. Even on auction sights they don't pop up often and so prices can be a bit squirrelly. That said, I've never read anything bad about them, they were made in fewer numbers than their adjustable sighted counterparts and they have a lot going for them. I have tried to buy several on auctions in the $450-$500 range and I have always failed. So if this is something you have looked for intently then it would be worth $600 out the door (at least to me). Otherwise depending upon condition it may be high priced and passable.

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That is the going rate. I have that gun. Mine is a no dash. Great guns. Very accurate. If you like the gun I would buy it.

It most likely shipped in.....

March - April 1987.

IMO the price is on the higher side of the normal range, but not unfair.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Thanks for the insight. It does look like a decent deal. It is an individual seller and he is 300 miles away. I think I will sleep on it.

I picked up a very nice one off an auction site for $500.00 recently.

When I picked it up from my FFL he said he had sold one recently for the same amount.

Both of us seemed a little shocked they were that low but if you look around you might find one cheaper. And of course you might not.

Good luck. They are very nice.

Last one I saw in a LGS had $699 + tax and he wouldn't budge a bit. Not even the tax. Said it was the first he had in the shop in several years. It was gone a week later.

I just bought one off of Gunbroker for $500.00. That was mid May. I noticed from the auction pics that it did not have the M on the crane so the seller (an FFL) sent it directly to S&W instead of to my FFL, at my request. I still do not have it. I called the seller and they told me that S&W customer service stated they did not yet look at it and had nothing to report. That was 2 weeks ago so it'll be 2 months soon.

Anyway,.... The last time I looked in Gunbroker to see how many 681's were listed there was a grand total of 1! They are hard to get.

Hope you can get this one at a good price.

I've been looking for one for years (I am one of "those guys" that doesn't like to buy used guns off the internet, sight unseen), and if it checked out, I'd probably start at $500 (lay the cash down in front of them, it's amazing what that can do!) and be prepared to walk if they refuse.

But then you can always "go back" and pay their price later, which I would probably do, again if it "checked out" good.

THAT'S FUNNY. Be prepared to keep LOOOKING for maybe a VERY long time.

They say that even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.
I had never even heard of the 681 when I stumbled across one in the midst of a gaggle of LEO trade-in 686s in a LGS.
Traded a M&P .45 straight across for it and have been smiling ever since.
And I would never let it go for anywhere close to $500.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I was a LEO when the 581/681 were introduced. I tried to get an early 681 but had to settle for a 581 in nickel. Later I purchased a 681.
I sold it when I left law enforcement and looked for a long time to find one and finally did, I added the Bill David grips.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

I think $600-$650 is a good price for a “harder” to find gun.

FWIW, I picked up a NIB 681 at a local show for $580 - quickly flipped it for $800.

I also picked up this LNIB 629-1 from the same seller.

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You can laugh all you want, it has worked for me many, MANY times!

And, as I also said, if it was in good enough shape I'd be prepared to lay down more.

I traded a 10mm Glock for a 681, best gun trade I've made. It was in fairly rough shape but I managed to breathe some life back into it 681 First L Frame

I do love to shoot it, especially with warmer loads, it performs very well!

I actually think it may have shipped towards the end of 1988 or a little later. However, I do agree with the Kernel, price seems a little high to me, considering overall condition.

What makes you think that? Is it what the SCoS&W says? May estimate is based on four other AVV serial numbers I have I my database that all shipped March - April 1987.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

unless you have one cheaper in front of you right now, Buy it!

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

Those that prefer the fixed sights (the minority IMO) REALLY want a 681. Those that prefer adjustable sights don't, SO although the supply is LOW, demand is not as high as for a 686 , that's my thinking anyway. Find a 681 first, then deal with the cost negotiations. MY ND was listed for sale on an index card at a busy gun range for over a month, I believe I got very lucky.

I stumbled onto this 681-1 that was marked $529. It was at a local pawnshop that I've bought a few S&W's from, so they usually give me a little break. I wound up paying $450. OTD.

I honestly thought it was a great deal at $529. and would have gladly bought it for the asking price, but I wasn't telling them that!

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Free advice is worth the price

I'd buy several at that price. Nice piece!

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Considering how much that "686" looks a lot like a 681 , it's in nice condition & a fair price, congrats.

Good catch! Thank you and fixed!

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Free advice is worth the price

Back in the 80’s the 681 was issued to the officers in my agency. I was already carrying a 586, so I was not included.

Later I had the opportunity to purchase one when we were transitioning to self loading sidearms.

Very solid sidearm. Had considered qualifying with it, but was issued a 2 1/2” 686 and qualified with it instead.

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1601 (ret)