686-4 from 1994 - sporterized

KudrigY · #1 10-12-2018, 02:25 PM

Hello,

My friend bought an 686-4 from 1994 (thx for that manufacturing date information, Kernel Crittenden!). It is very fine for shooting, as we both agree, but we both wonder how much of it is still S&W, and which parts are aftermarket.

,

We dont have experience with old (anything pre-2000 is old for us

) guns, but I suspect those parts are not factory made:
- front sight
- underbarrel weight (sadly, there are no markings on it)
- trigger ?widener?
- grips.

Am I correct? Have I missed anything?

BTW - what is the meaning of that "005" number on ?cylinder frame? (sorry, I don't know the name of this part...)

Sevens · #2 10-12-2018, 02:38 PM

I bet you are much closer than you may think!

The trigger is wearing a trigger shoe that can be removed, I would guess the trigger is original. The barrel has a removable aftermarket weight. The front sight is indeed original! It was a not-that-common option, I believe it is referred to as a "Silhouette" adjustable front sight. And yes, the stocks are not original, but the original ones aren't hard to track down, they are often called "Goncalo Alves Target with Speedloader Cutout."

The 005 is merely an assembly number used inside the factory to help them keep parts together as they went through different processes.

BC38 · #3 10-12-2018, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sevens

...The front sight is indeed original! It was a not-that-common option, I believe it is referred to as a "Silhouette" adjustable front sight....

That is a Silhouette front sight, and it was made by S&W and factory installed on some revolvers (the Classic hunter for one) but would it have been factory original - even as an option - on a 686?

Sevens · #4 10-12-2018, 03:39 PM

It was absolutely an option when I ordered my 686-3 in 1989, so I'm guessing they still offered it with the 686-4.

I remember this so vividly because at the time (I was 17), I thought it looked horrendous and I didn't even come close to considering it. In hindsight, I think it was a fantastic idea, and although it's still not the best looking thing I've ever seen on a revolver, I have come to accept it visually, and yeah... I wish I had ordered it on my 686-3.

one eye joe · #5 10-12-2018, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sevens

I bet you are much closer than you may think!

The trigger is wearing a trigger shoe that can be removed, I would guess the trigger is original. The barrel has a removable aftermarket weight. The front sight is indeed original! It was a not-that-common option, I believe it is referred to as a "Silhouette" adjustable front sight. And yes, the stocks are not original, but the original ones aren't hard to track down, they are often called "Goncalo Alves Target with Speedloader Cutout."

The 005 is merely an assembly number used inside the factory to help them keep parts together as they went through different processes.

THAT JUST ABOUT SUMS IT UP. Sevens.......

BC38 · #6 10-12-2018, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sevens

It was absolutely an option when I ordered my 686-3 in 1989, so I'm guessing they still offered it with the 686-4.

I remember this so vividly because at the time (I was 17), I thought it looked horrendous and I didn't even come close to considering it. In hindsight, I think it was a fantastic idea, and although it's still not the best looking thing I've ever seen on a revolver, I have come to accept it visually, and yeah... I wish I had ordered it on my 686-3.

Cool! Too bad they can't (or at least don't) do stuff like that at the factory anymore.