Went to a local gun show that i have not been to in almost 10 years walking thru the isles low and behold i spot a guy holding a revolver, A 681 with the ohio state highway patrol stamp on the side plate i offered 550 and low and behold it’s mine !!! A side note i looked for a good 6 or so years for a 681 with the OSHP stamp in a years time i’ve found 2 .....

Would that have been the show at the Summit County Fairgrounds? I was there as well. Didn't see much I was looking for. The 3" guns are my main area of interest.

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SWCA #2785
OGCA #35078

Yes it was i did some wheeling and dealing and wlll be picking up a 3 inch 65 this week also a police dept marked revolver

Again, another desirable gun that didn't make its way out of the Midwest... This is an old story.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. This is why I have never seen, let alone held, a 681.

There was a 581 blue at the show $750 about 95 % condition just could not afford 3 revolvers

Just a FYI for all the forum members who say they never see 681s in their area, Summit Gun Broker has one listed on the web site Mark is a great guy to work with

Congrats on the find.
As much as 'gun shows' have become flea markets for cheap Chinese knives, candles, purses, and candy, I try not to miss any in fear of missing a find like yours.

They are out there,,,,. The vast majority of active units, never carried an issued revolver.



Contrary to the 4th Edition, they were all marked & chambered in .357. Only .38+P SJHP was issued. Though some units might admit to carrying non-issue rounds,,,,,,. In some areas of the state, it was not uncommon to be the only Troop on duty in the entire county. All worked (and still do) in one-unit cars.

They were issued with Pachmayr "Gripper" grips. Only choice with or w/o covered backstrap. Other grips were not allowed.

The S&W 681 was the last issued revolver AND the only one OSHP-marked. All subsequent pistols; Beretta 96D, SIG 226DAO & SIG 226DAK (all .40S&W), and current SIG 320 are OSHP-marked. The DAO's & DAK's are out there in the secondary market. Either from the Troops that bought them or those that were not purchased & went for dealer trade.

I saw one at a shop marked at $799, which he offered to me for $750. It was not OSP marked and had what looked like tool chatter marks on the ejector rod cut. I had to pass.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

If any members have any pictures of police stamped 681s or any other revolvers please post them thank you

** NOT meant as advertisement** there is currently a very early 681 (with S&W marked sideplate) on G--B-----. It is marked w/ "TPD330" . Oklahoma offering,, maybe Tulsa P.D.?

They were (are) very strong, workhorse revolvers. I'm certain many departments issued them though they came around at the time many were transitioning to semi-auto's.

I was in my local GS here in Texas a few years ago. I saw a funny looking 686 with no adjustable sights. I bought it just because. I'm glad I did. I have never seen one before or since.

My wife's S&W Model 681 marked TPD 701.


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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

My Tampa gun show find a few years ago and my favorite. M 581

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I almost bought one of these for the simple fact I never knew they existed, but decided to pass. If it was LE agency marked I probably would have bought it. Very cool.

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SWCA 3563
10mm aficionado

keep them coming ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

Here's my NYSP marked 681 ND, found it at a small gun show in 2015.

Also attached is a more recent photo of the 681 along with its blued cousin, a 581 ND I picked up earlier this fall.

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I bought a 681 a few years back. $400 with target (wrong I know) grips and a bit scuffed up. No LEO agency markings. I buy firearms for shooting and that 681 is a shooter.

Great find!

I had a 686 once. Very nice gun and wish I still had it. I saw a 681 last year and grabbed it. Pachmayr gripper grips in it which happen to be my favorite non wood grip. I shoot that gun better than any gun I own or have ever owned. Head shots easy at 15 yards. Empty shotgun hulls on the ground at 10 yards don’t stand a chance. I would never sell it. Looks classy, too.

Here’s my 681 NO Dash, NO M and NOT a police trade in.
I had it up for sale, but it didn’t generate any interest.
After seeing this thread and a couple others, I may keep it.

Edit: For the right offer, I can part with it though.

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Mines a no dash also. How many dashes did the 681 have? Came kind of late to the game and they didn’t make them for long, I don’t think. Mine does have the M stamp which I prefer. Non M stamp no dashes aren’t any more valuable and who wants to deal with staying away from certain brands and weights of .357?

Got two, including a NYSP gun.

Can’t seem to right the NYSP

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Sure you did

My 681 is a non-marked revolver issued by my agency. We had the opportunity to purchase one when it was decided for us to obtain our own sidearm. I purchased the one carried by our assistant chief as he had the action smoothed and polished.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

I picked up one in need of some tlc early in the year this year. Had some pitting on the frame and trigger guard as well as a couple freckles on the cylinder. A few hours time and it came out really well. It's a 681 no dash. It had some beat up old aftermarket grips on it so I got a set of magnas for it and redid them as well.

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1st smiles,lies.Last,gunfire.

My 681 NYSP, 1981 4"

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Regarding the M stamp; my 681 shown above does have the stamp. The 581 does not.

I haven't worried about the presence or absence of the stamp as the vast majority of loads run through my guns are handloads. This allows me to control the components and desired power level. For instance I have a 4" 586 ND without the stamp. I've run some pretty stout (but within book parameters) loads through it without issues.

Of course if one does run into problems, S&W still offers the hammer nose/bushing upgrade free of charge.

I no longer shoot .357 mags due to arthritis. I shoot .38 and .38+p. So not having the “M” stamp didn’t bother me.
I have contacted S&W twice to get a return shipping label to have the recall fixed. I have yet to receive anything from them.
And yes, I know by not having the M stamp does not make it more valuable. It’s just a run of the mill M681.

BTW, for the right offer I would sell it, because I just don’t shoot as much anymore.

Group
got a 3 inch 65 with LCS 262 stamped under the cylinder any Ohio members know of this marking the gun was purchased in Ohio so i’m assuming one of the L county’s ?, just wondering which county

I agree for me it probably wouldn’t be a problem but if they’re going to pay shipping both ways and the upgrade then if mine didn’t have the M stamp I’d send it in. I rarely shoot .357 anyway. Exclusively my middle of the road .38 reloads.

Maybe I’m not talking to the right people at S&W to get a return shipping label.

Anyone care to lead me in the right direction?

Thanks,

Any more pictures folks ?

Non-agency marked 681, my favorite revolver with the butteriest-smooth double action. It was in rough shape when I received it, these are post rehab pics I've posted here before.


Where's yours???

If i send you pictures will you post them for me it’s beyond my computer skill level

not all oshp 681s were marked during the change over to the 96D.

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I used to have this North Carolina State Highway Patrol model 66-1. Sold it a few years ago to another member here who had a family connection to the agency.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Browns fan sent me pics of his very nice 681, here they are:










Oh, and Browns fan, two words...
John Elway

Nice Ryan lol‼️‼️

If I had an OSHP revolver, these would be with it for display.

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Been awhile let’s see if any members have any new 681s to brag about i just bought a 65 2.5 non pinned but recessed

I bought one about 8-9 yrs ago . There was a slew of them on GB at the time for about $550. They were all stamped " CAI" , Century Arms Int'l . They had supposedly been brought back from either Australia (Federal Police Force there) or New Zealand . Mine is " M " stamped . I put a set of K-frame PC Magna's on it. It is very accurate . It hardly ever see's 38 spl ammo . It's a 357 so that is what it gets . I have no intention of selling it as I shoot it too well to sell . Regards Paul

Like I have said before, here and on other fora, the 681 is my favorite handgun. If I could just have one handgun, it would be my 681.

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Let's be careful out there

Let’s see some more photos this gun is too great not to deserve more time at the top ‼️‼️‼️‼️

Model 681
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All these beautiful 681s make me heartsick over my stupidly selling mine.
Maybe one day I'll be able to rectify it.

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Sir there are 2 listed on arms list i have nothing to do with the listings just a fyi

Thanks, but I'm not back to work yet so it's financially untenable at the moment.

One day...God willing.

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You certainly don’t see the fixed sight L frames much. I much prefer blued, and the 581’s are even less common than the 681’s. While I don’t care for the big heavy under lug on most revolvers ( about the stupidest thing ever on the K frame 22’s for example) something about the L frame in a magnum caliber makes it appealing. If I ever came across a 681 at a decent price, I might even over look the fact it is stainless.
Nice looking revolvers here !

Zombie thread. Here's mine. But what I can't find is a 581

581 ? Had this one for a while, sold it to a friend.

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