The attached photo is off a 357 that I am told has a very low round count. Your opinion. Is that a groove cut for the cylinder bolt? This is off a 686, and I must be honest, I have never held or reviewed a 1990's or later firearm. Aside from the cylinder bolt, does the recoil shield look well used?

Attached Images

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

It can wind up like that from cylinder opening and closing alot. My 329 kinda got like that. There's a little burr on edge of cylinder pin. If you use some real fine sandpaper and just go around the edge of pin it'll help it not make it keep doing it. Did my 438 when I got it new cause saw on 329 and made a difference. It'll close easier too the burr on edge hops on edge of where the cylinder closes

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R/S
J.D.

Any comment on the recoil shield around the firing pin hole relative to round count being low?

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I see nothing out of the ordinary with the "turn line"; this one is a little prominent.

As far as a "very low round count" the imprint of the casing on the recoil shield indicates more than a few fired; more than six but less than six thousand. The seller (?) could have also done a better cleaning job to convince you of this.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I see nothing concerning but the grove on the anterior (front side) of the recoil shield looks as if someone drew a straight line along the groove with a black medium tip Sharpie marker. I am guessing it looks like this due to light reflection.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

A better indicator may be to look for flame cutting on the top strap of the frame above the barrel, and the condition of the forcing cone.

Other than being dirty it doesn't look over used. What about the underside top strap above the forcing cone? That is usually a better indicator.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Agree that it looks like a sharpie was used to cover up a mark. What seems weird to me is that it doesn't go all the way to the center where it locks up.

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Todd

The forcing cone looks quite clean, and I see no flame cutting

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Agree with above comments.
And - do I see holes in the bottom of the Top Strap?
I don’t like that!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

For scope mount, I believe.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I can't tell the engineering change from that photo, but the factory started to drill and tap frames with the 686-4.

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"I also cook."

The pic is from a 686-4 which is drilled and tapped as part of the engineering change

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Here's a couple pictures of my 6" 686 no-dash.
My brother competed with this gun. Guaranteed its had thousands of rounds go thru it.







It has a High Patridge, Millet rear sight, a smooth target trigger and the nicest trigger of all my guns.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Thanks Kenny, very helpful

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

On these photos you see the case head imprint on the recoil shield as in the first photos; it takes more than a few rounds to do this. With very heavy use you sometimes see imprints all around the shield.

The score line on the top strap near the forcing cone is visible within a few rounds, progresses then usually stops. If your potential purchase looks like Kenny's gun it may have been shot quite a bit, as he knows.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

This is the 4" 686 no-dash that I recently sold.

It had been shot very little.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Round count is relative to the person making the estimate!! I have a 627-2 that has a pronounced imprint around the firing pin, and some imprinting from other rounds on the frame face, but i would estimate it has around 100,000 rounds through it, virtually all .38 Special rounds. Otherwise, it looks like new!
I would say is has several thousand rounds through it, but at the same time, to me it is more important to know if it was 38s or 357 Mags, the looks of the stop notches on the cylinder, turn ring, whether the forcing cone is sharp, B/C gap is .006 or less, no endshake, carry up is early and smooth, other cosmetics of frame, barrel, and stocks, and last but maybe not least the price.
I bought my 586 in 1981 and have probably 100,000 rounds through it too, but it is still in really fine shape. I would worry about other things besides round count and how many dirty rounds were down the tube.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

How would you remove the case head imprint from the recoil shield?

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

Nice carpet.
Nice revolver.

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Foster Positivity.

The round count as represented to me is 150 from the orig. owner. 50 357's and 100 38's. My reason for asking is the imprint, and dirt look like more than a total of 150 rounds

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I can't ever remember shooting that few rounds through a new revolver and then examining the condition of the recoil shield in detail.

But regardless: "If there's ever any doubt, there is no doubt."

The center pin wear on the recoil shield alone is enough to indicate it's been used more than the owner is letting on. If you're feeling hinky about this one or you just aren't sure, then pass on it and keep looking. There are a bunch of 686s out there.

Pete maybe just very dirty rounds....lol
Sarcasm there.
I see what you do.
Takes a lot of rounds to build up that heavily.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

The issues about the center pin drag and the brass transference on the recoil shield tend to be more about cosmetics than anything else. I can't think of any S&W revolvers in my collection that don't have some kind of drag mark and the brass transference is more a function of the type of ammo used than it is about how much the gun has been shot. What are more important questions: How is the end shake? Does the gun lock up properly? Is the ejector rod run out excessive? How is the barrel/cylinder gap? What does the flame cutting on the frame look like? Is the crown buggered up? These are the things I take into consideration when I'm looking at a used revolver and are good indicators as to the amount of use the gun has had. The photo you post doesn't have anything that tells me to stay away from that gun and so long as everything else measures up, I wouldn't worry about the brass marks or the drag line.

All good points above. One other point is if the seller (?) is asking a nearly as new in box price. I wouldn't be overly concerned with what is seen in the photos if it is a good deal and function checks out.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Unfortunately, I am not in a position to check the other things that are pointed out in the various posts. Just like when you buy a gun online, you kind of throw caution to the wind, and hope for the best. I am just going with what I have and what I can see.

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Thank you for all the valuable input.

The bottom line is that I passed on the purchase

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Pete, I looked at my 596-1 and it looks exactly the same! I do believe it's just wear and tear.

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Ed

Sharpie as a bluing pen...why didn't I think of that?

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Psalm 27:2

Sometimes you just have to cross your fingers and take a chance.

I do and I have, but just not this time

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son