Selling 357-686 Questions regarding "dash" and Standard Target and Combat Variations.

Toppscore · #1 10-11-2020, 08:12 PM

Hi. I’m selling my 1986 357-686 no-dash magnum gun.
It is NIB New-In-Box. Never shot or empty barrel dry clicked.
Stored fresh for 33+ years with added moisture absorbing packets.
Specs are:
Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum Model 686 “NO dash” with 8-3/8” barrel
A3 37698 * AUL 1879 * MOD 686
6175 = S&W ship/build date = June 24th 1986
I purchased this gun brand new on May 11th 1987

Question #1) I understand 686 no-dash to dash-4 are all pre locking system guns.
I understand there are S&W Factory 686 versions of Standard, Combat and Target
guns with at least hammer, trigger and handle grip/stock differences.
Are there books blogs websites catalogues that discuss 1980s 357-686
differences between S&W factory Standard, Target and Combat guns?
Is the Smith & Wesson 4th Edition Standard Catalog with all my answers?

Question #2) With the 6175 build date of June 24th 1986,
is this one of the last “no-dash” guns made?
What date did S&W ship the first 686 “dash-1” guns?

Question #3) Are all 686 “dash” changes/modifications the same for the 357-586?

Thank you for your response. Toppscore

RGNewell · #2 10-11-2020, 08:35 PM

Yours is the target model

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RGNewell · #3 10-11-2020, 08:36 PM

Nice gun.

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Toppscore · #4 10-11-2020, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGNewell

Yours is the target model

Thanks. Great to know!
Would the S&W catalog or another info source help describe
differences between Target and the Standard or Combat version guns?

Question: As this is a 357-686 Magnum Target 8-3/8" barrel gun for competition,
did S&W make Combat or Standard version guns that were 8-3/8" barrel guns?
Would 8-3/8" guns make sense for Combat or Standard 357-686 Magnums?

BeAnalog · #5 10-11-2020, 09:21 PM

Nice looking gun. I am looking for a S&W 686+ right now actually.

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Toppscore · #6 10-11-2020, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeAnalog

Nice looking gun. I am looking for a S&W 686+ right now actually.

Hi. Thank you. Is there a platform within this forum
to buy sell swap guns?

My next step is to totally identify this gun as to represent
the features correctly, then get advice towards the best and safest
way to sell the gun: online auctions, gun stores, pawn shop, etc.

RGNewell · #7 10-11-2020, 09:44 PM

Gun stores and pawn shops are going to resale the gun and have to make a profit so you won't get as much. I am on my cell phone and can't see how long you have been on the forum. You will probably get more money on the forum, but might have to use an escrow service if you are a newbie.
Good luck.

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Toppscore · #8 10-12-2020, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGNewell

Gun stores and pawn shops are going to resale the gun and have to make a profit so you won't get as much. I am on my cell phone and can't see how long you have been on the forum. You will probably get more money on the forum, but might have to use an escrow service if you are a newbie. Good luck.

Hi. On this forum for two months = newbie - lol
I noticed there is a classified section within this forum and there
are FFLs in my area, but I've not investigated the selling process.

ken158 · #9 10-12-2020, 08:50 AM

Your 686 no dash ALU prefix with product code 104210 was made from 84-86 with the 8 3/8” barrel. Your gun falls into the range of the “M” bushing recall. This is a standard issue and not a target model which would have an adjustable front sight. As far as selling, make a deal, receive funds and ship to the buyer’s FFL dealer with a copy of your driver’s license or have a local FFL dealer ship if you prefer.

cherrypointmarine · #10 10-12-2020, 09:00 AM

Selling is easy here . You've already receiver offers I'm sure . You work out a price and the person sends you a USPS money order or whatever you ask for . You take it to your FFL and he'll ship it to the buyers FFL . Usually there's a 3 day inspection period , but that's negotiable .

I have bought quite a few through here , and it's easy . Plus you're selling it to somebody that'll appreciate it .

Pizza Bob · #11 10-12-2020, 11:25 AM

Just to clarify - There are no Target, Standard and Combat models of the 686. There are features that may have come on the gun meant to enhance it for a particular application. Target hammer has a wide spur. Target grips extend past the bottom of the grip frame and fill-in behind the trigger. Magna stocks follow the grip frame and combat stocks have finger grooves. Target triggers are wide and have serrations whereas combat triggers are wider than standard, but narrower than target and are smooth faced. The adjustable front sight referred to in this thread was used on guns suitable for Metallic Silhouette or PPC competition, dependent on barrel length.

You would find combat oriented features on shorter barrel guns while more target oriented features would be found on the longer barreled versions. I just don't think That I have ever heard gun models designated as "Target", "Combat" or "Standard" - just the features found on a particular gun.

Just my $.02

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Toppscore · #12 10-12-2020, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken158

Your 686 no dash ALU prefix with product code 104210 was made from 84-86 with the 8 3/8” barrel. Your gun falls into the range of the “M” bushing recall. This is a standard issue and not a target model which would have an adjustable front sight. As far as selling, make a deal, receive funds and ship to the buyer’s FFL dealer with a copy of your driver’s license or have a local FFL dealer ship if you prefer.

Good to get another second opinion.
I was told on another thread within this forum that:
6175 = S&W ship/build date = June 24th 1986
The "6" stands for 1986 and the 175 is the 175th day = June 24th 1986.

I'm going to let the future new buyer do the free "M" modification.
Thus the new buyer can see that nothing has been done to
clean or modify or change or hide any history about the gun.

OK. I need to do research. RGNewell's above first post
declared my 357-686 8-3/8" gun is a Target version.
I have studied many videos including Big Swoll58's many
YouTube posts on Smith Wesson revolvers including some that focus
on the 1980s 686. He show 686's with three different factory ordered triggers ~
thin with no checker/serration, thin with serration and wide with checker/serration
~ three different factory grips and three different factory hammers.
I am no expert and do not know if BigSwoll58 is not being accurate,
but his S&W collections are massive and his study of the variations
is quite extensive. I do not know if the variations apply to or do not apply to
the 686's with 8-3/8" barrels. If you know more, PLMK.

Ken158 ~ thanks to you I will continue to inquire and research.
Do not want to misrepresent a gun for sale. Cheers

Toppscore

Toppscore · #13 10-12-2020, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrypointmarine

Selling is easy here . You've already receiver offers I'm sure . You work out a price and the person sends you a USPS money order or whatever you ask for . You take it to your FFL and he'll ship it to the buyers FFL . Usually there's a 3 day inspection period , but that's negotiable. I have bought quite a few through here , and it's easy . Plus you're selling it to somebody that'll appreciate it .

Thanks, Cherry! No offers yet. Have not listed it, yet.
Need to better understand the features, version and variations.
Need to talk to an FFL to better understand charges, fees, taxes, etc.
Cheers!

Toppscore · #14 10-12-2020, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pizza Bob

Just to clarify - There are no Target, Standard and Combat models of the 686. There are features that may have come on the gun meant to enhance it for a particular application. Target hammer has a wide spur. Target grips extend past the bottom of the grip frame and fill-in behind the trigger. Magna stocks follow the grip frame and combat stocks have finger grooves. Target triggers are wide and have serrations whereas combat triggers are wider than standard, but narrower than target and are smooth faced. The adjustable front sight referred to in this thread was used on guns suitable for Metallic Silhouette or PPC competition, dependent on barrel length. You would find combat oriented features on shorter barrel guns while more target oriented features would be found on the longer barreled versions. I just don't think That I have ever heard gun models designated as "Target", "Combat" or "Standard" - just the features found on a particular gun. Just my $.02 Adios, Pizza Bob

Pizza Bob! Thanks for your input, need more investigation.
RGNewell's above first post declared my 357-686 8-3/8" gun is a Target version.
I have studied many videos including Big Swoll58's many YouTube posts on Smith Wesson revolvers including some that focus on the 1980s 686. He shows 686's with three different factory ordered triggers ~ thin with no checker/serration, thin with serration and wide with checker/serration ~ three different factory grips and three different factory hammers.

Pizza Bob, Big Swoll58's descriptions are similar as your descriptions.
Just guessing some owners have nicknames for Target, Regular and Combat.
Maybe not on the S&W official order form, and I do not know
if all variations could be factory ordered on 8-3/8" 686's

Pizza Bob. Thank you for the input.
I need to keep investigating. Toppscore

RGNewell · #15 10-12-2020, 05:30 PM

I was really making an educated guess at it being a target model using deductive reasoning.
It has target hammer and target grips. It seams a combat model would have a shorter barrel and combat grips, and a standard model would not have the TT, RR, WO or target grips.

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ken158 · #16 10-12-2020, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toppscore

Thanks, Cherry! No offers yet. Have not listed it, yet.
Need to better understand the features, version and variations.
Need to talk to an FFL to better understand charges, fees, taxes, etc.
Cheers!

An interested buyer will know what they are getting with good pics, box label pic and your statement about buying it new, etc. No sense in going overboard and spending time trying to determine anything other then what you have already produced. The buyer will know what they are getting and will bid or pay appropriately.

Pizza Bob · #17 10-12-2020, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGNewell

I was really making an educated guess at it being a target model using deductive reasoning.
It has target hammer and target grips. It seams a combat model would have a shorter barrel and combat grips, and a standard model would not have the TT, RR, WO or target grips.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

Exactly. Prior to model designations the terms "Target" and Military" were used to designate whether an arm had fixed sights or adjustable, i.e. .45 Target Model of 1950. But post-model designation it wasn't necessary because the model number gave us that information (and like all things S&W, that is not an absolute, just a guideline - we know that there are fixed sight and adjustable sight variations of the Model 19 for instance).

Adios,

Pizza Bob

To the OP - I really think that you are over-thinking this - a 686 is a 686 is a 686. Certain features will affect value/price.

Toppscore · #18 10-13-2020, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGNewell

I was really making an educated guess at it being a target model using deductive reasoning.
It has target hammer and target grips. It seams a combat model would have a shorter barrel and combat grips, and a standard model would not have the TT, RR, WO or target grips. Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

Thank you for clarifying. Being new, I trust what many
forum members say, but still continue to investigate.
Need to know the meaning of TT RR WO vs target grips.
I am considering purchasing the 2017 Smith Wesson
4th Edition Standard Catalog. Wondering if all this information
is included for the 1986 357-686 NO-Dash Magnum, 8-3/8" barrel.
Thank you. Cheers

Toppscore · #19 10-13-2020, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pizza Bob

Pizza Bob ~ To the OP - I really think that you are over-thinking this - a 686 is a 686 is a 686. Certain features will affect value/price.

I am interested towards learning.
After selling this 357-686, I will purchase another S&W revolver,
probably a 357-586 with shorter barrel that has been shot/used
and ready for my shooting learning curve.

On the other hand I want to know about these variations
so I may speak with confidence when selling and buying.
Right now, way to many many videos and online blogs do
not know 686's were factory shipped with 8-3/8" barrels!!!!
Believe me, my ears perk up when hearing this per my own gun knowledge

Amazing. Sad but true.
When did S&W stop making 686 with 8-3/8" barrels?

Coastie762 · #20 10-14-2020, 06:29 AM

TT=Target Trigger (wide, serrated)
RR= Red Ramp front sight
WO= White Outline rear sight