What are pre lock 686s going for in your neck of the woods thanks just trying to get a feeling for what’s out there

Rarely ..... can't remember when...... I last saw one locally for sale.

Guessing they'd go for between $600-800 maybe $900 depending on barrel length.

I bought my 686-1 6" this year for $600 at a pawn shop in Ohio

I think this is good info

$600 used low end. Around $800 new depending on barrel length, and which model like 686+, pc, Lew horton, talo , or what ever variations they put out. My 686+ 4" is possibly my favorite range gun. I like it so much I got a 617 4" last weekend to match.

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I scooped my 686-0 at a pawn shop for 6 beans... needed about 125.00 in work so I would say between 6 to 8 depending...

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This is the way....

I this environment on the Least Coast I would be hard pressed to secure on <$850 almost regardless of condition. Another problem, there aren't any and I mean non. Cases are absolutely empty everywhere, the only thing I see on my local watering hole shelves are Ruger MK3s in all their varieties and an occasional S&W Victory sprinkled in. Local NICS has a 1 week backlog. Stores give out appointments with a 1 week wait to come in the store. You could call it a sellers market, only difference is the sellers have NO inventory to sell. I am trying to say: You see a gun you don't like and don't need...grab it.

Any $600 prelock 686 is a bargain, especially if it's a -4 or earlier, and/or has the original wood stocks. Box too...buy it immediately.
$800-9 for a clean 4" or 6" is the norm around here.

If you find one, Brownells has the 7 round cylinder for around $150

I got this 686-4 from a LGS just over a year ago with the combat stocks and original box for $600. I bought it as fast as I could! I had purchased a 686 on GunBroker for $500 that was worn the week before that and thought I had done well. Sold that one and kept this guy. Now my 1894 CSS has a good companion! I'd say for $600 in this environment it's a solid purchase.

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There’s a 6” prelock 686 at my LGS for $695.

I paid $650 for my no dash 4” in June.

Sold a 686 no dash 6” barrel with box and tools locally last week for $750

I too have been wanting a 686 and passed over some because of the prices and hoping the prices would come down.

Hindsight is 20/20, I should have jumped on them.

I hope we get past the current fire arms drought very soon.

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U.S. Coast Guard, retired CPO

As the election nears and the ammo crisis continues, prices are going to be higher than usual. Here in my area before the quarantine used pre-lock 686's would be around $450-550.

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

Wish we could find any around the NW for that sort of pricing. Not much to be found out here and when you do they are is the $750+ zone.

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"Tastes just like chicken"

The prices seem to be rising all the time. I have a couple of 6" and an 8 3/8, but haven't been able to get shorter barrel versions for a reasonable price. The 4" in nice condition, 7-9 easily and the 2.5's will be well north of that in the 11 -12 plus range depending upon condition grips on them etc. I don't know what is pushing them up so high, but they keep climbing.

I sold a LNIB 4" 686 no dash back in November for $1000.00

My 5" Stocking Dealer Exclusive 686-6+ went for $545.
I was surprised that it didn't go for more.



I kept my 6" 686 no-dash. Its not going anywhere except to the range.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

The last I bought was about two years ago. It was a 4" dash 0 6 shot and I got it at a very reasonable price of $500.00 from a friend who owed me a favor. I already had a 7 shot 4" that I bought in a pawn shop about 10 years ago for $300.00 OTD. Both will go to my son when I take the dirt nap. That said, even in Mississippi (guns are usually cheaper here) most I see are going for $750.00+ .

Well the S&W 686, 686 +, 586 pre-lock will always carry a premium price tag, even more as time moves on. If you see one, and you have the coins, lay your money down and be glad.

Bought in 2005 for $350. Seattle WA



Bought in 2006 for $599. With lock and the 'Plug' installed Seattle WA



Bought in 1996 for $299. Seattle WA



Bought in 2019 for $699. Seattle WA



Bought in 1996 for $399. Seattle WA



Bought in 2017 for $500. Seattle WA



Bought in 2016 for $900. Lock with the 'Plug' installed Seattle WA

The stocks are gorgeous. Gun, too.

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- Post No Bills -

Thank you. Its the most accurate gun I own.
Or, I'm most accurate with that gun.
When it goes to the range it wears Hogue Monogrips.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Unrelated to the OP's question, the 5" 686-6+ that I sold was a 1/2 lug and was shipped
with Ahrens Wood Cocobolo grips, a Hi-Viz orange dot front sight, V-notch rear sight,
target hammer and a smooth target trigger.

I think these Stocking Dealer Exclusives were the only 1/2 lug 686s.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

rubiranch,
I don't care for the lock but otherwise I like that model a lot. I'd have kept that one.

I paid $700 for my 4" 686-1 that was like NIB.

Paid around $500 for a no dash 2 1/2" barrel one that had been used as a truck gun. Only needed some light sanding and a lot of polishing. I wouldn't take $1,200 for it.

I've seen used -6's sell for about 7-800 these days. Probably the panic or fear .

Prelock ones are pretty much higher than that (Calif.).

I'm glad I have the ones that I do have.

I haven't seen one in a shop priced under $600 hereabouts. Usually they seem to hover around $650+.

I got my -4 just about a year ago for around $650. Rare to find one now anywhere near that.

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Wing Nut-USAF and Army vet

That one looks fantastic. I really wish that S&W would offer a partial underlug in the 686/586 as a standard catalog option. Especially in the plus models.

I have a 686, no dash 6", that I bought in as new condition a couple of years ago. I have never fired it (for no particular reason). All of this talk and the photos have inspired me to take it out and shoot it.

I almost did.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I like the 686 but my preference is for a fixed sight 681. I like the blued 581 even better. In my experience the fixed sight revolvers acquire a target faster and are more accurate. The blued guns are just sexier than the stainless.

Gonna do that next year when all this crud leaves us and gets the koolaid sellers off our backs. But your answers gives me somewhere to start.

My brother competed with this one that I already posted a picture of.



This is how it came to me wearing Hogue Monogrips and quite dirty.



It has a High Patridge front sight.



A Millett rear sight.



Its had extensive trigger work and has a smooth target trigger.
When shooting DA I'm pretty sure of you look at the trigger hard enough it will discharge the gun. LOL

Like I mentioned before it is the most accurate gun I own.

If yours isn't a safe queen you really need to take it to the range.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Correction to my above post:

Price on the 6” 686 at the LGS is $710...and still available. PM me if interested and I’ll put you in direct contact with them. ( I hope I didn’t break any rules here)

Saw a 4 in 686 pre hole model in Spokane about 4 years ago for $600, which we thought was a great price then. Any stainless in CO S&W I've seen lately is above $800, with used 686 mid $700s. New in store are similar, so with some talking.....

Going to a local gun show this weekend so we shall see what the prices look like if there are any for sale ‼️‼️

Bare shelves, Covid, & the election = stupidly high prices on almost any gun compared to 1 year ago! ! ! ! Gun show 2 weekends ago, 9mm $35/box, 22 $75/brick, & NO primers! I'm glad I reload and have a stock pile!
jcelect

I was happy to find and pay $800 for a -4 3” a few months back!


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I have noted several instances where used in decent shape pre lock 686s go for more than a brand new post lock gun, so I am not surprised.

At the beginning of the year I paid 640 for a no dash 8 3/8th" 686 with the silhouette sight. Then America went full retard with Covid and riots.

If you can get any nice pre lock square butt 686 for under a grand, I would consider you lucky. I suspect the craziness is driving prices up now on guns no one would have considered before. With all the 9mms gone, those good old .357s look pretty damn good.

Used 6 inch 686 with factory target stocks was on a table today at a local show for $850.. it did not sell and the gentleman took it home.. his buddy sharing the table had a used 457s with 2 magazines for $500. It did not sell either and he took it home too.

Found a 4 inch dash 3 tight lock up very good condition minor handling marks $750 any advise on polishing out swirls ect without making gun too shined up thanks for everyone’s help keep the comments and advise comming

750 is the common price in North Florida. They have nearly doubled.

I can recommend the flitz products. Did great for my older dirty weapons.

Personally, except for pure, dyed-in-the-wool S&W aficionados/collectors, I cannot imagine a casual buyer caring much about the lock if he or she is looking for a new M686+. New models are at MSRP $899.00, which means they're probably retailing in stores between $750 and $850. ASSUMING you can find them I think that you'll see the same on auction sites - - except if an aficionado is bidding on a pre-lock the price could escalate.

Now, if you factor in a shortage of such guns presently, never mind the results if November 3rd does not go well then, sure, the prices could rise for a new 686 or anything else!

As noted a few posts back, present "craziness" can have a very dramatic impact on prices for 686s pre-lock or otherwise.

Here's some eye candy for you - everyone likes eye candy..........

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Come and take it!!

Saw a no dash 4” today at a show with targets on it, but the screws were messed up. Someone had the side plate off. I passed.

Sportsman’s Warehouse here in south Louisiana seems to get a fresh shipment of 686’s every couple of weeks. $789.00

Not a deal killer if you can get it cheap. I would have a hard time matching a bunged up side plate to a frame, but screws and other bits are readily available. It wouldn't be the first time I've gutted a S&W.

You just have to weigh the cost of the gun versus the replacement parts. If some dingle berry expects a top shelf price for a diddled with gun, they must be smoking the crack rock.

Saw a very nice condition 8 3/8” 686 no dash with the M stamp, aftermarket wood grips for $720.

It was very nice.

The more people talk here about certain models the higher prices go. There’s way more members here than 10 years ago, all looking for the same guns.
As soon as someone mentions....for instance 39-2 , boom the prices go up as others get interested in the same gun, and people complain about high prices.

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In memory of Labworm

I paid 475 for my 686-2 a couple years ago. Thought it was a great deal!