A bunch of really ugly Smiths

S&W Fan · #1 04-02-2021, 10:30 AM

Hey you Denver area guys the Sportman's Warehouse in Sheridan has a case full of seriously ugly Smiths. If you remember the recent thread sigp220 put up about his 3" 13 you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about.

They're displayed so the "nice" side shows out to the customer but once you turn them over man are they nasty! I looked at 2 66-2 2.5" and couldn't believe the amount of rust on the sides, barrels, cylinders, and peeking inside the ratchet cutout in the recoil shield the internals are horrible.

They have 686s, 66s, 10s, a 12, 581, all possible security or police trade ins after being used as boat anchors.

I was ready to take one of the 66s home but after looking at it I didn't want to take on a restoration project of that magnitude.

Happy Hunting.

VictorLouis · #2 04-02-2021, 02:06 PM

One of my area SW's got some in, also.
Project-guns! Some are price reasonably, and
some.....well, there's a finger for every trigger.

Breakaway500 · #3 04-02-2021, 02:14 PM

Know when to walk away..and when to run..

mk70ss · #4 04-02-2021, 02:55 PM

There is always a use for truck/camper/tractor guns.......

HOUSTON RICK · #5 04-02-2021, 05:37 PM

Are they priced accordingly and function without rust?

sigp220.45 · #6 04-02-2021, 05:49 PM

I’ll have to check that one out. Parker hasn’t gotten any more rust buckets in.

The guy at mine confirmed they are getting them from Century Arms, which has very similar ones up on their website. They must have bought out every evidence room in the country.

They are generally overpriced for condition, but not always and they will wheel and deal on them. Mine has an older 4” Python for $1399 and its been there for months, which gives you and idea of condition.

I recently bought this Police Service Six for $400 plus background fee. Hard to mess up a stainless Ruger.

SW will also sell you a couple boxes of stashed ammo for the pre-lunacy price if you buy a gun.

lihpster · #7 04-02-2021, 06:48 PM

Hell, around here it would just be nice to go into a store and see a handgun. Any handgun. Talked with my LGS. They have room to display 285 handguns. They have 22. 19 autos and 3 revolvers. And no idea when they will get more. Won't even take an order for a new Smith because they already have standing orders with all their distributors. So now, I'm gonna have to hunt for what I want. And since what I want is popular, gonna have to be Johnny on the spot to find one. Or go online to the auctions and pay a fortune.

S&W Fan · #8 04-02-2021, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOUSTON RICK

Are they priced accordingly and function without rust?

The 66 snub with old Safariland grips was $620, the one with beat to hell service stocks was $630 LOL. I asked how firm the prices were and was told they were firm. All the "desirable" models were priced in the mid to high $600s, they also had a 6" Python for $2500.

Sistema1927 · #9 04-02-2021, 10:11 PM

I stopped into the Albuquerque Sportsman's Warehouse today. Nada.

Also, nada on just about any ammunition except a couple of odd boxes of .338 and 7x64. Not a round of .22, not a shotshell, nothing, nada, zip, zilch. No components either. I expected it to be bad, but not that bad. Good thing I didn't need anything.

B.Thomas · #10 04-07-2021, 02:58 PM

I purchased a 686 from Sportmans a month or so ago and it was rough but I knew it was special because of the square but frame.
Needed stocks and screws and a rear sight blade and an ejector rod and lots of work to remove the abuse it went through.
It’s a 686 no dash 1985 serial number.
Mystery pistol for sure but I’m not interested in spending $100 to paper it.
Into the entire project $730

Also bought a 10-7 while I was there. It was rough but cleaned up nicely.

Justamessenger · #11 04-07-2021, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.Thomas

I purchased a 686 from Sportmans a month or so ago and it was rough but I knew it was special because of the square but frame.
Needed stocks and screws and a rear sight blade and an ejector rod and lots of work to remove the abuse it went through.
It’s a 686 no dash 1986 serial number.
Mystery pistol for sure but I’m not interested in spending $100 to paper it.
Into the entire project $730

Also bought a 10-7 while I was there. It was rough but cleaned up nicely.

Supplies of good used guns have dries up, and I’m ready to learn.

B.Thomas · #12 04-07-2021, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justamessenger

Supplies of good used guns have dries up, and I’m ready to learn.

Here’s the 10-7 (1979) before and after.
Had a considerable amount of rust on it and the stocks were filthy.
I stripped it down and soaked it in mineral spirits and then scrubbed it with 0000 steel wool, then scrubbed the rough areas with a brass brush then blew everything dry and polished it with mother’s wheel polish.

jframejoey · #13 04-07-2021, 11:36 PM

B. Thomas, your 686 started out with a longer tube and someone put a 2.5 barrel on it. You can tell where the sight leaf, barrel and frame come together. On a factory 2.5 the leaf runs to the end of the frame and mates up with the ramp of the front sight.

B.Thomas · #14 04-08-2021, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jframejoey

B. Thomas, your 686 started out with a longer tube and someone put a 2.5 barrel on it. You can tell where the sight leaf, barrel and frame come together. On a factory 2.5 the leaf runs to the end of the frame and mates up with the ramp of the front sight.

You are correct. I have been looking for the longer leaf for it to make it more proper.
If it has been through a barrel swap, it’s the nicest work I’ve ever seen. The alignment is factory quality.
Now the Book says the 686 came in 2.5 in both round and square butt? I have scoured the net and can’t find proof of that statement other than this pistol. Did smith in fact not make the 2.5 in square butt and not 2.5 in pre dash production?

It would be nice to know what it’s been through and what’s been done to it. It is a no dash and has no “M” mark for the service recall. Here’s some pictures of it.

Ray1970 · #15 04-08-2021, 12:40 AM

Frankegun or not, that thing is a beauty.

Czechvar · #16 04-08-2021, 02:09 AM

The Sportsman’s Warehouse in Coon Rapids MN briefly had new 629 PC’s “in stock” for $999.99 on Apr 2nd...Which is good these days. I ordered and paid online immediately...the next day the status changed to “Pending Shipment”…which it still is today.

The original order said I should expect to pick it up in the store on the 12th. First time buying from them, so we’ll see how it goes.

ladder13 · #17 04-08-2021, 09:32 AM

How ugly was that 581?

Chukar60 · #18 04-13-2021, 12:44 AM

After reading this thread i headed to the SW near my home.
Two cases of rust, worn bluing and abuse.
Nicest gun there was a 66-3 snub. Being the nicest one there is not much of a compliment.
The worst was a 681. I had no idea you could make stainless look that bad.
Plenty of model 10’s. All -5 or -7.
Pricing for everything was optimistic for the seller at best.
Almost all showed good mechanical condition though.
Was nice to see so many used Smiths in a case even if they were ugly.