A good friend of mine just bought a new 686 plus and it's real nice, I would like one but I think a matte finish looks better, but don't see a matte version on the official site. Is there anyone that can matte the finish real nice? Also would this process obliterate the rather light trade mark on the side?

The gun can be lightly bead blasted to give it a matte finish.
How abrasive the blast media is and how high the air pressure is dictates how rough and dull the finish is.

A less abrasive media and lower air pressure will give a smooth light gray finish.
A rougher/sharper abrasive or higher air pressures will leave a noticeably rough to the tough finish and a dark gray color.

Some pointers:
The gun has to be completely disassembled before blasting. Only the barrel is left on the frame.

You have to keep the blast stream out of the barrel on both ends and both ends of all chambers.

Don't blast internal parts, and don't blast the hammer or trigger, this would remove the factory color case hardened finish or the hard chrome finish of older stainless guns.

The blaster setup has to be one that's been used ONLY for stainless steel OR the blaster has to be completely cleaned out and all new media loaded.
If you blast stainless steel with a blaster that's been used for carbon steel the pressure will embed tiny particles of carbon steel into the stainless steel and the surface will rust later.

DO NOT take anyone's word for whether the blaster is stainless only or that they'll clean it out.
Most people, including all too many gunsmiths figure you'll never know the difference, and if it later starts rusting they'll claim it's not their fault.
I once had a customer who blasted an aluminum frame in a garage blaster that'd been used for car parts.
He was shocked when his aluminum gun started rusting.

The smart move is to return the gun to the S&W Performance Center and ask them to do a light matte finish job.
They'll do it right.
Done right and the light blasting will not affect the markings.

Not smart moves are having your buddy Billy Bob do it with a home blaster, or having most local gunsmiths or machine shops do it.
It's an expensive gun, you don't want to screw it up. You can trust S&W.

Second the motion to send it back to S&W.
As I understand it, that very fine matte is produced by glass bead blasting.
Nothing as abrasive as sand.
This gun came with such a finish and has proven to be very durable.

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Nemo

Attached Images

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The last time I checked, that Performance Center service was $170.00

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Thanks for the replies. Although I know how to do the blasting, I don't have a personal set up to do so, and the shops blaster is heavy AO sand and gets used on everything that needs fixing. It's nice to know that S&W will do this service, if I get one myself.