I've heard it said that the original "no dash" M686, had a different style hand - then the later models. Any truth to that?

If so, how do they differentiate, & are they available?

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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Regards - GCF

I believe the "floating" hands were mostly confined to the 686-1 models. The floating hand design was later discontinued and the hand comfiguration returned to the original pinned design.

The floating hand is basically a hand with a hole at the base instead of the customary, previously used pin. This hand rides on a pivot stud that extends out from the existing hand stem hole in the trigger. The design was thought to reduce fitting time (save money) and extend the life of the hand and ratchet relationship. It was terrible, (opinion) when compared to the original design and was later discontinued.
In guns with the floating hand, since the trigger design itself did not change and the hand stem hole remained the same, the stud for the floating hand can be driven out of the trigger and a conventional, "pinned" hand installed and used if desired. The usual fitting would be required of course.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Can't say which specific model had the floating hand, but it doesn't make any difference. The floating hand wasn't used for very long, didn't work as well as the standard hand, and can be replaced with the standard hand. No, the floating hand isn't available as it was superceded years ago!

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I think the 686-1 had a floating hand. But I don't know when it was changed back or if it even WAS changed back in later models.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

My 686-1 and my 625-3 have floating hands.

So if I understand correctly, the "no dash" models used the standard design, then the -1 changed to the "floating" design, & all consecutive models, returned to the original hand design?

What problems were generally associated w/ the "floating hand"?

Don't suppose anyone can provide a photo illustrating the two design differences?

I'm trying to determine which hand is installed in my 4 inch, "no dash".

As an aside, the last time I had this revolver apart, I noticed (IIRC) that the hand tension spring tab, had been bent over. Had to straighten it. Not sure how long it had been that way, or how it happened - in the first place...

Thanks to all, for the assistance.

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Regards - GCF

I'm not sure exactly when they discontinued the floating hand in the 686, but I don't think the system lasted very long. The Standard Catalog doesn't reference when or in what dash number they went back to the pinned hand.

Along with being easier to install and fit, the thought was that the design would improve carry up, and help eliminate carry up issues. One of the problems is, that the design puts pressure on the hand so that at the end of the cylinder cycle when the hand passes by the ratchet, you actually "feel" the hand rubbing on the tooth. In the revolvers I've encountered with the floating hand installed, the gun felt like the ratchets were not properly fit....or were "long", and this gave the DA system a horrible feel, right at the end of the trigger cycle.
Because of the design, this "hump" at the end of the DA could not be fully remedied by further fitting of the ratchets.

The thread below has a photo of the floating hand with the "bushing" or stud installed....compared to the pinned style.

Floating hand

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Floating hand

Attached Images

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My 686-1 is horrible.. the 625-3 has the best trigger feel of any of my S&W's. Both floating hands.

Thanks for the great input gents - I'll do a bit of research, & post back.

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Regards - GCF

I first ran into the floating hand on a 625 that I was asked to work on because the action was terrible. I couldn't find the hitch in the middle of the double action cycle, so I changed out the floating hand to a standard one. Smooth as silk after that. Since then, I have run into several guns with floating hands and have made it a practice to replace them with the standard one. I have found a couple of guns that worked fine with the floating hands, but most have a rough double action.

I doubt yours has the floating hand, unless it is a late one that was sort of a transition gun.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

686-3, 66-3, and 625-3 all have the floating hand. I also have replaced some and left others alone. It depends on how they are working. There is nothing inherently bad about a floating hand. I have seen some where the stud in the trigger for the floating hand was staked in place and others where it pushed right out. Regardless if one wants to replace the floating hand, the stud can be punched out of the trigger and the trigger will work just fine with a normal hand.