A club member was looking at my S&W Mod. 686 stainless in .357 mag. and thinks there is a crack forming at the front end at the bottom of the top strap. He wondered how old it was. I don't know for sure but might be around 1980. Serial no. ACL2747. I am also wondering about something I saw when searching Google. When I open the cylinder it says Mod 686 , no M's no 1's. Should I investigate the L-Frame Improvement Program by S&W or what suggestions are out there. Thanks.

Looks like it was manuf in 1983. If it's a "no-dash", and the modification has been done to replace the bushing and hammer nose, it should have an "M" on the frame, under the yoke....near/above the ser#.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

That is probably gas cutting at the cylinder gap. It will get to a certain point, then stay like that for years.

It's normal that a line develops in the metal, right above the forcing cone. It's caused by the hot gases. It's more pronounced shooting lighter magnum rounds like the the 125gr. It's not a problem on the 686.