S&W 686 Purchase

[VAPA]

So I go to my LGS to "look" at a Walther P1, and he says "I have something here that you may be interested in", he produces a no dash 686 6" gun in near perfect condition. So I ended up getting both of them, it came in a incorrect 686-6 plastic box which does not bother me.
The grips are dated April 16, 1985, the SN is AFR38xx, would 1985 be the correct build/ship date?

 

[Fishslayer]

Beautiful stocks!

 

[white cloud]

What a beautiful revolver. It should make a great range and woods gun. I frequently carry a .357 while working on the farm.

 

[OLDSTER]

Beautiful 686. World class all the way

 

[Fishslayer]

The grips are dated April 16, 1985, the SN is AFR38xx, would 1985 be the correct build/ship date?

Looks like AFR falls between Nov '84 and Jan '85. Build & shipping dates can be very different.

 

[Shark Bait]

Nice! Can't go wrong with a 686.

 

[wellthought1]

Great pickup!

 

[Sevens]

Great snag. There is an active recall that is still honored if you don't see a prominent "M" stamp near the serial number on the frame behind the yoke.

If there is no "M", the gun may never give you a single issue. But S&W will take care of it if you wish.

 

[VAPA]

Great snag. There is an active recall that is still honored if you don't see a prominent "M" stamp near the serial number on the frame behind the yoke.

If there is no "M", the gun may never give you a single issue. But S&W will take care of it if you wish.

No "M" stamped, what is the potential issue?

 

[FlyFish]

No "M" stamped, what is the potential issue?

Primer cup material may flow back into the gap between the firing pin and the firing pin bushing with certain hot loads, thus binding the cylinder. Many unmodified 586s and 686s (and 5/681s - it only happened on the no dash and -1 variants of these 4 models) out there that have never had problems. S&W still does the fix, replacing the bushing, at no cost - but who knows how much longer that's going to be the case? I have a few of each, some with the M, some without. As I don't use them for SD, I'm not too concerned about those that don't, but if I did, I'd definitely have it taken care of.

 

[rubiranch]

Congrats on getting a great shooter.

My 6" 686 is my favorite .357 Magnum to shoot.

 

[Gunna1day]

Nice 686. I prefer buying older pre lock used S&W revolvers over anything manufactured recently.

 

[oysterer]

real nice...enjoy it

 

[weyerbacher]

But what about the P1?

 

[VAPA]

But what about the P1?

It came home with me also.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Nice find. The 686 has to be the most popular revolver here from what I read on this forum - and with good reason.

 

[rubiranch]

Nice find. The 686 has to be the most popular revolver here from what I read on this forum - and with good reason.

The 4 & 6" are no dash 686's. The 6" is my favorite gun to shoot.

The 5" is a -6 1/2 lug Stocking Dealer Exclusive.