686 (No Dash) 6"

[1075tech]

New on the forum but figured I'd post up a picture of my 686 "Distinguished Combat Magnum". Pictured is the original box (which still has the wax paper and tissue paper inside), the "instruction" manual, and the original wood grips.

It is wearing a set of Pachmayr Presentation grips I put on it shortly after buying it new. It is missing the rear sight leaf screw that disappeared while it was wearing a B-Square scope base and rings.

 

[swagmeister]

Nice. Gotta love those old L Frames.

 

[wproct]

Very nice 686 no-dash there!

 

[1075tech]

Can anyone tell me the ship date based on the AEY prefix serial number?

 

[Sevens]

We can tell you much much closer if you show a picture of the box end label!

 

[1075tech]

We can tell you much much closer if you show a picture of the box end label!

No end label on box.

 

[Sevens]

Bummer, because that end label will tell you the exact day and year it was made.

If you visit the S&W website and click the "contact us" and fill out the e-mail form, they will send you an e-mail typically within two days that tells you when it was either made or shipped.

 

[1075tech]

I believe the "M" on the yoke was added in 1994 as it was returned to the factory for a timing issue. There was some type of modification they were making at the time that was common to the 686.

 

[bgrafsr]

I believe the "M" on the yoke was added in 1994 as it was returned to the factory for a timing issue. There was some type of modification they were making at the time that was common to the 686.

It wasn't a timing issue. There was a "fix" in which the hammer nose, and hammer nose bushing were replaced due to sporadic lockups when using a certain type of .357 Magnum ammo, Federal to be specific. The "M" was stamped to show the gun had been retrofitted.
The fix applied to 686's, 586's, 681's, & 581's. Don't remember if it included the -1"s also.

 

[1075tech]

It wasn't a timing issue. There was a "fix" in which the hammer nose, and hammer nose bushing were replaced due to sporadic lockups when using a certain type of .357 Magnum ammo, Federal to be specific. The "M" was stamped to show the gun had been retrofitted.
The fix applied to 686's, 586's, 681's, & 581's. Don't remember if it included the -1"s also.

I wasn't sure what the issue was. It was returned for a timing issue and they did the modification while it was there.
I should have been more clear.

 

[1075tech]

Bummer, because that end label will tell you the exact day and year it was made.

If you visit the S&W website and click the "contact us" and fill out the e-mail form, they will send you an e-mail typically within two days that tells you when it was either made or shipped.

1984 was the reply. They did confirm the "M" was to indicate that it had been serviced under the recall

 

[Sevens]

Even clear through til today, S&W will do the recall work and add the "M" stamp. All 686 no dash and dash-1 are affected, the 686-2 and beyond are not affected.

 

[sodacan]

You'll have to tell me how it shoots. I bought a no dash 686 (6") several years ago and have yet to shoot it. It's a pretty gun, but 357 "N" frames are my thing and this one's turn just hasn't come up. Your post has nudged me, however.

 

[Sevens]

First handgun I ever bought with my own money was a 6-inch 686-3 in the early summer of 1989, I was 16 years old. I was either late 30's or early 40's when I got my first N-frame, a 6-inch Model 28-2.

The 686 is a better looking revolver IMO, and has a smoother and more enjoyable double action trigger stroke. But the 6-inch Model 28-2 balances better for me while the full lug 6-inch Model 686 feels muzzle heavy at arm's length.

I love them both and I have more sentimental attachment to the 686, but on a range day and especially for my heaviest full-nuts .357 Magnum, I'm more likely to grab the 28-2.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

First handgun I ever bought with my own money was a 6-inch 686-3 in the early summer of 1989, I was 16 years old. I was either late 30's or early 40's when I got my first N-frame, a 6-inch Model 28-2.

The 686 is a better looking revolver IMO, and has a smoother and more enjoyable double action trigger stroke. But the 6-inch Model 28-2 balances better for me while the full lug 6-inch Model 686 feels muzzle heavy at arm's length.

I love them both and I have more sentimental attachment to the 686, but on a range day and especially for my heaviest full-nuts .357 Magnum, I'm more likely to grab the 28-2.

A 686-3 was my first handgun bought with my own money also. Still have it, sporting a set of Nill's grips these days.

 

[Sevens]

Haha, I purchased a brand new Pachmayr SK-G "Gripper" for my 686 a week before the revolver came in to my dealer! To this day, the goncalo alves target with speedloader cutout stocks have lived in the original box. I never once fired a round of ammo with them installed.

If I could do one tiny thing differently way back in '89, I would have ordered that adjustable silhouette front sight!

 

[Benchrest1]

I have always thought that the 686/586 S&W revolvers are the best.

 

[rwsmith]

Looks like mine...

...except mine had Hogue grips.

 

[1075tech]

This was the first handgun I bought new. My very first pistol was a Mod 60 snubby.

I like it. Trigger pull is smooth throughout. It's not so heavy that it can't be carried in the woods all day. The weight keeps it "soft shooting" with 158gt magnum loads. In my younger days with better eyes, I used to be able to hold around 1" @ 30 yards off a sandbag rest. I had a scope on it for a while but at 4x, it really was too much. Now days I'm considering a 2x or a red dot. Not being drilled and tapped for a mount limits the availability although I do still have the B-square mount that replaces the rear sight.

 

[rubiranch]

Great find, you'll love it. I love mine.




Mine was wearing Hogue Mono grips when I acquired it.