After reading through many threads, especially this one, I requested letters for my two CS-1 revolvers. My 3-inch barrel CS-1 had the "2 M" markings in the crane area, so I was hopeful it was a Customs Service revolver. My 4-inch barreled CS-1 only had the M stamp, so I thought it was less likely to have been issued to the Customs Service. The letters arrived this week and confirmed both were originally sold to the Customs Service! Both revolvers had Pachmyar Compac grips with the window on the bottom (which may or may not have been original to them), but the letters from Mr. Jinks stated they originally shipped with finger groove combat grips. Have others seen this before in lettered CS-1 revolvers?
Here's the verbiage from the 3-inch CS-1 letter, typos courtesy of Mr. Jinks
"We have researched your Smith & Wesson 686 CS-1 Variation, Stainless Steel Distinguish Combat Magnum, caliber .357 Magnum. Company records indicate that this handgun, with serial number BAU06xx was shipped from the factory on September 24,1988 and delivered. to U. S.
Custom Service, Glynco, GA. This revolver was shipped with a 3-inch full lug barrel equipped with a ramp with a black blade sight, matt finish, and synthetic finger groove combat grips."

The letter for the 4-inch CS-1 revolver stated "We have researched your Smith & Wesson 686 CS-1 Variation, Stainless Steel Distinguish Combat Magnum, caliber .357 Magnum. Company records indicate that this handgun, with serial number AWP24xx was shipped from the factory on May 17, 1988 and delivered to Lew Horton Distributing Cp., Westboro, MA. This revolver was shipped with a 4-inch full lug barrel equipped with a ramp with a black blade sight, matt finish, and synthetic finger groove combat grips. This revolver was originally shipped on June 12,1987 to U. S. Custom Service, Glynco,GA, it was returned to the factory on March 1, 1988 by Joe Pacher Director U.S. Customer Service and reshipped as listed above."

The CS-1 was first replaced by a S&W Model 6906 9 mm pistol in 1988-89. Then in 1993, the 6906 was replaced by Gen 3 Glock 19 and 26 models for Special Agents, and Glock 17 for Inspectors. Those remained the issued pistols for U.S. Customs through the merger into DHS in 2003.

Last year, the Association of Retired Special Agents commissioned Glock for a commemorative model 19 laser engraved with the Association logo and either a choice of U.S. Customs or ICE Badges, depending on which service you had served under. Since I had served in both agencies, I was allowed to order both, which I did. There were less than 500 ordered with U.S. Customs Badges, and only 17 with ICE badges. That makes the ICE badged pistols extremely rare,

Any chance of still getting one of those?

hello all this is my second post - my first post was asking for info on my new gun and i was directed here - yes! i picked up a 4" CS1 and am trying to find out what year it is - AYF0664 M 686 CS1 - another number is 25529 - thanks for any info and after reading much of this thread i'm glad i bought it

No, the order was done almost a year ago.

Hi! New to the forum. I've recently acquired a 686 CS-1. I'm trying to figure out the correct manner in which to letter the firearm. From what I've deduced thus far, I should join the SWHF, then request the LOA, then the Historical Letter?

Welcome to the Forum, SRhoades.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Thank you Sir!

Just saw this thread, I was lucky enough to find one a few days ago, complete in org box, tools and paperwork. '

DSCN9880 by raystownbass, on Flickr

DSCN9879 by raystownbass, on Flickr

I wish someone would post a photo of the CS- 1 and the dates of issuance.I was in the Customs Service from 1955-1989. I believe it was the first pistol issued to Customs Inspectors working in the field, a .38 Spl- .357 magnum. up until then we were allowed to carry our own choice of handgun. When this gun was issued we were mandated to carry it. There was a concern with it the .357 mag cartridge, to my knowledge, was selected due to its power to penetrate automobiles. If fired by officers working at the Ports of Entry this could prove very deadly around the people due to ricochets off the cement barriers, cars and misses. As I recall we were issued .38 spl+ ammo. I retired in January 1989 and believe the semi-auto 9 mms were issued sometime later.

Yep! That's it. It was heavy. We liked it. We didn't have another choice at the time. I carried it for 3 years when I was on the Enforcement Team. As mentioned it was not concealable.

For awhile, you had plain clothes Inspectors assigned as “rovers” in some airports in plain clothes. Also, I knew some CET guys that worked out of uniform as well. On another note, if anybody ever comes across a 3” CS1, ser# BAU0729, that was my issued gun. Used it to win a 2nd place trophy at an International shoot between RCMP and Customs/INS/BP shooters. Shot factory wadcutters pretty good as I remember. Tagged it when I turned it in for the new,issued autoloader, but I guess it ended up being destroyed.

I’ve never seen a CS1 in the wild. I better look harder from now on.

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213th FBINA

Just curious, don’t see these fir sale very often, what is a 3” version worth. (Non issued, overrun, original wood grips, excellent condition).

I never have either

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-Matt

Get that lettered as soon as you can. It may very well be one of the guns that was custom tuned by the U.S. Customs armorers at Ft. Benning for the U.S. Customs Shooting team.

i have a 686 with these marking on it. cs-1 , 2m and serial number of

azb 6378 . it is stainless steel, 3" barrel . is this a real custom service.

thanks for your help.

Please post a photo...

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Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

I'm a bit confused about the discussion of a CS-1 that does not have recessed cylinder(s)....

No CS-1 or any other L frame revolver(s) have ever had recessed cylinders....

Or am I missing something??

As for CS-1's made for the Shooting team, those were 6" guns, to my knowledge none of those have ever surfaced in the real world.....

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.............SmithNut

The original post (on page one of this thread) lost something in translation. A subsequent poster changed the details.
"The only thing I am unsure of is the chambers, all six are perfectly chamfered, like you would see on Performance Center gun."

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Hoot Gibson

Did anyone ever find the original order documentation?

Picked this up last weekend. I was looking for a 3”686 this is just a bonus.


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Very interesting and informative thread. Here is mine. Does it have the correct pachmayr's on it ?

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Friend of mine is a retired customs inspector/firearms instructor.
He says the CS-1 was never well liked.
After they were withdrawn, many were given to the police in Haiti.
His preference was the 3953, also a Customs issue.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95