US Customs Service 686 CS-1

This is not meant to be a definitive thread on the US Customs Service 686 CS-1 revolvers. This thread is a distillation of information I have gathered on this, and other boards. As well as from folks who were there and know about these fine revolvers.

A great deal of the information in this thread was provided by SmithNut, in threads on this very board. I cannot locate these threads, many from 2003 to 2006. Sadly, one of the last exchanges I had with SmithNut was when I posted that the older CS-1 threads were "pruned". SmithNut declared that to be "misinformation". In any case, I cannot locate them. If anyone can, please provide links to them in this thread.

If you have additional or conflicting information, by all means please post it here. If you were a Customs Service officer or employee please join in the conversation and relate what you know.

The information I am posting is from hundreds of pages of 686 CS-1 threads I printed at the time, and filed over the years. It is only from the public posts. Not PM's or Emails.

Thank you SmithNut for all of your expertise that you so willingly shared with us and your patience in answering our endless and sometimes repetitive questions about the CS-1 revolvers.

Lets start by defining what a 686 CS-1 is.....and is not. The 686 CS-1's were NOT Performance Center guns. The Performance Center had not been created yet when the CS-1's were produced. The 686 CS-1's were factory guns made to the US Customs Service specifications.

Made in 1988 according to the SCSW, 1987 to 1992 according to various other sources, the 686 CS-1's were 6-shot 686's made in three barrel lengths, 3 inch - 4 inch and a small quantity (unknown how many) of 6 inch guns for the Customs Service pistol team.

The 686 CS-1's were finished in a dull gray bead blast finish with flash chromed hammers and triggers. They featured a narrow black blade front sight (1/10) and plain black rear sight. The firing pin was mounted on the hammer. All three barrel lengths featured a round butt grip frame. All the 686 CS-1's delivered to the Customs Service were shipped with Pachmayr RB Compact grips. More on the grips in later posts.

THE 686 CS-1 GRIPS

Many threads asking about the CS-1 grips were posted over the last decade.

SmithNut told us that the actual service guns were delivered to the Customs Service wearing Pachmayr Compact round butt grips with a "window" in the bottom.

These Pacmyar grips were created specifically to meet the Customs Service contract - which stated that the installed grips must allow viewing of the revolvers serial number.

Early production Pacmayr compacts did not have medallions - BUT - evidently SOME later examples DID.

Overun 686 CS-1 guns were sold directly to distributors wearing wooden magna style round butt grips with S&W medallions.

I have yet to locate a copy of the Customs Service request for proposal. I can tell you that it called for specific demonstrable accuracy and durability - above what the standard production 686's delivered.

So the rumor of these CS-1's being "better made" and having "DX" accuracy is likely true. Periodically a 686 CS-1 was selected from a production lot and required to demonstrate the durability and accuracy requirement. If it failed to do so it was sent back to S&W and a subsequent example pulled and subjected to the same test. We are told that there were few that failed - but there were a few examples.

More in a bit....

Interesting.
What is the difference between. CS-1 "M" vs CS-1 "2M" ?

Markings and boxes

There has been alot of discussion over the years about the markings on the Customs service 686 CS-1's. Some of it has been incorrect.Obviously all the Custom Service CS-1's have the "CS-1" stamp inside the crane area. There has been much confusion and conflicting info on the "M" and "2M" stamps.

SmithNut told us back around 2005-6 the following info.

The production of the 686 CS-1 occured during the recall for the L-frame hammer nose bushing. At that time there were over 4500 686 CS-1's in service. S&W had incorporated the recall modification in production. So some of the 4500 in service revolvers were modified, and some were not.

The US Customs Service decided to do the recall modifications on the in service guns at its Glynco GA facility. S&W sent four factory armorers to Glynco GA. All the in service CS-1 revolvers were run through the inspection. Those that were found to already have the modifications were given a "2" stamp to the left of the "M" stamp. The unmodified guns were corrected and given the "M" stamp.

For those interested in whether their 686 CS-1 saw actual service, without lettering it, SmithNut suggested the following. If your 686 CS-1 has a "2M" stamp and is wearing Pacmayr Compacts it is a pretty good bet that yours is actually one of the CS-1's that saw service. SmithNut also suggested lettering the gun for verification of same.

Boxes - I have seen much about the 686 CS-1 boxes. Yes, it appears that the majority of the blue folding cardboard boxes with the white lettered "revolver" on the cover, that the 686 CS-1's shipped in, were indeed destroyed. However not ALL of the boxes were destroyed. Many were not. The two 3 inch 686 CS-1's I own/had both came in their original boxes. No tools were included in either. Both had the original warranty cards and owners manuals. The first one had a small red sticker on the top of the box. Handwritten in black ink was "Treasury $421". Both Julian dates were for mid 1988.

If you have the matching box for your CS-1 check your Julian date code under "spec order" and let us know what yours says.

It is possible that S&W made new boxes for the 2500 used 686 CS-1s that were at the factory under the Sales Exchange program - and subsequently released directly to distributors, when Customs transitioned to the S&W 6946.

Of course all the overuns were shipped with CS-1 markings and in brand new boxes as well.

We will tackle numbers produced next.......

Numbers of 686 CS-1's produced

This is seemingly a moving goal post situation. Numbers from one source conflict with other numbers provided from very reliable sources. I will lay out what numbers have been provided. Perhaps someone with access to the US Customs Service records will reconcile these figures from the official records.

In a 2005 post the total number of 686 CS-1s, in all barrel lengths, was quoted as 7,850. This number was attributed to the factory historian Mr Roy Jinks. The poster claimed to have lettered his 3 inch CS-1.

In another 2005 post SmithNut tells us that the number of 3 inch 686 CS-1s made was 3,281 and 5,419 of the 4 inch CS-1. He goes on to say that the CS-1 configuration was quite popular and S&W made it available to other agencies as well as the public. S&W produced 3200 additional 686 CS-1s - 1600 3 inch and 1600 4 inch and released them directly into public distribution.

So not counting the 3200 "overun" guns released, there is a discrepancy of 850 between the Jinks letter number and the 8700 number.

As to surviving original "issued" CS-1s, SmithNut again provides much interesting information. Approximately 2500 686 CS-1s were released through the Sales Exchange Program before then Attorney General Janet Reno ended that program and ordered federally owned service weapons destroyed rather than sold. Additionally some 686 CS-1s were returned to the factory for service/repair and were released into distribution rather than being returned to the Customs Service.

It is an educated guess that perhaps this account for the relatively frequent appearance of 686 CS-1s bearing the 2M stamp and still having original matching boxes.

So counting the 3200 overuns and the 2500 used CS-1s sold to distributors we have a pool of approximately 5700 potential 686 CS-1's out there.

I've no idea how many 6 inch 686 CS-1s were produced for the pistol team. Perhaps a SWCA member can post some info or a picture here for us.

I assume there is no mention of the CS-3 on purpose here.

Great info!

Well....this thread pretty much is a......reprint of 686 CS-1 information. I don't know very much about the CS-3. It was similar to the CS-1 in appearance. I do know that the majority of CS-3s were made and shipped to Wischo, a European distributor.

I'm told they did not sell well and a number of them were re-imported to S&W who sold them to US distributors, complete with the import marks below the barrel. Some had "Security Special" laser etched on the sideplate.

The CS-3 does not seem to command the same interest or price point as the CS-1.

There was a lot of 3 inch 686-4's that APPEAR to be CS-1's but are not. They are grey bead blasted with 3 inch barrels, a thin black blade front sight with no insert, new style angled thumb latch, hammer mounted firing pin and traditional cylinder stop.

I'm told these were made up in a batch of between 500 and 1500 and may have utilized left over CS-1 barrels. Product code is 104237 special order 0300. Serial prefix on the one I observed was CBB. One collector says they were done for Lew Horton. If anyone has more info on these I am interested. Regards 18DAI

One other note: In several of the old CS-1 threads a member here named kuglespritz, a former customs service officer, posted very interesting information concerning how these revolvers were utilized. He also posted a few times looking for his old service revolver - a 4 inch 686 CS-1 serial number BAC 0456. If anyone knows where this revolver is please contact kuglespritz. He was a SWCA member. I'm sure they must have some way to get a message to him. Thanks!

In 1989 I purchased a CS-1 3inch from a local gunshop here. It appeared to be brand new and was in the blue and white cardboard box. It had regular service stocks on it and had a couple of the round "dot" stickers stuck to the gun and grips. If I remember correctly, it did have all the paperwork and the tools in the box. The gun shop had several of them in 3 and 4 inch lengths. I do remember it wasn't cheap, I think I paid about $350.00 for it then. The reason I bought it was I had seen a very good article in a gun magazine about these revolvers, I think it was written by David Steele. I had it for a very short time and sold it to a co-worker who was here while his wife attended law school and they moved back to their home state shortly after I sold it to him. I have had a few since then but that was the only one I bought "new" with all the tools and box. If I knew what they would be bringing today I would have kept all of them.

I have two. Both with known history to day one. I am the 3rd owner of each. The first I bought from a LEO who got it from his brother who was with the Customs office, it came in a brown box, with compact Pachmayers with medallions. Second came from a member here who got it from a friend NEW at a gun shop. It wears Magna's. Both have the 2M stamp.
I PLAN on getting them both lettered but guns, ammo, and grips keep pushing them back.

18DAI, thanks for compiling and posting this information!!!

18DAI said:

...If you have the matching box for your CS-1 check your Julian date code under "spec order" and let us know what yours says.

Click to expand...

8062.

has "2 M" stamp, box includes tools. shipped 3/4/88

Mine has original box "2M" pach compac with window and medallions.
Spec order # 8251 product code 104228

I purchased mine in 1993 for $285.00. It came with the Pachmeyer grips (I think, as I replaced them years ago.) It is marked under the yoke CS-1 first line, second line is a lone numeral 2, and the third line is MOD. 686. Under the grips on the left side is a large letter S and a small round paper sticker with "33" printed on it. On the right side is a letter V in a circle and a triangle with a 1 inside and partially stamped over that is a heart shape with a 6 inside. The SN is AYU09XX which if I am reading the S&W catalog correctly puts it in 1987. It came in the blue and white S&W box with the SN printed on it, Product Code 104229 and Julian date of 9229. The upper left corner of the label has a 2 in a circle and there is a word "Features" with a letter M above. The revolver came with Millett sights which had never been zeroed as I could not raise the rear sight enough to get it to POA. I had to take quite a bit off the top of the front sight. It shoots like a dream and I carried it on duty until our dept dictated semi-autos.

If anyone cares to comment I am curious as to the Julian date and also the Millett sights. Thanks...........keep shootin'

Of the two I have the only thing they have in common, under the grips, is they are both stamped 7843 on right side.

I don't have the original receipt at my fingertips right now, but this is what I do have: Original price of the pistol was $369.00; BNIB is a MOD.686 marked CS 1. The inside frame is also marked 2 M, with the "2" being distinctly stamped deeper than the others. The pistol came with a 3" barrel and Pachmayr/Compac grips with medallion and cut out for serial number viewing. Inside the grips, appear the marking SK- 2 and WR below the "2".
The original blue cardboard box in mint condition with label in tact. 002 is the Model No.Serial No. is AYU0741, Product Code is 104228 and Spec. Ord. is 8266. Features is M. In the box is a Safety and Instruction manual (generic) marked 4/87 and a Warranty sheet marked 03342 REV 2/87. Tools included are a rod, brass brush, cleaning swag and a neat Sight Adjustment key.
My pistol is BNIB with a very faint turn line from factory test firing and probably less than twenty dry firings. The sights are standard S&W adjustables with black black rear blade and pinned black ramp front sight blade. Finish is frosted stainless.
I read about the CS 1 series way back when in an issue of Combat Handguns. That article included photos and specs on what made this series what it was. I'll locate that article as well as the bill of sale and get back...

As a former Special Agent and firearms instructor for U.S. Customs, I think I can lend a little light on the subject of the CS-1.

The CS-1 was the brain child of Mr. Mark Humphyville. He was hired as a firearms expert by former Commissioner William Von Raab. Mr. Humphyville had come from the Aberdeen Proving Ground staff. He had no law enforcement experience, and very little handgun expertise.

Mr. Humphyville belived that the .357 Magnum cartridge was the best "one shot stop" capable handgun. And without any law enforcement experience, he had no idea what it took to carry or conceal a large frame .357 Magnum revolver, in the line of duty.

Mr. Humphyville set the specs for the new revolver as it had to have a 3 or 4 inch barrel, and have a useable service life of 10,000 rounds of duty .357 Magnum ammunition. S&W put their bid in with their standard 686 revolver in both barrel lengths. Mr. Humphyville was also a national match high power rifle shooter, so when he looked at the factory specs for the 686, he felt the tolerences were not close enough, and drew up specs with much closer tolerences. He did this, believing that the CS-1 would be more accurate, like a match grade rifle. S&W developed the gun, and the contract was awarded to them.

At the time the guns came to the field, the Customs Service was using a 60 round qualification course. Most agents who carried revolvers, were carrying the .38 Spl +P+ Treasury round, instead of full house .357 Magnums. (The Treasury round preformed very well, and produced much less recoil and muzzle flash.)

When the CS-1's came into the field they were looked at as being too big and heavy for many agents to conceal or carry. Since most of the Special Agents work is done in plain clothes, the large, heavy revolver was just not a welcome sight. At the time the Customs Service policy allowed agents to carry personally owned handguns. So many agents opted to carry personally owned weapons.

Then came the malfunction problems. With many agents using the Treasury .38 round in their CS-1s, a new and serious malfunction began to arise. With the closer tolerences that Mr. Humphyville designed, the unburned powder from the Treasury load, would build up under the extractor star during firing. This would cause the extractor star to begin to push out from the cylinder face, and cause the cases to press against the frame. This caused the CS-1 to first have a very heavy trigger pull, and then eventually lock up completely. I have seen this happen many times during the 60 round qualification course. Causing agents to have to stop, and remove the unburned powder from under the extractor star, before being able to complete the 60 round qualification course.

This was unacceptable is a duty handgun. The CS-1 were recalled for repair to the Customs Firearms Program staff located at Ft. Benning, GA. The guns were modified, and sent back out to the field. However most of the agents chose not to carry the CS-1 due to it's large size, and reputation for not being reliable. (The recall seemed to cure the malfuction, but by then, most agents did not want to rely their lives on one.)

Approximately two years after it was introduced, the CS-1 was replaced by the S&W 6906 9mm pistol for all Special Agents.

To my knowledge, there were approximately 3,000 3 inch and 3,500 4 inch guns purchased on the contract by U.S. Customs. After the guns were replaced in the field, there were many sold during the exchange sale program. Lew Horton purchased many of them, and my 3 inch gun was one of them.

The Customs Service never did allow their Agents or Inspector to purchase the guns directly from them. Many Agents who wanted their guns, placed their business cards in the gun, when it was returned for exchange sale. Very few ever got the chance to buy their gun from a distributor.

After Janet Reno stopped the exchange sale program, many for the guns were sent overseas to some friendly governments, as part of foreign aid packages. Some were modified to only shoot Simunition cartridges, and were sent to the field offices for use in training. Alas, I do believe many were destroyed by the Clinton administration.

I enjoy my CS-1, and it was one that was recalled and is now a reliable handgun in my collection.

Dingle D**n.........thanks vegasgunhand, good writeup. It also explains a problem I had when I carried my CS-1 on duty. As noted above I carried mine for a period before my department specified semi-autos. On one occassion of a night qualification my CS-1 started to get very difficult in DA. I had to finish the course by cocking for SA for every shot and I came close to not qualifying. When I got it home and checked it out there was unburned powder under the ejector star. After that, I kept it scrupulesly clean and never had the problem again but I would wipe under that star every chance I got. Still a great gun and I wouldn't consider parting with mine. Keep shootin'

I bought one from an L.E. on my department for $300. He didn't know what it was and neither did I. I traded it for a GSG .22

I would be very surprised if any more than 2,000 ever got sold on the exchange sale to the public. They are really pretty rare.

Production Question

So; I got my used 3" CS-1 in January. I finally sat down and read all of these posts tonight. Before I post my question, here are some answers as requested by 18DAI: 686 CS-1, 3" barrel in blue/white box. Product code 104228, Julian date (Spec. Ord) 6307. Serial prefix is ANE. My revolver came with the box, standard 686 manual, warranty card and cleaning kit. The crane shows CS1 and in smaller letters Mod 686 below. On the yoke (I think I'm using the correct termnology) there appears to be the alpha/numeric X6735 stamped at the factory. Just above that - upside down and looking like a late engraving/roll mark is the number 813. No M or 2 visiable. The gun came in standard wood w/medalion Magna grips.

My question - should the Pachmayr grips been on the gun or included in the sale? I was going to buy new ones to make it period correct. However, if this gun didn't have the Pachmayr grips when it was shipped from the factory; I'll use the money towards a set of Ahrends retro combat grips.

Any feedback would be appreciated!!!