Dear S&W Fans,
Recently i purchased a used but in very good contidion 686-1. Good timing and trigger, probably not used much, no sign whatever of frame cutting over the cylinder to barrel gap, etc.
However and i noticed that when cleaning the gun, there is a crack in the frame just underneath the rear sight as on the photo.
Should this be alarming or may i continue to use the Revolver?
I tried it anyway using 158gr Remington 38 spls followed by 357Mags and saw no increase or change in the crack.
By the way it shoots pretty accurate, as most 686 does, isn't it.
What are your experiences, should i discard the gun?
Thank you for any help.
Steve

Attached Images

686c.jpg (231.6 KB, 823 views)

It does not look like a crack to me. I think it is a casting mark or a milling mark. It looks too even to be a void.

I doubt that's a crack, I think it's just a machining mark or slight forging flaw and I really doubt it will compromise the integrity of the frame. Is it visible along the inside of the recoil shield or is it just on the surface?

__________________
"I also cook."

Steve, I would e-mail S&W Customer Service with your excellent picture and pose the question to them.........

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

That is definately not a crack....1 it is way too straight, a crack would not be perfectly straight. 2 that is way too shallow.
That looks more like a cut mark from where they cut out the cylinder cut out.

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M.J.Hanna

Thank you for the fast replies ...
No signs in the frame or otherwise, it isn't a scratch although.
A tool mark or forging flaw, yes could be.
I'll send it to S&W and will keep you posted.
Steve

I have a similar "line" in my M66-2, which has been there since I got
the gun and hasn't grown any longer during shooting.

I always thought, like others have mentioned, that it was a casting flaw.

Edited to add: After looking at the OP's photo again I would say that the
"machining" angle mentioned by the others is probably spot on.

I went back and looked at my M66 and my "flaw," which is on the same side of
the frame as the OP's, only in the front (top corner) of the cylinder window, isn't as straight.

For the record, my line is only visible on the outside of the frame
and not inside the cylinder window area. This was something I checked
out thoroughly because, at first, I thought it might be a crack in the frame.

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Ogy

Definitely not a crack! Perhaps a scratch.

Steve,
After studying the picture I also concur with the others that it is not a crack but just an imperfection. I would shoot the gun as is and enjoy it. I believe you are perfectly safe.
Jim C.

It appears to not be a crack. That said, if it was a crack, it's done... dont fire it again.

I've looked at that mark under zoom and what it looks like to me is a scribe mark. Why anyone would want to scribe a frame in this area I have no idea. IMO it's nothing to worry about and you can remove it with a bit of sanding if you care too. Start out with 400 grit, work up to 1200 grit, and finish it off with some grey Scotchbrite.

I agree with the consensus, it is most likely a tool mark, scribe, forging anomoly, etc.

The problem is unless you do a visible dye pentrant examination, you are guessing if it's a crack or not.

Liquid penetrant testing is simple, accurate and effective. You should be able to find someone locally to do it for a small charge. If you were in central Indiana, I'd do it for nothing.

Thank you all for the comments.
I rather prefer to keep shooting it, you immagine.
However here are 2 close up views with different ligthing.
It isn't a scratch, but maybe a forging flaw.

Attached Images

	686cr1.JPG (93.5 KB, 164 views)
	686cr2.JPG (162.2 KB, 192 views)

Nice close-ups, it's Definitely not a crack. Shoot away!

__________________
"I also cook."

Steve, if you had included BOTH of those pictures in your first post I would have advised you to just keep shooting your revolver. Whatever that mark it, it is obviously NOT a crack.......

__________________
'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Thank you all,
i'll just keep shooting it.
Will post the answer of S&W though.
Would have been sad to discard such a classic.
Why is it S&W changed the floating hand after the 686-1?
Steve

It looks like an index mark for the window, made a little too deep and did not polish out.