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06-24-2018, 04:22 PM
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How rare is a 686 with a 7.5in barrel?
I ask because I have been looking for reviews of the one I am getting before it's arrival. I can't find any videos or write ups on one! Are they THAT rare?
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06-24-2018, 04:39 PM
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More than likely it is actually a 8 3/8" Barrel. Barrels on revolvers are measured from front of cylinder to muzzle. Sometimes people incorrectly measure from frame to muzzle which ignores the barrel length that passes through frame.
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06-24-2018, 04:52 PM
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Looks shorter than a 8, 3/8...and the owner says it's a 7.5...here's a pic. I am getting it probably Tuesday or Wednesday.
Last edited by Sniper X; 06-24-2018 at 04:53 PM.
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06-24-2018, 05:08 PM
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Looks like a 8 3/8" barrel from here. I'll bet the owner is measuring incorrectly.
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06-24-2018, 05:14 PM
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I think you are right...
Although I don't put too much stock in what wiki says, they don't mention a variant with a 7.5in barrel and do mention ONE 8 3.\/8 made in 1988. I'll see it this coming week and take some good pics.
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06-24-2018, 05:29 PM
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I also think it looks like 8 3/8
Here’s my 629-2 Classic Hunter in 8 3/8 for comparison
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06-24-2018, 05:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kernel Crittenden
The OP's gun has a very interesting front sight. A pinned Patridge on a big black base. Different. It's also a standard production gun, not a Performance Center. It's possible it a one-off European export gun. I'll do some more research and see what I can turn up. One thing for sure, it's not a typical 8 3/8-inch gun.
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INteresting...
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06-24-2018, 05:50 PM
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The OP's gun has a very interesting front sight. A pinned Patridge on a big black base. Different. It's also a standard production gun, not a Performance Center. The flash chrome hammer and trigger are indicative of a -3 or earlier, making it a fairly older piece. It's possible it a one-off European export gun. I'll do some more research and see what I can turn up. One thing for sure, it's not a typical 8 3/8-inch gun.
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06-24-2018, 05:56 PM
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That is not a pinned on sight. It is probably a blued Weigand base for a Classic clip on sight. Most likely, the front and rear were changed out by a previous owner. The rear sight is a standard S&W base with an aftermarket blade replacement. I can't recall who made those right now. It is probably a -3 or earlier.
Last edited by Protocall_Design; 06-24-2018 at 05:59 PM.
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06-24-2018, 09:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toolguy
That is not a pinned on sight.....
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Enlarge the photo. The pin is obvious. Exactly were it would need to be to hold the front sight in the base. Though, I admit, it's not a super high res photo, it could be some kind of toolless interchangeable front sight system.
When you look at 8 3/8-inch M686's, some have the integral base with silver ramp and red insert typical of most M686 of that era, and a few have a Patridge sight that sits on a base that looks exactly like the OP's but the base is silver. The OP's black base looks identical to those silver bases, except for the color.
Could it be a base from a 8 3/8-inch M586? If so, it would be a easy parts-bin substitution for S&W.
Sniper X, when you see the gun in person check for export markings and proof testing. Get pictures of any. If there's a box post a picture of the label.
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06-24-2018, 09:30 PM
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I enlarged the photo and using a scale to check the nominal length of cylinder at 1.62" for the "base", I arrived at a length a little less that 7.5 inches. Interesting gun here, this barrel is around 7.5 inches. We will know when it arrives and is measured, i say it will never reach 8 inches.
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06-24-2018, 09:34 PM
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Yes, the pin is obvious. BUT it is too far forward. All the Classic sights have a pin that holds the front half of the "dovetail" down. When the gun arrives, I'll bet there is a screw in the sight base holding it on the barrel, and an 1/8" hole in the front under the sight.
I scaled the picture, and it looks like the barrel really is close to 7.5" long. I have never seen that length before.
Last edited by Protocall_Design; 06-24-2018 at 09:45 PM.
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06-24-2018, 11:01 PM
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There was a recent run a few years ago of 7.5.
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06-24-2018, 11:21 PM
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Here is a 8 3/8” and a 7” for comparison. The 7” I purchased here and had fitted on a -1 that was originally a 6”
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06-24-2018, 11:55 PM
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The owner (who is giving it to me) is my best friend from California. He is a competition shooter competing in many disciplines including silhouette, trap skeet and many others. This was one of his competition guns for years. I am waiting impatiently to pick it up. IF they ship it next day, I'll have it Tuesday depending on when it arrives at my FFL here. I'll probably not be able to pick it up till Wednesday. BUT you can bet there will be pics and measurements done that day!
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06-24-2018, 11:57 PM
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There was a production run of 7-1/2" barrels on N- frame and L-frame revolvers. The rear sight is a production Millett rear sight that was a popular "owner" option because it was different in the 1980's. There were 2 N-frame production runs: round butt with fluted cylinder, square butt with unfluted cylinder. I have seen several 7-1/2" L-frame revolvers but was unwilling to pay the asking price.
You have a low production revolver, but I don't think the Millett rear sight was standard.
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06-25-2018, 12:12 AM
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That is not a Millett rear sight either. It is a Brownell's model 078-000-12WB if the notch is .110 wide, or 078-000-13WB if the notch is .125 wide.
The blade fits on a S&W factory base.
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06-25-2018, 02:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sniper X
The owner (who is giving it to me) is my best friend from California. He is a competition shooter...!
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Now we get the rest of the story.
Katy bar the door..... a competition shooter is likely to modify his gun in all kinds of ways. Doubtful it's a factory special. Toolguy has it nailed.
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06-25-2018, 09:58 AM
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I believe that these sights have been "Weiganized". The front is Weigand's base that accepts interchangeable blades, as evidenced by the forward position of the pin. The rear is a Weigand blade mounted in the stock rear sight body.
Weigand no longer makes the bases, but Bowen does. I believe that Weigand still makes the rear sight blade in several notch widths.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
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06-25-2018, 11:10 AM
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It could be a Weigand rear sight. At any rate, the new owner will surely enjoy shooting that one. It's a very nice gun. Congrats, SniperX!
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06-25-2018, 09:07 PM
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My dad has a 7.5” 686. They did make them. That is the second I have heard of.
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06-25-2018, 10:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 350mag
There was a recent run a few years ago of 7.5.
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They had several at Sportsman Warehouse.
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06-25-2018, 10:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toolguy
It could be a Weigand rear sight. At any rate, the new owner will surely enjoy shooting that one. It's a very nice gun. Congrats, SniperX!
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Thanks! I am one lucky guy for sure. Can't wait! Should have it tomorrow or Wednesday IF they shipped it today.
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06-25-2018, 11:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 350mag
They had several at Sportsman Warehouse.
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I believe there's a new 7/7.5-inch gun in current production, a -6. The OP's gun is almost 25 years old. It's from a different era completely.
If you find some info on the new -6 you should post it to this thread or start a new one. I'd like to see pics of the gun and the box label.
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06-26-2018, 12:18 AM
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I have a 629-6 Competitor (the one with the weights) that is a 7 1/2 inch barrel.
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06-26-2018, 04:11 PM
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My fathers is from the early 1980’s. I forget if its a no dash or not
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06-29-2018, 01:45 AM
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I got "The Call" today from my FFL. Saying the 686 7.5in was in! Of course I had just arrived at work and since I am temporarily a professional driver can not take off work to go do "fun stuff". I have to wait till Friday morning to go get it. Needless to say, I'll have a hard time sleeping tonight! There is nothing like a free vintage tricked out 686. Oh, the owner of this shop is a total 686 fanatic. I am sure he will (being the guy he is) offer to buy it from me if I ever would want to part with it. It being a gift that won't happen though. I MAY have a shorter barrel installed on it though since I do want to shoot it more then I will with the 7.5 in barrel on it. If I ever find a NIB or NOS 3 or 4in barrel it'll happen.
Last edited by Sniper X; 06-29-2018 at 02:10 AM.
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06-29-2018, 01:21 PM
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I picked it up this morning. Wow, no pics yet but ill take some good ones tomorrow or Sunday when I'm off work. It's a no dash 686 with the M for the factory mod they did back then. The action is incredible, has work done for sure nicer than one of my old Pythons from the 60s.
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06-29-2018, 01:24 PM
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Got it! It's a no dash with the M for the factory modification and slicker than my old pythons.
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06-29-2018, 01:47 PM
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That doesn't look like an S&W front sight to me. If you wanted a patridge on that gun you would need to remove (cut off) the original machined-in front sight, which is why you see a black base. If we saw it from the 12 O' Clock position looking down, I bet we would see that black base retained by an allen key bolt.
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06-30-2018, 01:38 AM
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Some quick snaps, il do good ones tomorrow...
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07-01-2018, 12:13 PM
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Well, this is definitely the best trigger I have ever felt on a Smith & Wesson! The guy who gave it to me is a very good competition shooter and it doesn't surprise me he had such a great trigger done on this gun. I am going to shoot it today with a box of off the shelf 38spl round nose FMJ so we shall see how that goes for an accuracy test until I get reload data from my friend.
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07-01-2018, 12:34 PM
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That is a really nice gun. I have a thing for silhouette shooters and would have bought that in a second.
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07-01-2018, 05:52 PM
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How long is the barrel?
It looks longer than 7 1/2" in your latest pic.
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07-02-2018, 01:33 PM
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Sure looks like an 8 3/8" barrel, with Weigand sights front & rear, to me.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
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07-02-2018, 02:49 PM
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Ya, same here.
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07-11-2018, 01:38 AM
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So, I measured it from the forcing cone to the end of the muzzle. It is an 8 3/8 for sure. The only way I get 7.5in is from the end of the barrel at the frame, to the end of the muzzle.
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07-11-2018, 03:43 PM
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So the entire thread was due to a case of mistaken identity.
Oh, well, it happens. There was still some worthwhile discussion.
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07-12-2018, 02:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kernel Crittenden
So the entire thread was due to a case of mistaken identity.
Oh, well, it happens. There was still some worthwhile discussion.
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Well, somewhat. I had not seen the gun until I had the thread posted for a couple weeks. My friend who gifted it to me had said it was a 7.5in barrel which I took as the gospel. Of course I can see why he thought it was because if the measurement was taken from the front of the frame to the muzzle it is exactly (or close) to 7.5 inches. I am happy it is NOT some totally RARE 7.5in gun now. I am not a long barrel revolver fan so am contemplating having this barrel cut down to 3-3.5in and the sight re-installed. Or buying a used or NOS 3 or 4in barrel and having it installed and keeping this barrel in case I ever get the urge to have it put back to stock.
Last edited by Sniper X; 07-12-2018 at 02:01 AM.
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07-12-2018, 02:04 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dieseltech56
That is a really nice gun. I have a thing for silhouette shooters and would have bought that in a second.
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Thanks, after shooting it I can say it is the best shooting revolver I have ever owned and I have had many great S&W and Colt revolvers. I will also say someone put a TON of money into the timing and trigger on this thing. I'm not the best distance shooter with a revolver and I was finding it easy to hit clay pigeons at 25-50M like it was something I had been doing for years.
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