So I found a decent deal on a 686-1 but the previous over had someone engrave their name on the side plate. If I do end up picking it up is there anywhere to buy a replacement side plate so that I can get rid of the engraved one?
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686-1 side plate
- Thread starter chaser723
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Pass on the deal!
To properly replace a Sideplate on a M686-1 will cost you more money and more hassle than you think you are getting a "deal" on! Just look for a M686 that has not been monkeyed with, in good shape and is a fair deal. Bargains are usually NEVER a real bargain!
Sideplates were hand fitted at the Factory to the individual Revolver and parts found from other guns will usually never fit properly. A Sideplate is one of the parts that is almost impossible for the average "Joe" to fit by himself. Let it go!
To properly replace a Sideplate on a M686-1 will cost you more money and more hassle than you think you are getting a "deal" on! Just look for a M686 that has not been monkeyed with, in good shape and is a fair deal. Bargains are usually NEVER a real bargain!
Sideplates were hand fitted at the Factory to the individual Revolver and parts found from other guns will usually never fit properly. A Sideplate is one of the parts that is almost impossible for the average "Joe" to fit by himself. Let it go!
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Pizza Bob
SWCA Member
And it may cost less money in the long run.
bananaman
Member
Is it somewhere that target stocks will cover? (if it does not have them now) Bob
Initials I could have handled this was the whole name in large block letters that looked like he'd used a hammer and die. Way worse than the description suggested.
Beauetienne
Member
Underneath his carving you could have added "Sucks".
In a gun shop today I saw a well-used and altered Model 15. It was a blued gun and wearing either a nickel or stainless side plate. You may want to think "PINTO!" but instead, it just looked weird.
I didn't fish it out of the case to stare closely at how it was fit in place.
I have heard for many years that side plates were expertly fitted and I have never had the need or the desire to try and swap a side plate that wasn't original to the revolver in to place.
I can certainly imagine that these are very closely fitted and it all happens long before the final finish process of the end product is done, which certainly helps it to look as clean and matched as we've come to expect from a S&W revolver.
Now, with all that said...
I'm going to guess that the "fitting of the side plate" is yet another one of those things that many of us talk about being a bear, but very few of us have ever tried or experienced, to see how much of a bear it truly is.
The 15 I saw today had a mismatched side plate on it for sure, and it was all together and in one piece, ready to go shooting.
I didn't fish it out of the case to stare closely at how it was fit in place.
I have heard for many years that side plates were expertly fitted and I have never had the need or the desire to try and swap a side plate that wasn't original to the revolver in to place.
I can certainly imagine that these are very closely fitted and it all happens long before the final finish process of the end product is done, which certainly helps it to look as clean and matched as we've come to expect from a S&W revolver.
Now, with all that said...
I'm going to guess that the "fitting of the side plate" is yet another one of those things that many of us talk about being a bear, but very few of us have ever tried or experienced, to see how much of a bear it truly is.
The 15 I saw today had a mismatched side plate on it for sure, and it was all together and in one piece, ready to go shooting.
Oracle
US Veteran
If a previous owner used a hammer and die on the side plate I would be very suspicious the gun had also received the Bubba treatment elsewhere.
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Never really got-it as to WHY people put their initials on a gun. It's already marked with it's individual serial number!
