Group, what 686 snubs (prelock) going for in your neck of the woods . Thanks to all who respond

My local sporting goods, gun, and pawn shop has a new one listed at $830. I know that is for a new 686, 7 round, 2.5 inch barrel, but that might help you in your quest for a pre-lock 686 snub.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

The prelock snubs are the most sought after. Nice condition with box & docs $1,000 plus.

I've been looking for a 2 1/2 or 3 inch pre lock 686 for a long while. In SW Ohio the going rate seems to be $ 1400 +. I see one seller at gun shows who is demanding $1500 for a less desirable (at least to me) -5. He refuses to budge an inch on price. I've told him he would be much better off compromising on price. He could then use the proceeds to buy cheaper guns which will move.

I'm to the point where I am considering a -6 three inch seven shot for about $ 800. I hate to add a locked Smith to my safe which contains more than 10 pre lock revolvers.

Sure, you may not like the idea of adding 'lock' version but they might be all you can find for some time to come, especially at the current price. Hey, you could always trade/sell it if you ever run across the one you REALLY wanted.

Not sure about all parts of the US, but out west (higher in CA) pre lock 2.5" 686s are highly sought after and have been for some time. If you can find a no dash through -3 with combats, it'll cost you better than $1K; a -4 plus will be well north of that. Personally, I wouldn't let any of my no dash with combats go for less than $1500, the -4 plus $2K, but that's just me.

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213th FBINA

I have seen 2.5" model 686's selling for 800-1000 in my area. If you add a 1/2" to the barrel (on a pre-lock gun) the price nearly doubles!

They are great additions to the fleet!

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On the Oak Savannah

I sold a 2.5" 686 w/combat grips a year ago for $900...I sold two 2.5" (one no-lock w/Hogue grip, one lock gun w/wood grip) both originally boxed & 7-shooters for $1100 each this summer...These sales were to dealers who presumably expected a nice profit...I agree prices are insane......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I haven't seen a prelock 686 for sale here in over 2 years! I was fortunate to buy my -3 for $1100 , with about $300 worth of ammo + a holster and an ammo pocket. And that was about two years ago.

Let's not forget the 586-4 in 2.5" also! They are out there. I purchased around the same time.

The last one of those I saw had a $2400 price tag on it last year......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I paid less for it than my 686 through a local sale. Maybe they didn't know what they had?

I've got a 686-1 21/2" with the original combat grips i"m thinking about selling. What do you think I should ask for it.

Maybe revisit and see what else they want to sell?.......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Your question implies those guns are on a shelf in a gun store.....

Good luck with that around here.

I've been looking for a while and haven't seen anything I'd jump at. A 3 inch would be awesome but for the price difference a 2 1/2 will be just fine.

I have a 2-1/2" 686-3 in near-new condition with matching combat grips. It will never be for sale, but if I had to sell it in this market, I wouldn't take less than $1200 for it.

Pre-lock Smiths seem to be going up in value regularly, and I think that's only going to continue...

You will regret it. Hold out for a pre lock, I have two. They are out there.

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Good advise.

Bought this 686 No Dash on GB about a year ago. No box or paperwork. $995.

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Thanks for the pics. Those 2 1/2 snubbies in the Model 686 and 19 are favorite of mine. Prices sure have shot up in recent years.

That 586 is fantastic! Like to see a good shot of the other side.

Got this on Gunbroker a week ago for $1050. Taxes and shipping jacked it up close to $1200. Put a set of nearly new stocks on it that I had laying around.
1984 Gun. Lew Horton?

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Lemme look......


Here are pics of both the 686 and the 586. (Showing the left side of the 586)

About 10 years ago, I traded an excellent shape 686 2.5” with Smith and Wesson Combat grips straight up for a LNIB 5906, right here on this forum. I wasn’t so much into revolvers then and I didn’t see much use for the 686. I bought the gun on gunbroker the month before for $575 so I didn’t take much of a loss. It looked just like Lou’s in the post above mine. I rank that transaction as one of the worst I ever made.

Possibly, but I am not sure there’s a way to look it up now that LH is closed and Earl has passed. My no dash with combats is a LH without an “M” stamp.

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213th FBINA

I've got 'droolers' also, M686 gun only, M586 box & docs, both with original grips.

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S&WHF 366

Oh, dear, does this mean I'm wildly rich?

I reckon not but I guess the $350 I paid for this a long while back was a good investment....



It's not for sale.

Yet...........

Better picture, I hope:



I carried that gun in an El Paso Saddlery shoulder holster down by the Rio Grande when I went feral hog hunting there quite some years ago. It was NOT my hog gun, it was my "down by the Rio Grande PDW".

I still can't wrap my head around the IL being such a big deal. My other two 686+ s, 3" and 4", are equally wonderful. The former is my bedside HDW and I wore the latter in a custom holster made by Dave Workman when I was feral hog hunting locally.

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Come and take it!!

18 Months ago, I was very confident that I could be within $150 of the going price on any S&W. That was then. My new answer is "It Depends.".

My LGS just sold a -3 for $1300, no box or docs.

Wow... I have definitely been living under a rock when it comes to what current valuations are running, I'm in shock.

I just renewed my firearms insurance policy, and it appears that I'm way, way under insured.

Question... what makes a 2-1/2" 686-4 that much more valuable than the 686-3 in the same barrel length?

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Besides going from wood combats to rubber Hogues, there’s not much difference between the -3 and -4, the big jump is with the more scarce -4 plus because it’s the first 7 shot 686. To the purist, the -4 plus is the pinnacle of the 686 line, it has all the good stuff and none of the bad. The -4’s top strap is drilled and tapped for mounting sights, but that’s not very important to most on a snub.

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213th FBINA

The Dash 3 is the best version of the 686
Wood grips flash chromed hammer 6 shot capacity (purist) original cylinder release …………….

I haven't seen one for sale in a LGS for at least 2, maybe 3 years.
When this one showed up, a few years ago, I adopted it immediately.
It is a 686-4.

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The no dash to a -3 fall into that. And I believe are the most aesthetically pleasing .

Here's my no dash 6", -1 4" and -3 2.5".

I just bought a mint 686-6 7 shot 3” holster ammo speeds loaders.
$600.00

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i forgot about the "family portrait!"

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I’ve noticed that -4’s seem to be a changeover model. My -4 four inch has the flash chromed hammer and trigger. Many I see do not. No idea if mine is an early - 4 or just luck of the draw.

I saw the same $ 1500 dollar 686 at one of the gun shows on Saturday. It turned out to be a -4 after all. I had previously said it was a -5. I made that judgment based on non flash chromed hammer and trigger. I passed again and bought a 65-3 three inch instead. Saved myself $ 900.

But the search for a 2 1/2 or 3 inch 686 will continue.

I bought a well scratched up 686-4 2.5 inch for about $800 two years ago. Tried winning a few on GB that went over $900.

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-Matt

Model: Model 686-4 (Pre-lock) in .357 Mag, .38 Special (CAVXX16)
Bought: Cost - $299.95 (12-1996)
Cylinder Capacity & Caliber: 7 rounds, 357 Magnum, .38 Special.
Materials: Stainless Steel – Ahrends wood grips
Barrel Length: 2.5 inches, L frame Round Butt
Front Sights: Front Pinned Red Ramp;
Rear Sight – Adjustable
Action: Double Action / Single Action

This Smith & Wesson 686-4 is a -4 model, meaning it is the top of the
line in development. Dash -5, -6 and -7 have different changes like the
Key Lock and MIM parts. This 686-4 is worth about $1000 to $1200.
and will be worth al lot more as time ticks on. This Pre-lock
Model 686-4 is the generally regarded as the apex of the design.
This L Frame made for heavy 357 Mag power. It is my
conceal carry gun often. Damn good gun, not for sale... ever!

686-5 on top 686-4 on bottom. Both are 6 shot variants as i prefer over the 7 shot models. The -5 was $1000 and the -4 was $1150 but i forget all about the price as soon as i pick one up. Somethings are worth what they cost.

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That first pic is exactly what I've been looking for these past couple of years. Beautiful piece!

I don’t see what’s up with these lock revolvers. I know there not as collectible.

Not sure what they're bringing but it would take a fat stack of bills to get me to come off mine

Attended two shows in three weeks. Still, not a hint of a prelock snubbie 686. Actually, the last time I saw one in the wild was about four years ago and I bought it, even though I already had 4. A prelock -4+ should never be left behind, especially at $650.

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213th FBINA

I thought of selling my 686-4 plus 2.5" not long ago but I know I would come to greatly regret it . The prices on used Smith revolvers are incredible these days. I had a big gunbroker seller list my 586-8 4" and still got almost $1000 after consignment fee.

And any 686 pre lock in decent shape would be worth far more than a 586-8 to me. I don't recall seeing a pre lock 686 snub for sale locally in many years. I took my 686 plus into a local shop a year or so before 2020 and the guy offered me like $400. I didn't feel like being robbed that day.

Seems like anything under a grand on a nice pre lock 686 is a good price these days.

I found a 686-4 2.5” RB at Cabellas 3 months in to Covid last summer for $899.00 and some how got the manager to knock another $50 off of it. I figured at the time it was more than I was hoping to pay but like everyone else, I was looking for one for ever. Needless to say I do not regret the decision.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I for one, simply can not believe just how outrageously expensive almost all the S&W Revolver's have become !! Gosh, even the darn Ex Law Enforcement Trade In's have gotten out of line. I'm no economist, however, I have an idea that we in fact have caused this scenario ourselves !! Why, by our buying up any & all of the basic models in decent condition, along with our willingness to pay somewhat above market value for the premium examples, such as the older 'classic' N Frame & similar editions. 'WE' could perhaps fix this issue, although it will not by any means easy. Let the S&W Revolver market stagnate somewhat, at least to the point where Dealers will be forced to 'adjust' their pricing to resemble reality, or at least some semblance of it ? If you wish to either buy or sell a S&W, try at all costs to do so within the Forum here, between ourselves, so therefore not to influence the open market pricing. Yes, I do realize that it's an ambitious, & possibly illogical scheme, but, these prices are simply approaching ridiculous levels, IMHO. OMG, If I think back about all the odd, unusual, & rare models I've had & subsequently sold off to others, I literally become ill with the fact of their current selling prices !! Ohh well, it was just a thought ?

Best, dpast32

Since we're sharing, here is my -4+ with some combats by John Culina. I shoot it better than any of my other revolvers. If I had to pick one gun as my favorite .357 it would be the 586/686. Even with the lock they are great guns.

Beautiful did you do the polishing yourself

It actually isn't polished at all. The light does make it like it though.