I went to an auction yesterday and managed to score a Model 686 with a 2 1/2" barrel. I paid $1250, which was more than I had hoped, but it was a very nice package with box, sealed tool kit and paperwork. I believe it is 1983-84 production. I really like the feel of the finger groove grips. Just thought I would share and show it off a little!!!

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1891SingleShot

I would say a very nice score indeed. Next week or next year you will have forgotten about the money but the quality of your 686 will remain.

Here's its first cousin, 2.5" 686+, bought quite some years ago at a much lower price :



You will love it; forget the price!

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Come and take it!!

Nice no dash. Serial number is close to the original run from Lew Horton, not that it really makes it difference. Some place a value on that.

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213th FBINA

Looks like it is pristine condition! A bit pricey but I guess a it's "buy once - cry once" scenario. You will soon forget what you paid and enjoy it every day!

Awesome score, Congratulations

Excellent acquisition! Welcome to the 686 club - which I am rather late in joining. I acquired both my 686-4s in the last couple of years. My first L frames. Yours is in fine condition as was my 4 inch. The 2.5 inch needed the total spa package including replacing the hammer and trigger which had been attacked by “bubba”. I don’t have box or papers for either.

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Yes, I just checked the catalog number from the box and it is a Lew Horton!!! I believe that does add some value. Maybe I got a decent deal after all.

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1891SingleShot

I think that 5289 number on the box indicates that it was boxed on the 289th day of 1985.

Great buy!!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Nice gun! I have a 686 Plus dash 6 and love it, I even added a new 586 4 in this weekend. The frame size of these guns just work well in my hands.
Congrats on the new purchase!

Very nice! With the box and original combats, I don't think you overpaid.

My -1 with bananas

Agreed, it's a Lew Horton. You can tell by the s/n (ALV9905) and the Production No....and it does add a little value. You probably paid a fair price. Congratulations. Enjoy!

is that gold plated or just the lighting?

Congratulations! You did good.

FWIW, I would have happily gave $1250 for that package. Looking at your picture showing the model and serial number, I don’t see the “M” stamp, which it means it hasn’t had the firing pin recall work done. Not needed.

I have a no dash LH, two - 3s and a -4+ 7 shot. Always looking for another.

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213th FBINA

I gave $700 for this beauty.

Love this thing!

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Congrats on your find!

As already mentioned, the box's label would indicate it's a 1985 production & also falls in the time frame of being a Lew Horton Special Edition.

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M686-0, Lew Horton Special Edition with Badger grips
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Waiting for the break of day

Agree with Post 9 and other posts regarding 1985. My SCSW also seems to agree:
1985 – AAV, ACC, ACJ, ADA, ADP, ADZ, AEF, AEH, AEM, AER, AEW, AFB, AFK, AFL, AFN, AFR, AFS, AHA, AHB, AHC, AHJ, AHP, AHS, AHT, AHV, AJB, AJD, AJJ, AJH, ALA, ALB, ALC, ALU, ALV, ALW

Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 491). Gun Digest Media. Kindle Edition.

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432UC/638/642/60 + more

I recently went into an LGS that specializes in "new" guns. They had a 2.5 inch 686-4 on consignment for $800. It was in great condition but wearing a pair of "rubber" grips. I asked if they would take $700 for it and the clerk called the owner and he said yes. So $750 OTD with tax.

I dropped the rubber grips and put a set of round butt target (banana) grips on it.

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Bill

Hmm, I didn't think you would have to pay tax on a consignment??

The Standard Catalog of S&W 4th Edition also lists the ALV prefix under 1983.

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1891SingleShot

I may be in the minority, but I like the L frame snubbies more than the K frame.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

I'm in North Carolina. We pay tax on EVERYTHING. Its a sale by a business regardless of who owns the gun.

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Bill

Same here I prefer the L over the K frame which just feels too small for me. The L just isn't that much more difficult to conceal at least in my situation and the wardrobe I go with. It handles much better for me also.

1996 bought this 686-4 7 shooter 2.5 barrel, for $300. It is one of my carry guns.

Being one of the Lew Horton originals is actually very important, prior to these being manufactured the 686's shortest barrel length was 4". It was Lew Horton that convinced Smith and Wesson to go with a snub nose version of the revolver

I purchased this one just about thirty years ago.

I bought it unfired since leaving the factory, in its original box, directly from the engraver. These grips had already been put on it by the artist that engraved it

I actually just looked it up and I acquired it 29 years ago this month at the Tulsa Show that just came and went.

While I do not normally disclose what I pay for things, especially things that have been embellished by the craftsmanship of an engraver, this one ended up costing me $500 out the door. Just keep in mind that that was just under thirty years ago

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"Acta non verba"

Gentlemen, I have a 2 and a half inch 686 that I have owned for over 20 years. It is a early no dash with a ACC-XXXX sn. It is a square butt and I have Hogues on it . I would prefer it to be round butt but I don't think there is a more accurate 686. A favorate.

I just picked up one too. I shot it the other day and it’s really comfortable.

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Believe it or not, I do not own a single S&W L-frame revolver! Most of my modest revolver collection consists of vintage N-frame and K-frame revolvers. However, with any luck that may soon change. My son manages a local gun store, and the owner has quite a personal collection of firearms. There are dozens of vintage S&W revolvers and pistols in the owner's "overflow" rack (624s, 686s, 629s, 649s, 64s, 5946s, 645, etc.) and my son is trying to convince him to sell some of them off. He recently showed me a cool L-frame that I took a fancy to...a 3" round butt 686 that was manufactured for U.S. Customs in 1988. Its Product Code is 104228, the revolver is stamped "CS 1", and it's in the original box. Now if I can just get his boss to turn it loose for a decent price! There's also a 5" 629 Classic and a Model 29 Lew Horton Special Combat Magnum with 3" bbl. and round butt (101224, 1984-85). Keeping my fingers crossed that I can pick up one or two of these.