3" 686 CS1 2M

[Lt.Donn]

Not a dumb question, if this sort of stuff interests you, like it interests me. This 686 CS1 was commissioned in 1988 by the US Customs Agency (during the pre-MIM era). The agency had pretty stringent requirements and lore is that these guns were made as well as the first Performance Center guns, even though that division did not exist yet back then.

To paraphrase the more in-depth post below, the rumor of these CS-1's being "better made" and having "DX" accuracy is likely true. Periodically a 686 CS-1 was selected from a production lot and required to demonstrate the durability and accuracy requirement. If it failed to do so it was sent back to S&W and a subsequent example pulled and subjected to the same test. We are told that there were few that failed - but there were a few examples.

As to their rarity, most of these were service weapons owned by the federal government. Approximately 2500 686 CS-1s were released through the Sales Exchange Program before then Attorney General Janet Reno ended that program and ordered federally owned service weapons destroyed rather than sold.

More information can be found here: https://smith-wessonforum.com/threads/us-customs-service-686-cs-1.231410/

Thanks to Big Sis Janet for destroying beautiful guns

 

[Cities n Dust]

Well Janet R was a gun hater. So yes, she did us a favor when she destroyed those guns as for now, they are collectors. I too am looking for a 3" as I have the 4" w/ box papers tools etc. I paid too much for it. So hopefully one will present itself at the right time.

 

[HOGSTR]

I think you did fine, if you consider all the premiums and surprise fees you avoided from an auction. Or the cost of driving around from show to show over the next few decades in hopes of finding one at that price!

 

[joebuck]

Thats a lot of money for a L frame Smith. Nice gun but $1800 is crazy to me.

 

[walkin' trails]

Back in the day…..Didn't the Border Patrol also have 686s, but 4 inch black sights, and the bead blasted finish?

The Border Patrol version was a four inch barrel with a round butt and Pachmeyer Grippers. It was the standard satin stainless finish. Border Patrol versions were marked BP-1 in the yoke area of the frame. I was issued one in 1990. To me, it was just a service revolver in a world switching to semi auto and the 'Patrol' was seemingly inhibiting progress by sticking with wheel guns. Many Agents who'd been around a while preferred the Model 66. Looking back, it was more than adequate. Mine was not new when issued to me in 1990. It worked fine, however. I don't know if any BP-1s were released on the commercial market. Reno came in while the Patrol was still issuing revolvers and her destroy edict likely sealed their fate - unless the firearms unit has crates of them tucked away in a basement somewhere waiting for a day on the horizon when old guns can be free to find new, loving homes. Anyway, INS inspections at the ports of entry were likely also issued some version of that gun. I don't recall seeing any two and a half or three inch versions as the stocks of short barrel revolver I remember seeing for occasional plain clothes duty were Ruger Speed Six or Police Service Six two and three-quarter guns. S&W may have offered a Border Patrol commerative 686 but I'm not sure of the specs. One "Old Patrol" agent was carrying his - I asked if it was a 66. He said, no, was a 686 with the badge engraved on the side plate.

 

[Yendor357]

There are Glocks for knuckles that call fine S&Ws "boat anchors".