586 vs 686

[Mike1969]

I have always thought that the difference was just Blued versus Stainless. Is this not true? When you search on Gunbroker, you get Stainless and Nickled(?) that are being sold as 586s.

 

[TAROMAN]

Speaks volumes as to how ill-informed many sellers there are.
That said, it always seems to me that the 581/586 family seems to have a very high percentage of nickeled revolvers.

 

[G.W. McLintock]

I believe that the 586 was available in nickel up until (I may be mistaken on this) the 586-3.

 

[old bear]

I have always thought that the difference was just Blued versus Stainless.

And the first one with the correct answer is the O/P..

Mike either some folks don't know what they are selling or are intently misnaming a 686 as a 586, do to the fact that 586's are currently selling for more than the 686's.

 

[Mike1969]

And the first one with the correct answer is the O/P..

Mike either some folks don't know what they are selling or are intently misnaming a 686 as a 586, do to the fact that 586's are currently selling for more than the 686's.

Thanks for the info. I am currently in the market for a 4-inched 586. They do seem more rare than 686s right now. I even see more good condition 4-inched Blued King Cobras than 586s.

 

[fyimo]

yup it 's 686 stainless and 586 blued and nickel so you were right all along

 

[310Pilot]

The 586 was made in carbon steel, with either blue or nickel finish (far fewer were produced in nickel, typical of S&W production), while the 686 was made of stainless steel. Far more 686s were made, as stainless was, generally, a better seller than carbon steel at the time the 586 was produced, and S&W was transitioning to producing only stainless steel revolvers during that period. Production of the 586 ended some time in the 1990's, as I recall, and the 686 remains in production. Both are extremely nice guns. I owned several 686s during the 1980s, and currently have a 586, blue, 6" barrel. All are very accurate. My LGS had a pretty nice 4" nickel 586 come in a few weeks ago, but they also had a near-perfect 6.5" nickel 29-2, and I exercised a great deal of restraint in buying only the 29. Went back a few days later, and the 586 was gone.

Best wishes on finding your gun, you will enjoy it, I'm sure.

 

[Fishslayer]

yup it 's 686 stainless and 586 blued and nickel so you were right all along

IIRC wasn't there a short run of blackened 686s?

Before anyone mentions it, yes. A strong magnet will stick to a 686.

 

[Engine49guy]

The earliest 586's had a large right side trademark and are less common.

 

[vytoland]

you can expect to see four times as many model 686 on gunbroker than there are model 586.

 

[rotty]

But be sure of what you are buying as smith and wesson is currently producing 586s as part of their classic line. But they come with the dreaded IL and MIM parts. Not that they worry me much.

 

[speedyquad]

just out of curiosity, what is a fair price for one(586) shipped in 1983, with the original box, no papers, with only 20 rds through it. it was my dads. it is now mine and it will never be for sale, just updating my list of household contents for insurance purposes as every few months or when an expensive item is purchased, i like to compare values to coverage.

 

[vytoland]

a S&W model 586 no dash in mint condition may have an asking price of $550 - $600

 

[speedyquad]

thank you.