686-3 marked "Perfomance Tuned"

With the box and the cool features. I wouldn't settle for anything less than 4 figures. I think it's cool. You should keep and really enjoy it. MagnaPort does REALLY nice work. Top Notch

Thanks Mr. Brew, riddle me this. I don't know if anyone can see the pic or make out the engraving on the side but....performance tuned to me would lend it's self to trigger "tuning". Would Maganport do that? S&W? Or is the porting the tuning?
 
I would imagine the whole action including trigger has been done. Especially since they took the time to have it engraved.
 
Depends on if you are selling it or not and how fast. If you plan on selling next week. Keep it clean. If not. Shoot the snot out of it. You ain't going to hurt it. :)
 
Product code 104231
SN BBE 4XXX
Spec Ord 8273
Features RR(but above the word features is an M)

The product code is for a stock standard 2 1/2-inch M686. They used that same pc right up to and including the -5. A purpose built Performance Center gun of this era would of likely had a pc that began with "17".

The s/n looks normal. Sometimes special guns will have unique s/n's, or certain distributor's will request special s/n's.

The Spec. Ord. number indicates a ship date of September 30, 1988. Which aligns with the s/n sequence. The earliest -3 M686 I've seen was from June of 1988, so yours is from the first few months of production of that dash number.

"RR" means the gun left the factor with a "Red Ramp" front sight insert. So the yellow/ivory color one it wears now is an aftermarket replacement. I have a ivory insert on a pre-Model 15 and really like it on that blue gun.

The "M" along the top of the label, I don't know. Could be an inspection mark, acceptance, or an inventory mark. Might not mean anything about the gun.

Sometimes there will be a Mag-Na-Port sticker under the foam liner of the box. I've seen that a few times. You should check and see if there's one there, but I don't think there's any doubt MP did the work. I heard at one point MP put the sticker on the outside of the box and S&W didn't like that. That's why they put their sticker under the foam. Probably an internet myth.

That stocks it has now are not original. Those laminate wood Targets are a fairly recent thing. A 2 1/2-inch -3 would of come from the factory with Hogue neoprene grips.
 
The product code is for a stock standard 2 1/2-inch M686. They used that same pc right up to and including the -5. A purpose built Performance Center gun of this era would of likely had a pc that began with "17".

The s/n looks normal. Sometimes special guns will have unique s/n's, or certain distributor's will request special s/n's.

The Spec. Ord. number indicates a ship date of September 30, 1988. Which aligns with the s/n sequence. The earliest -3 M686 I've seen was from June of 1988, so yours is from the first few months of production of that dash number.

"RR" means the gun left the factor with a "Red Ramp" front sight insert. So the yellow/ivory color one it wears now is an aftermarket replacement. I have a ivory insert on a pre-Model 15 and really like it on that blue gun.

The "M" along the top of the label, I don't know. Could be an inspection mark, acceptance, or an inventory mark. Might not mean anything about the gun.

Sometimes there will be a Mag-Na-Port sticker under the foam liner of the box. I've seen that a few times. You should check and see if there's one there, but I don't think there's any doubt MP did the work. I heard at one point MP put the sticker on the outside of the box and S&W didn't like that. That's why they put their sticker under the foam. Probably an internet myth.

That stocks it has now are not original. Those laminate wood Targets are a fairly recent thing. A 2 1/2-inch -3 would of come from the factory with Hogue neoprene grips.

Thanks kernel. I changed the stocks(I saved the original) A Smith doesn't look right to me without a wood stock. No sticker and the box has no foam, I think I'm not going to shoot it. It's a sweet Smith but it would make a heck of a carrot to dangle on a trade to the right guy....
 
The product code is for a stock standard 2 1/2-inch M686. They used that same pc right up to and including the -5. A purpose built Performance Center gun of this era would of likely had a pc that began with "17".



The s/n looks normal. Sometimes special guns will have unique s/n's, or certain distributor's will request special s/n's.



The Spec. Ord. number indicates a ship date of September 30, 1988. Which aligns with the s/n sequence. The earliest -3 M686 I've seen was from June of 1988, so yours is from the first few months of production of that dash number.



"RR" means the gun left the factor with a "Red Ramp" front sight insert. So the yellow/ivory color one it wears now is an aftermarket replacement. I have a ivory insert on a pre-Model 15 and really like it on that blue gun.



The "M" along the top of the label, I don't know. Could be an inspection mark, acceptance, or an inventory mark. Might not mean anything about the gun.



Sometimes there will be a Mag-Na-Port sticker under the foam liner of the box. I've seen that a few times. You should check and see if there's one there, but I don't think there's any doubt MP did the work. I heard at one point MP put the sticker on the outside of the box and S&W didn't like that. That's why they put their sticker under the foam. Probably an internet myth.



That stocks it has now are not original. Those laminate wood Targets are a fairly recent thing. A 2 1/2-inch -3 would of come from the factory with Hogue neoprene grips.


I agree 100%. But most -3 2.5" came with combat grips. Like these. :) The longer barrel had the wood targets.

93725fe40d13b70a39d471d17375f6f2.jpg


d0b16599694bcfc7096b7b234668b433.jpg
 
Thanks kernel. I changed the stocks(I saved the original) A Smith doesn't look right to me without a wood stock. No sticker and the box has no foam, I think I'm not going to shoot it. It's a sweet Smith but it would make a heck of a carrot to dangle on a trade to the right guy....


-3 guns came with cardboard boxes like this one.

fbf74722f1ad1d2001d3415820835b5f.jpg


a387f6c7b211ea17fa555eddc0ab935e.jpg
 
I'm not certain, but I think MP keeps pretty good records. You should call them and see if they have a record of what was done. It's really in their best interest to helping out new owners who have questions, it "burnish" their reputation in the market. They might even send you a nice letter that would add "provenience" to your gun.
 
..most -3 2.5" came with combat grips.

You're probably right. I just checked my own records and all the 2 1/2-inch -3's had Combats. Except two. The first one made in June of 1988. A the second gun from September 30, 1988, s/n BBE494X. Made the same day as the OP's. Both those guns had Hogues.
 
jbrew got the grips good gracious. I have a couple that have those grips. Dang it if I could post a pic of my 627-0...my box looks like that.
 
You're probably right. I just checked my own records and all the 2 1/2-inch -3's had Combats. Except two. The first one made in June of 1988. A the second gun from September 30, 1988, s/n BBE494X. Made the same day as the OP's. Both those guns had Hogues.


DANG IT Kernel! Are you implying there's a 1 in 10 chance my 686 is the first one made(or 2nd) that's pretty cool if it is. Of course now I have to find those original grips.....
 
This was a magnaport done revolver. I'm very sure of it. They offer it still to this day I believe.

Very cool gun, just not done by smith and Wesson

The M stamp was to fix the hammer nose bushing and the "M" only denotes that not anything else.

Hope that helps. The 686's were recalled for this.

Sweet Little Handejector you have there
I AGREE WITH jjbrewst1. THE PORTING, SCRIPT, AND PERHAPS A MASSAGING OF THE ACTION WAS MOST LIKELY THE WORK OF MAGNAPORT. A CALL TO THEM SHOULD BE WORTHWHILE…..
 
DANG IT Kernel! Are you implying there's a 1 in 10 chance my 686 is the first one made(or 2nd) that's pretty cool if it is. Of course now I have to find those original grips.....

No, it's only the second one that I"VE SEEN. I don't have a book, or a list of every s/n ever made. I imagine they made thousands of 2 1/2-inch M686's between June and September (hundreds, anyway). These are just my personal observations. I could be waaaaaaaay off. But that's why I asked you for your s/n in the PM. The MORE info I get, the more complete my info becomes.

The -3 was made for about five years, and your's was in the first three to four months of production. It's really just meaningless trivia.
 

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