686-3, need help: Are all 686-3 square butt

[oysterer]

I checked out a used but quite decent 4'' 686-3. It had a hogue rubber on it. I forgot to check the butt if it is round or square.
In the hand and looking at the back strap I could swear it was round. The serial number is BNP, apparently a late -3.

Now I google around and I see that the 686-3 shipped with square butt and wood targets.

Is there a transition period right before the 686-4 meaning have any of you guys seen a round butt 686-3 with Hogues? The gun has the older style ratchet, not the 686-4 shape.

Thanks much

 

[BAM-BAM]

With S&W anything is possible....... some things are more probable.....

-3's are 1988-93
Barrel length........ 4" and up are square butt < 4" are round butt

After 1995/96 all L-frames are round butt (-4 and -5s get mixed up as some of the -5s were .38s for export ..... also some earlier special order .38s 686s for a RR)

That said my no dash 4" 686 is a custom round butt.

 

[s&wchad]

It depends. If the 686-3 you're considering has a 4" or longer barrel (that's what it sounds like because you mention target stocks), it has a square butt frame.
All versions of the 686 with 2-1/2" and 3" barrels had round butt grip frames. S&W standardized on round butt frames in 1996, which was the tail end of the 686-4 production run.

 

[oysterer]

Thanks, it's a 4'' and I could swear it felt like a round butt. Serial was BNP.