686-3 with midnight black finish?

[Duke Snyder]

LGS has a 4" 686-3 that they described as midnight blue finish. I was surprised as I thought most 686s were stainless steel. I called another LGS and was told that it was a 5000 gun run of a midnight black stain, not midnight blue. Is anyone familiar with this finish? Was it actually done by S&W? How does the finish hold up since it is a stain rather than a finish? Is it of any more value due to being 1 of only 5,000?

 

[.41magfan]

If my memory serves me right, they made 2,876 w/6" barrels and 1,559 w/4" tubes back in 1989. I used to have a 6" gun but didn't keep it long. From my brief experience with the gun, the finish appeared very thin and not likely at all to be very durable. I've seen them go for over $1700 on Gunbroker. Hope that little bit of info was helpful.

 

[Goblin]

The finish wasn't as durable as modern finishes. The ones I've seen didn't command a premium, but that's back when pre-lock guns were reasonably priced and the midnight guns looked scratched up by comparison. I still wouldn't want one, but collectors may be paying premiums just because of rarity.

 

[Harkrader]

Yessir, you have a 686-3 Midnight Black Stainless Steel. I have one that I call my "Bet Winner" because nobody knows about them.
SCoS&W 3rd Edition p. 270: "4-inch barrel, finished in midnight black stainless, .375-inch semi-target hammer, .312-inch smooth combat trigger, red ramp, white outline rear sight. 1,559 believed manufactured in 1989.

It's as good as any other 686. When I first researched it, a couple people who knew them said S&W stopped production because the finish would come off. Mine hasn't, but it's a "carry little - shoot little gun."

I've never been offered a nickel over any other 686. People seem not to like or trust the finish. Fine. I'm happy to have it.

 

[oysterer]

consider it a stainless gun and offer less than a regular stainless one. If you get it for a really good price is ok, otherwise leave it alone. It will never command a premium, not even when new in full boxes.

 

[murphydog]

Here is a semi-recent thread (2021):

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...686-midnight-black.html?657340=#post141228151

And another:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...lack-686-3-4-value.html?652800=#post141175993

 

[Jeep 1]

Don't let any of these guys get you down, A 686 in midnight black is cool as hell! just don't handle them much…
I have a 6 inch new in the box and out of my collection people ask about it more often than almost any other 686 I have!
If I was looking for shooter no but that's not my reason for owning it…..

 

[WCCPHD]

This thread needs photos.

 

[stansdds]

The Midnight Black finish was an interesting, albeit not overly durable, finish for the Model 686. The concept was to provide the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel Model 686, but with a glare reducing black surface. When new, they looked impressive, but like blued carbon steel, the black finish wore off with use. Even though there are far, far fewer 686's in the Midnight Black finish, they tend to not command a significant premium price over the standard Model 686.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Learn something new every day here if you are not careful. Thanks for posting.

 

[ImDrRich]

Years and years ago when new, blue guns were scarce, I had the displeasure of taking a new model (.357mag) 60 and had a black melonite finish applied to it. Bad mistake, because a few gentle cleanings and some of the finish wore off.

Then I had the same gun PVD'd with a black finish. Lead residue along the front and side of the cylinder refused to come off, and cleaning fluids with gentle scrubbing produced a "see through" effect on the cylinder.

No more chemistry with stainless guns. I'm glad I learned that a long time ago, and I'm also glad I got into "vintage" blue Smiths and can enjoy them along with my stainless steel ones.

 

[murphydog]

As I think I posted on one of the other threads, the M & P and Shield pistols have stainless slides and the black finish on those are pretty durable. My guess is either the stainless alloy for revolvers is different, the black surface process is better now, or both.

 

[nedlate]

I had one a few years ago. It had been used and showed it-scratches and loss of finish. There was not anything wrong with the gun but it had the look of a well used blue gun and just wasn't attractive.

I sold it for I believe $425, same as I paid for it. I think after you use it the value goes down like a used commemorative rifle or revolver.

I would be awful tempted though to buy a NIB example.

Ed

 

[Jim Watson]

I remember when those came out. The black finish looked good; it was BLACK with no tinge of blue. But it wore as fast as blue and looked worse because there was no shading from blue to thin blue to grey to white, what we call "character" on an old used gun; where it wore it was straight from dead black to bare steel.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

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[Mehutch]

Then there is this: My S&W 586-7 with a 4"-barrel seven shooter. It is the blue version in its glory. Not a 'Safe Queen' at all. I keep it clean and shoot it in rotation. It is spot on. The bluing is like new, snappy trigger, very elegant weapon. With the 'plug' and Altamont Grips. I love it.



I also have this one: S&W 586-5 with a 6" -barrel six shooter. Dark blue as well, shoot it in rotation. Ahrends Grips.

 

[stansdds]

As I think I posted on one of the other threads, the M & P and Shield pistols have stainless slides and the black finish on those are pretty durable. My guess is either the stainless alloy for revolvers is different, the black surface process is better now, or both.

Alloy may be different, but I'm certain the process is different. M&P slides have a Melonite finish, which is a nitride treatment. It provides a durable, hard surface finish.

 

[Conservative Texan]

I have the 4 inch. I have seen them go on Gun broker for $1300-$1500 with no box and fetch $1800 with box.

 

[Rlg#17]

I owned one back in 90's for about a week. Carried it in a Safariland level 3 duty holster, and after that week ALL the edges, flat spots were showing signs of excessive wear on the finish.

S&W seemed to care a lot more back then, especially for Leo types. The rep said give him his money back, return the revolver to the factory. Sadly those days of above and beyond from the mothership are gone. It was a good idea as I mostly worked mids then, it was just a substandard finish.

Regards, Rick Gibbs