686-4 Super Target Champion

[Tabaluga333]

Hi everyone!

My name's Tom, I'm from Germany and I'm a new member in this forum. I've really enjoyed reading many useful and interesting posts so far. Maybe you can help me get some information on my gun. I can't find anything on the Internet.
I've just purchased a used revolver. It's a S&W .357 Magnum 686-4 Super Target Champion, Serial WTC 0039. This gun carries a Performance Center engraving. It's got a stainless surface except for the trigger, the cock and the upper part of the weapon which have a rather rough silver surface. I can't find any information about the modifications/improvements done to the weapon by the Performance Center. Does anyone know about the specifications of the revolver or has a list of the modifications? When was this gun built? Thank you very much in advance.

Kind regards from Germany,

Tom

 

[lowriderfxr]

Hi everyone!

This gun carries a Performance Center engraving. It's got a stainless surface except for the trigger, the cock and the upper part of the weapon which have a rather rough silver surface. was this gun built? Thank you very much in advance.

Kind regards from Germany,

Tom

Hello Tom,
Welcome to the forum. Don't have any information for you but wanted to say, around these parts we call it a hammer.

 

[gunnails]

If you post some good pictures I know some of the experts could point out the non standard features.

Short of that, pretty much all the PC guns have tuned actions, some have weighted barrel systems, custom grips, target hammer and triggers, etc.

Welcome.

 

[lhump1961]

I assume what you have is a 6" bead blasted 686 with a match grade barrel and hand fitted at the Performance Center. It would have been for export in about 1993 or so with product code 170082. Not much info in the SCSW outside of that. I'm sure it's a very nice 686!

 

[Tabaluga333]

Thanks for your fast answers and the warm welcome. Sorry for using the wrong words. I don't have a camera with me at the moment, but you can find a picture of an identical revolver here:

http://www.theduke.de/content/media...handguns/gebrauchte/sw-686-sutarch-griebe.jpg

And, yes, it's a beautiful gun. I'm really looking forward to shooting it on Monday!

 

[gunnails]

The front sight is non standard, same with the trigger and hammer which appear to be forged? Looks like a trigger stop screw?
Stocks are custom, or at least not standard.

Sweet looking revolver, is it a 5" barrel? 5" barrel is somewhat rare.

 

[Tabaluga333]

The barrel is 6". Maybe it just appears to be shorter in the picture. Perhaps I can post a few pictures of my revolver tomorrow. I wonder if the "Super Target Champion" was really a model only to be sold in Europe. At least it seems to be very rare, since hardly any information about it can be found on the Internet.

 

[lhump1961]

The barrel is 6". Maybe it just appears to be shorter in the picture. Perhaps I can post a few pictures of my revolver tomorrow. I wonder if the "Super Target Champion" was really a model only to be sold in Europe. At least it seems to be very rare, since hardly any information about it can be found on the Internet.

The 170082 product code I quoted may or may not be your gun but the description fits and SCSW indicates it was for export. Be sure to post a range report!

 

[Tabaluga333]

Yes, I'll do that. I've just sent an email to the firm "Waimex" which seems to be the successor of "Wischo" the company which was responsible for the import of S&W guns to Europe in the 1980s and 1990s. Hopefully, I'll get some more information from them.

 

[Tabaluga333]

I've uploaded two pictures of the revolver. Maybe this can help a little. The sales representative of "Waimex" could only tell me that the model 686-4 was sold in Germany from 1993 to 1997. But he's hoping to get more information about this special edition. I'll inform you as soon as I have some news.

 

[Tabaluga333]

I've just discovered another number (406) at the cylinder. Maybe this might also be another hint to identify the revolver.