686-5 PC identification

[Casus Belli]

New member here - hello all

i just bought my first revolver (have had the itch for a few years now)

its a 6" 686-5 Performance center:
- a few scratches (adds character)
- in need of a deep cleaning (aren't we all?)
- serial is NSL02XX

Cylinder ratchet looks fine, no end shake and no flame erosion - it has mostly shot .38 LRN I believe.
I think it is a Euro edition, as I can't find more than a few images of similar guns. I think (hope ) i got a good one...

Can anyone tell me anything about this gun?
when was it made?
what type of rear sight is it? - haven't seen a S&W with one of those before?

Thank you in advance

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM from Michigan! Don't know about that model myself. Might be an aftermarket rear sight. I have a 686-6 Pro Series 7 shot, 5" barrel. ONE of my favorites. Being a pre lock is a plus! Bob

 

[80sgyrene]

Looks like Nill grips. Nice gun.

 

[Nightowl]

That looks like a Millett rear sight. I'm not sure they are still in business! I've never seen a 686 with a 6 inch slab side barrel either! Maybe I overlooked one? Any way, very nice gun, the 686s are great shooting revolvers. It's kind of interesting that S&W sent some really nice guns to Europe that they did not make available to the US market.

 

[Ignatz]

Here's my 686-4 PC. These were Lew Horton issues. 7 shot, mooncliped and these grips. Yours looks real nice with those grips!

 

[gumpys]

Very nice and unusual pick up there. I am guessing that is a left over parts gun that ended up being for a special export edition since I can't recall seeing that serial number before. Plus your cylinder is all bead blasted unlike the earlier dash 4 that had the polished cylinder flats. The similar 6.5 inch 686-4 PC revovlers like the one Ignatz shown above all had the "LHW" serial prefix and polished cylinder flats. Also 100 percent certain yours has an upgraded adjustable Millett rear sight which may have been factory and may have been upgraded hard to say. Those were most like factory nill grips that they used for this European edition. Very cool gun. Also welcome to the forum, and cool first post and revolver too!

Eric