686-6

[illinoimike]

Hi, I think my 686-6 is 5 years old CSJ0522.
Am I right on it's age?
Also, there are different prices on the 7 shot 357mag from Smith but I can't see any difference at all in the models except rubber grips. (and barrel length).
Is there a difference between a 686+ and a 686 distinguished combat 7 round other than grips and barrel length?
Thanks.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

...686-6 ... CSJ0522...

October - December 2011.

There are differences between various M686. Over the years, almost countless variations. Some are made by the Performance Center. Some are "Super Tuned". There's a Pro Series. The CS-1 guns. Standard production. Distributor specials. All Pluses are 7-shots, and all 7-shots are Pluses. Regardless of variation. They are the same thing.

Do you have the original box?

 

[illinoimike]

Yes I have the orig box....

 

[illinoimike]

And thank you for that very informative answer. I guess the price differences between new 686 7 rounders is the grip (for the most part)....

 

[5Wire]

I have a 686-6 snubbie CHR0147 purchased NIB in July 2004. SCS&W, 3rd does not specifically list CSJ prefix but it would fall between the two quoted below. The Special Order Code on the original box will give you a Julian date of manufacture where the first digit is the last digit of the manufactured year and the last 3 digits would be the XXXth day of that year.

Jul. 2004 CHM 432 7-9-04 642 6-23-04
Jul. 2004 CSR (327) 7-22-04

Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2006-12-20). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 388). F+W Media, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

 

[illinoimike]

5wire, the code you talk about is 164300. That would lead me to think 2011 in December which matches what the original owner was telling me. Does that sound right to you?

 

[illinoimike]

Here's a pic to look at.

 

[5Wire]

5wire, the code you talk about is 164300. That would lead me to think 2011 in December which matches what the original owner was telling me. Does that sound right to you?

I've only seen 4-digit codes and they're on the box. Got a photo of the box?

 

[5Wire]

Nice gun! Congratulations!

The number you posted (164300) is the product code for the 3-inch Barrel version. Here's what the case for my 2.5-inch barrel version looks like:

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

5wire, the code you talk about is 164300. ..

That's the Product Code, sometimes listed as the SKU on newer boxes. It tells us your gun is a standard production 3-inch, 7-shot, M686-6 that originally came with rubber grips.

The four digit date code is something different. Like 5Wire's picture, though depending on the box, it can appear in different places. Traditionally it was called the Special Order number, abbreviated as Spec. Ord. on the box label, but S&W no longer uses that nomenclature on their boxes.

Newer guns, made in the last year or so, use a more conventional date code of DDMMYY. But, your gun should be is too old for that.