I have a line on CS-1 686 4", shooters grade, no box, after market grips...think Altamont or similar. They're asking $900. I wasn't really looking for one...just curious where you guys are thinking prices are at these days. Has the "M" stamp. Thanks.
686 CS-1 4" Price Check
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Shootgood
Member
Last one I had clean but fired with original box went for $1400
I would sprain my wrist reaching for my wallet at $900
Recently I have seen them go as high as $3200 on gun broker and I would say the average has been over $2000, I have three of them, about ten years ago bought one 4" for $400 with combat grips! Both of the last two came out of Eddie Brown's of Ed Brown 1911 customs personal collection with the original grips and boxes.
All were actual agents.
All were actual agents.
Rodan
Member
Not a 4". 4" CS-1s usually bring ~$1400-1600. $900 is still a bargain.
3" guns have been bringing over $2k lately.
Did I say what barrel length? I just said average and one extremely high priced during COVID. I was just trying to explain to the guy that $900 was a bargain and to my knowledge there are no CS-1 that were unfired so all of them are basically shooter grade.
Rodan
Member
Considering the barrel length makes an $800-1000 difference in value, it's worth mentioning.
$900 for a 4" CS-1 (PC 104229) is a pretty good deal! Grab it- S&W didn't make that many of them for the U.S. Customs Service in 1988. I'm still trying to convince my son's boss to sell me his 3" CS-1 (PC 104228) in the original box. I expect to pay $1800+ if I can ever pry it away from him.
Actually there were many U.S. Customs CS-1s that were only test fired at the factory. Many were sent to the field offices, but were never issued to Special Agents. They weren't a very popular concealed carry gun, so many sat on armory shelves until they were all called back in from the field in 1989-90, and replaced by S&W 6906 9mm.
I've never had the privilege of seeing one that had never been fired, I know there were some overrun guns that were never sent to the United States custom service, And they were sold through distributors to the general public. Then a certain amount of them were sent overseas to foreign governments and then a considerable number were destroyed by Janet Reno and Bill Clinton, I Was told by some of the guys that were pretty much in the know that the guns that were sent back to Smith and Wesson were sent back for a clean, check and repair service and then they were kept by Smith and Wesson and sold to distributors. Do you have actual numbers of unfired ones that was sent back to Smith and Wesson?
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Currently and it has six days to go on an auction site. There is a
“4 inch CS-1” with the box at $1776.00
Tom
“4 inch CS-1” with the box at $1776.00
Tom
Rodan
Member
If we're watching the same auction, that's a 3" gun. Bid currently at $1776 has stag and Combat stocks, and the original box? Seller in Prescott, AZ... I've consigned with them before. They've run a lot of really nice guns through GB.
This 4" CS-1 is the highest I've seen a 4" sell for, which is interesting because it has been Mag-na-ported and the front sight modified... so it's no longer really a 'collector' CS-1. Went for $2251 in January 2025.
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OK, you win. I need to take my sunglasses off when I look at those things.
Rodan
Member
Not trying to 'win' anything... just trying keep the discussion apples to apples. 
I've been watching that one... I'm guessing it will go well into the $2500 range. The Combats and Stags are probably worth nearly $400 on their own, though it is missing the correct Magnas. Fortunately late K Magnas are still pretty cheap.
I've been watching that one... I'm guessing it will go well into the $2500 range. The Combats and Stags are probably worth nearly $400 on their own, though it is missing the correct Magnas. Fortunately late K Magnas are still pretty cheap.
Don’t worry, I’m laughing at myself, but if you own a 3 inch you want to own a 4 inch or the other way around so most of the time you’ll pay whatever it takes to get one. And truthfully, they’re not that rare. It’s just the fact that Bill Clinton and Janet Reno got involved if they had not, they would not be such a hot ticket.
Tom
Tom
I ended up letting this one go...went for $955. I already purchased two in January...off to a good start! I'm guessing it went lower than anticipated as the listing didn't state CS-1 anywhere but you can clearly see it in the pic of the serial number...unless I'm mistaking.
Just a moment...
Just a moment...
Rodan
Member
I always search in such a way as to try to pick up mis-titled auctions... caught a few bargains that way. The vast majority of folks out there have no idea what a CS-1 is, it's just a 686 to them.
A 3" CS-1 is on my 'grail' list, but I just can't bring myself to pay the current auction prices. Sooner or later I'll happen onto the 'right' one, or I'll just decide to pay the freight.
I purchased this one in November of 2023, from an LGS for $850.79 tax included. I saw another 4-inch gun in a local shop last week for $750.00. When I mentioned to the clerk it was a CS1 he had no idea what I was talking about. That gun was modified. It had a fiber optic front sight, Millet rear sight, and Magna ported barrel. It also looked like it has seen numerous rounds. Here is the low down on mine.
