Dieseltech56
Member
A little while ago, maybe a few years I snagged a 4” CS-1 barrel off eBay for what I thought was a decent price. Certainly no more than any new 686 barrel. I just tucked it away until I figured out what to do with it. It has the bead blasted finish and pinned in black ramp sight, I knew what it was instantly.
Well also a little while ago I picked up a 686-1 in my LGS. This wasn’t the gun I typically buy. It had been bead blasted in the past, since it had an M stamp I knew it had at least returned to the factory at one point. The wheels started turning in my head and the more I looked at the CS-1 barrel and my new bead blasted 686 they are so close finish wise I’m thinking my 686 was likely refinished at the factory.
Now I would not commit to using this barrel because of its scarcity. I know they are never making another CS-1 black ramp barrel and you just never know when you might find one that for whatever reason needs a barrel. It seems though that being newly married my gun buying days are mostly over. Even a bad CS-1 is likely out of my price range. I’m scrounging through my parts and guns I bought as projects trying to keep myself busy.
That’s where we’re at today. Should I do it? New barrel with the black ramp sight that I prefer, plus I want to replace the floating hand. Maybe just maybe round butt her in the future to have a clone CS-1?
The barrel shoulder needs trimmed just a little to index properly before tightening. The forcing cone is already cut I just may have to set the gap when it’s on.
Well also a little while ago I picked up a 686-1 in my LGS. This wasn’t the gun I typically buy. It had been bead blasted in the past, since it had an M stamp I knew it had at least returned to the factory at one point. The wheels started turning in my head and the more I looked at the CS-1 barrel and my new bead blasted 686 they are so close finish wise I’m thinking my 686 was likely refinished at the factory.
Now I would not commit to using this barrel because of its scarcity. I know they are never making another CS-1 black ramp barrel and you just never know when you might find one that for whatever reason needs a barrel. It seems though that being newly married my gun buying days are mostly over. Even a bad CS-1 is likely out of my price range. I’m scrounging through my parts and guns I bought as projects trying to keep myself busy.
That’s where we’re at today. Should I do it? New barrel with the black ramp sight that I prefer, plus I want to replace the floating hand. Maybe just maybe round butt her in the future to have a clone CS-1?

The barrel shoulder needs trimmed just a little to index properly before tightening. The forcing cone is already cut I just may have to set the gap when it’s on.