686 dates

[MG1867]

I'm looking for a web site that I can date my 2 S&W 686's. Also is there a way to tell if they are Bangor Punta era other than the box? Thanks for the help.
S&W 686 AUM8331
S&W 686-1 AWH3672

 

[s3dcor]

There is no web site that lists serial numbers. The best resource available is the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Both of your 686's date to 1987. The 686-1 came out in 1986. A "M" under the crane would indicate the factory modification to the firing pin bushing which started in 1987. It might also indicate the revolver was returned to S&W for the recall.

Bangor Punta ran the company from 1965-1987. The factory boxes indicated Bangor Punta on the lid.

 

[drummer007]

I've had good luck just emailing S&W Customer Service (a link is on the S&W website). I give them the model and dash numbers along with the serial number and ask them for the production date.

If you have the original box, I've been told that the Spec-Ord number can normally give you the date the label was printed. The 1st digit of the spec ord number is the last digit of the year and the next 3 numbers are the Julian day of that year. For example, a 66-4 with a spec ord number of 4286 would mean its label was printed 10/13/1994. That is the 286th day of 1994 (the only year ending in a 4 that a model 66-4 was made).

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

S&W 686 AUM8331

June - September 1986.

S&W 686-1 AWH3672

May - August 1987.

This is based on other s/n's and ship dates I've seen. If you have the boxes would like to know the Spec. Ord. number.

Technically, neither one of these guns would be a Bangor Punta product. Lear Siegler Corporation acquired BP in January of 1984. By February of 1984 the words "LSI - Lear Siegler" was already appearing on the front flap of some S&W box. The old BP marked boxes continued to be used until they ran out in the late Summer. So, for a time they shipped product in boxes marked LSI and BP simultaneously.

In June of 1987 LSI sold S&W to Tompkins LLC. Tomkin's didn't put their name on the box. LSI must not of kept a big inventory of boxes around, because LSI marked boxes disappeared pretty quick.