686 Frame - Stress fracture or Normal

[586L-Frame]

Hi All,
I just purchased a consignment 686 no dash
4" stainless from my local dealer.

It was a L/E trade-in with some holster wear
and scratches on the side plate and frame
which I thought I might be able to polish-out.

After taking some pics and zooming in on my PC
the frame appears structurally stressed.

Is this normal?

Were the S&W 686 no dash frames cast.
And is this why when viewing the frame up close
it appears that the frame appears structurally
stressed.

Here in California for $569 out the door,
did I pay too much for one in this quality.

I'm beginning to wonder.
586L-Frame

DLC's Consignment purchased S&W 686.
[IMG:left]

[/IMG]

[IMG:left]

[/IMG]

x

 

[Forty Five Auto]

S&W revolvers were/are forged and quite strong. Where exactly are the marks you're worried about?

And used guns for sale are especially scarce in CA thanks to the libs in Sacramento, so prices really depend on what you found and what you're willing to pay for it. Your 686 would not be a super deal in many other states, but it sounds fine for here.

 

[586L-Frame]

Hi Forty Five Auto,
The marks I'm concerned about are
on the Frame above the trigger
and below the cylinder.

Here is a zoomed-in view.
[IMG:left]

[/IMG]

Can you see the cracks and possible fractures.

586L-Frame

 

[Swabby]

Honestly, from the picture, they all look like scratches. The best thing to do, would be to take it to a licensed gunsmith or send it back to Smith&Wesson. If you have any doubts at all about the safety aspects of your handgun, it's better to know for sure. Pre-lock 686's are definitely going up in price. Just finding one is half the battle. The gun looks like it was carried a lot, but stainless guns can be polished easily. As long as the frame is not crapped-out, I think you did OK.

 

[pred]

I really dont think that the frame would be cracked in any way. The gap between the cylinder and barrel will show undue stress. That is an "L" frame gun, The mod 19 is a "K" and the frames dont crack,,,,
Look in the search function for polishing stainless,,,, I bet you can make that gun look like new....
As posted above,,, Have a Smith look at it if you are worried..... But I think it's fine.
Here is PA thats a tad high,, But I dont know CA prices.
Peter

 

[bamabiker]

I would expect marks like that from a LE gun that has been carried a lot. If you polish that gun it will look a lot better. You may have to use some fine sand paper to get those marks out but first just polish it up and see how it looks. I think it will be OK.

 

[vytoland]

LEO trade ins are notoriously cosmetically challenged but mechanically excellant. don't even worry about a few blemishes on the stainless just shoot and have fun.

S&W 686 no dashes had a problem with cylinder binding and were recalled by smith & wesson for modification. open the cylinder of your 686 and look inside at the model number. if there is a "M" stamped you are good to go and the modification has already been done. if not, contact smith and wesson, let them know that you have an unmodified 686 no dash and they will take care of you and your fine .357 magnum.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/we...=10001&content=11001

good luck and happy shooting.

 

[H Richard]

I believe the spots you are referring to are just rubbed marks from holster wear & handling.

 

[Wayne M]

The marks you see are from the abuse a heavily carried gun just acquires over the years. LE guns don't normally have the luxury of the care their users would like. Sometimes you just have to be satisfied to have them function when you an Officer. I actually had a heart attack victim throw up on my holstered gun many years ago and as you might guess it didn't get more than a wipe off until the end of the shift. Your gun is fine.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I think you are looking at the grain in the metal (just like a tree), and yes it does have that. When they buff it the first time it gets the gain going in the direction that they buff it, if you sand across the grain or against it you will say to yourself " WHAT DID I DO ". It looks fine to me

.

 

[john traveler]

That particular frame locastion is commonly used to engrave or stamp the law enforcement organization identification numnber. Might be an amatuerish attempt to scratch out the markings.

 

[guntownuncle]

If I'm seeing it right, it looks like there is an actual crack just in front of the cylinder and running parallel with the barrel. That looks very bad to me. There may be another one starting just in front of the cylinder near the bottom of the frame. I'm no expert, and I've only owned a 686 for a few months, but I would get a very bad feeling if I saw that on mine. Hell, I can't wait to get home now so I can look.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

gun town are you talking about pic #2, if so it does look like cracks, need to have a close up of the area to be sure. But it does look to be cracked.

 

[Oldrifleman]

Saw the marks forward of the cilender and to me they look like casting marks that were not removed. Reason for this is they are too straight.

 

[guntownuncle]

Originally posted by Bullseye Smith:
gun town are you talking about pic #2, if so it does look like cracks, need to have a close up of the area to be sure. But it does look to be cracked.

I'm not even sure if I see anything or not the more I look at it. It doesn't help that I'm fighting off a cold right now. The whole world looks a little cracked to me today. I'll have to look at mine when I get home. My gun that is, not my crack.

 

[guntownuncle]

Nevermind. If the crack I'm seeing wasn't there you'd not be able to swing the cylinder out to load it. I need to stay the heck off the internet when I'm this under the weather.

 

[586L-Frame]

Howdy Folks,

I'll try and smooth the finish out
when I pick-up the 686 in 9 days
and follow-up on some of your responses.

Thanks,
586L-Frame

 

[AKsRule]

Originally posted by Wayne M:
The marks you see are from the abuse a heavily carried gun just acquires over the years. LE guns don't normally have the luxury of the care their users would like. ....

True.

And Stainless is slightly softer metal than the
high carbon steel of a blued gun.

 

[Forty Five Auto]

586L-

Sorry for the late response here.. I think I see the marks you're concerned with. They're vertical gouges of some sort, best I can tell. I definitely wouldn't worry about them.

Be careful when polishing too, you can easily overdo it and rub out the S&W rollmarks. As some others have said, LEO guns pick up some "character" on the job, just like their owners. If you were to look at mine you would cringe, but it's all from rubbing on seatbelts, leather gear, doorways, and whatever I happened to be around the few times I've had to wrassle around with knuckleheads. My guns are mechanically babied and cared for like my life depends on it.. Enjoy your new piece.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Oldrifleman:
Saw the marks forward of the cilender and to me they look like casting marks that were not removed. Reason for this is they are too straight.

S&W frames are NOT cast. They are forged. Thus, the marks cannot be "casting marks."

I see nothing structurally wrong with this revolver. If the cosmetic appearance bothers you, send it back to S&W for refinishing. They will make it look brand new again. While it is there, you can ask them to check it over and make any necessary adjustments to make it "like new."