686 front sight question..

[Andy the Aussie]

G/Day all,

I am presently shopping around for a used 6 inch 686 out here, pre-MIM etc, I have a 4 inch (BDT serial prefix) and looking at that I am still not 100% sure about the front sight blade. My 4 inch and a 6 I am looking at this week both have red ramps, fine on the four but I want a partridge on the 6 inch. Now I recall when I still had my 29-2 that the front sight was in fact pinned on but it was damn near impossible to see the pin and such. Is the 686 pinned on or a permanent addition to the front sight base ? I need to factor the cost of any work into my offer.

Thanks as usual for the sage advice here.

Andy

 

[2000Z-71]

It depends on the variation. Most 686's front sight is integral to the barrel. There are some that do have a pinned front sight blade. I have a 6" 686-3 Classic Hunter that came with an unfluted cylinder and pinned black Patridge front sight. I've also got a 4" 686-5 with a pinned black Patridge front sight as well. No idea on the 4", it's the only one I've ever seen like it and I picked it up used.

 

[TDC]

Here is a picture of a very early NIB 686 6" no dash with a pinned Patridge front sight.. I'm the original owner and this is the way it was delivered from S&W.

Later 686's may be different....