686 general info
- Thread starter Narragansett
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Thank you, and welcome to the forum
Bumpus13
Member
The 1st S&W I ever bought was a 4" 686-6+
I bought the 4" instead of the 6" because it balanced better for me.
Mine has the internal lock ... I didn't know the difference at the time, but frankly I'm happy about that now. If I had more experience with S&W revolvers at the time, I probably would have waited for an older one. Which means I wouldn't own this absolute tack driver.
I bought the 4" instead of the 6" because it balanced better for me.
Mine has the internal lock ... I didn't know the difference at the time, but frankly I'm happy about that now. If I had more experience with S&W revolvers at the time, I probably would have waited for an older one. Which means I wouldn't own this absolute tack driver.
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jay72
Member
My late father bought a new 686 (no dash) 4" in Sept. 1981. It came to me upon his passing in 1992. I can't even imagine how many thousands of rounds, both magnums and specials, it's seen. He did send it back for the M mod.
Afterwards it's been flawless all these years/rounds later. Used it to teach both my sons how to shoot handguns, have posted it many times here. Postimage doesn't appear to be working now otherwise I'd add a photo.
It's been amazing and will never leave the family.
Afterwards it's been flawless all these years/rounds later. Used it to teach both my sons how to shoot handguns, have posted it many times here. Postimage doesn't appear to be working now otherwise I'd add a photo.
It's been amazing and will never leave the family.
Mehutch
Member
I have 7 686's, 686-4+, 686-5, 686-6, 586-7, 586-5, 2.5", 4", 6" barrels.
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Postimage is running again, this is my late father's no dash 686. I have everything it came with when he bought it new including his receipt. Special revolver to our family.
It was his daily carry while out on horseback in the desert around Tucson, he had it bead blasted and an action job with polished trigger.
It was his daily carry while out on horseback in the desert around Tucson, he had it bead blasted and an action job with polished trigger.
Postimage is running again, this is my late father's no dash 686. I have everything it came with when he bought it new including his receipt. Special revolver to our family.
It was his daily carry while out on horseback in the desert around Tucson, he had it bead blasted and an action job with polished trigger.
That's awesome to have your father's.
Here's the LNIB 4" 686 no dash I recently sold. Never did shoot it.
CompromisedLogin
Member
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Thanks for the welcome. It is appreciated.
Mehutch
Member
My Holy Grail is the S&W SS pre-lock 686-4 seven shooter in 4" barrel. There is none better. After many years I still have not one.
I do have one in the 586-7 (lock removed with the 'Plug') blue 4" seven shooter. So close.... so far away.
I do have one in the 586-7 (lock removed with the 'Plug') blue 4" seven shooter. So close.... so far away.
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grip frame
Member
Up the ante even further and seek out a 586-4 IMO
686-3 and -4 are sweet though. 7 shot is not the pinnacle IMO.
686-3 and -4 are sweet though. 7 shot is not the pinnacle IMO.
hkcavalier
US Veteran
I had a 686-6+, but when I found a -4+ locally for sale, it was an easy choice to get that and sell off the -6+.
You have a really scarce variant!
The dash-2 is the forgotten one that we almost NEVER hear about. This thread is a fine example. I was very surprised to read that you have one, just look at the slew of 686's listed in this discussion and not a peep about a 686-2 except yours.
I'm not sure which small nuance called for the dash-2 revision but it sure didn't last very long. Lots of the 686-3 were made. The 686-1 (I believe?) was simply a no-dash with the recall work already done, so a dash-1 and an "M" stamp are basically equal guns.
Three cheers for the very scarce 686-2!
HorizontalMike
US Veteran
686-2
The 686-2 came out in 1987 and basically contained the "M" recall in the production line. I sent my 686ND that I purchased in August 1986, to a gunsmith to have the "M" modification in January 1987. In other words, the change in the hammer and nose bushing.
The 686-2 came out in 1987 and basically contained the "M" recall in the production line. I sent my 686ND that I purchased in August 1986, to a gunsmith to have the "M" modification in January 1987. In other words, the change in the hammer and nose bushing.
The -1 does fall under the infamous "M" recall. The -2 was the first one to have the new hammer and nose bushing so no "M" recall work required. The interesting thing to me is that the 586/686 family was in production for seven years before the mothership announced the recall... and, if it was such a problem, why didn't the mothership correct it in the -1 release six years in?
Things I ponder at night that I can never know.
HorizontalMike
US Veteran
Both of my 686NDs have an AUE prefix and my original 686ND, that I have all the paperwork,box,receipt,etc. Left the S&W plant May22, 1986, the other is slightly older. But lacking the paperwork on the second, I can only approximate April/May 1986.
All that being said above, I would imagine that the 686-1 would be rarer since production run was only the last ~6months of 1986.
NOTE: Not all ammunition/primers had a problem firing from a non-"M" 686. In other words the issue only showed up in certain brands. And no, I don't recall/know what brands.
All that being said above, I would imagine that the 686-1 would be rarer since production run was only the last ~6months of 1986.
NOTE: Not all ammunition/primers had a problem firing from a non-"M" 686. In other words the issue only showed up in certain brands. And no, I don't recall/know what brands.
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686-5 MG
Almost forgot this one, picked it up last year from my local pawn shop guy, it was his personal carry for a while. After shooting it I understand why, I'm not the greatest handgun shot by any stretch of the imagination, this thing makes even a poor shooter look good. This was on my hip every day in the woods last fall, nothing in Georgia that a 7-shot and a couple of speed loaders can't handle. With the S&W Goodyear's on, it handles great.
Almost forgot this one, picked it up last year from my local pawn shop guy, it was his personal carry for a while. After shooting it I understand why, I'm not the greatest handgun shot by any stretch of the imagination, this thing makes even a poor shooter look good. This was on my hip every day in the woods last fall, nothing in Georgia that a 7-shot and a couple of speed loaders can't handle. With the S&W Goodyear's on, it handles great.
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pantannojack
US Veteran
Warranty Work
Decades ago I had a 586 ND which had failed at the fp hole bushing. It had cratered under recoil. I sent it in and they returned it with a new frame and all my usable parts reassembled. Can't ask for better than that.
Just one question for those in the know. Are 686-4's RB frame or SB frames? Or some one and some the other?
Decades ago I had a 586 ND which had failed at the fp hole bushing. It had cratered under recoil. I sent it in and they returned it with a new frame and all my usable parts reassembled. Can't ask for better than that.
Just one question for those in the know. Are 686-4's RB frame or SB frames? Or some one and some the other?
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