686 grips. Wood or Rubber

[Dueeast]

I just bought a mint condition (with manual and box) 686-4. made in march 1994. It has S&W wood grips. Question is, are these the grips what would be on the gun when it left the factory? I see some 686-4's for sale with rubber grips. Please help to un-confuse me. Thanks.

 

[bananaman]

Kinda hard to tell, if you posted some pictures, it sure would help. I have a 586, 4" no dash from 1983. It had real S&W wood targets. I can't tell you what year Altamont starting producing stocks for Smith. 586 is older than yours though. My 686-6, 5" came with rubber grips. Newer than yours. Bob

 

[VikingDude]

I believe that the standard 686 variation have only been delivered with rubber grips from the factory

 

[imakmst]

I have a -4 6" that came with rubbers from the factory.

 

[357 shooter]

I have a -4 6" that came with rubbers from the factory.

Same here. Mine bought new in 1994.

 

[Dale53]

My CS-1 (4” barrel), came with round butt rubber and they could not be better!

I cannot show you a picture as Photobucket is not cooperating, AGAIN!��

Dale53

 

[H Richard]

The original no dash 686 came with wood S&W Target grips.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I think the wooden grips went away with the the dash 4. My dash 3 came with wood.

 

[Stevens]

My 686 no dash, I bought used late 80s came with those wood grips.
Steve W

 

[Benchrest1]

I like and use Hogue Mono grips with finger groves in cocobolo.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My "modern" 4" and 3" 686+s came with rubber stocks. My older 2.5" 686+ came with wood. Last time I checked the S&W website the new 686s come with wood stocks.

 

[OLDSTER]

My 686-4 bought new in 1995 came with Hogue rubber grips. But now wears these from from Altamont.

 

[51ti]

My 686-4 has the Hogue rubber grips but it came to me in a 686 no dash box that included a set of like new wood target stocks - a bit confusing at first - but it is nice to have both



Found this to be helpful:

• [FONT=&quot]686 (no dash), 1981 Introduction model[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]686-1, 1986 radius stud package, floating hand[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]686-2, 1987 changed hammer nose, bushing and associated parts[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]686-3, 1988 new yoke retention system[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]686-4, 1993 change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, change extractor, Hogue grips[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]686-5, 1997 change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud, eliminate serrated tangs, MIM hammer and trigger, change internal lock.[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]686-6, 2001 internal lock[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]686-7, 2003 Performance Center .38 Super, 6-Shot unfluted cylinder, 4" barrel, Stainless Steel, 250 Made[/FONT]

 

[borntxn]

My round butt 686-4 bought new in Jan '97 with Rubber Hogues.

 

[Jason Demond]

I was under the impression that the -4 was when they dropped the square butt frame for the round butt.

Those look like original goncalo grips from earlier guns. Are you sure your gun is a -4. Is there a huge gap on the back?

It's not unheard of for people to put a square butt grip on a round butt gun, but you will have a huge gap if not filled in with something.

 

[357 shooter]

I was under the impression that the -4 was when they dropped the square butt frame for the round butt.

My 1994 686-4 6" is a square butt. Also have a 586-4 4" that is a square butt.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Look Inside Grips

I just bought a mint condition (with manual and box) 686-4. made in march 1994. It has S&W wood grips. Question is, are these the grips what would be on the gun when it left the factory? I see some 686-4's for sale with rubber grips. Please help to un-confuse me. Thanks.

How about taking the grips OFF and looking at the stamped information on the inside of the grips...

FWIW, here is/are the grips on my 686ND that I bought new in August 1986.

 

[oysterer]

My 1994 686-4 6" is a square butt. Also have a 586-4 4" that is a square butt.

Strange, must be transitional. My 646-3 is square and shipped with the grips just as the OP has shown. My 585-4 has a round. butt and shipped with Hogues. There are no SW Target grips for round butt in those years.

 

[MJK-MOD-547]

I bought my 586 no dash nickle back in 1982. It came with wood stocks.
After shooting a few rounds my middle finger on my trigger hand began to hurt.

When shooting with wood stocks my middle finger rested against the trigger guard and some the recoil would sting my finger.
I switched to the rubber stocks because it keeps my finger off the trigger guard.
Perhaps that is the reason S&W started using them.

 

[Engine49guy]

IIRC the 686-4 was produced in SB and round butt configuration with the SB dropped during that revision.
I saw a 686-4 SB with same stocks as op at a gunshow years ago and it was also a 6 shot gun.
My 686-4 is late production, has a RB grip frame and a 7 shot cylinder, came to me with rubber stocks.