686 No Dash with Timing Off

[kbm6893]

Saw a nice 686 no dash 4" today in the LGS. Gun looks very nice. Tiny scratches here and there, but nothing some Mother's won't take care of. Aftermarket Hogue's, but nice ones. Silver Hogue emblem on them. Never seen them before. But the gun has two issues. With the hammer cocked, the cylinder will rotate a bit to lock in. And the front sight has been repainted white. The gun does NOT have the "M" stamp, so if I send it in for that, will they fix the timing? The shop has it listed at $499, but I figure with the timing and sight, I can get them down.

 

[OKFC05]

White paint is not an issue, since it comes right off.

My personal experience with S&W customer service is that they have fixed every mechanical problem I described in writing to them when I sent in a revolver for warranty service.

 

[kbm6893]

White pain is not an issue, since it comes right off.

My personal experience with S&W customer service is that they have fixed every mechanical problem I described in writing to them when I sent in a revolver for warranty service.

Did the sight ever come just stainless, like the early 66's? It's white, but I don't know if red is underneath it. And since i am not the orginal owner, they MIGHT not honor the warranty, but I believe the "M" modification recall they do honor, regardless of original owner or not.

 

[MacheteSteve]

I recently sent my 586-3 in for rebluing and they found a mechanical problem I hadn't noticed and they fixed it. It was listed on the estimate as a $45 charge but then they gave me a $44 "line item discount", effectively making the repair free. I get the feeling they don't usually let guns leave with safety issues, but can't really say for sure if they'll charge you or not.

 

[Dave T]

You found a 696 (no dash) for $500 and you're worried about the cylinder's timing and some paint on the front sight. You can't be serious.

Trying to talk the dealer down is almost criminal. Good grief, just buy the darn thing!

Dave

 

[kbm6893]

You found a 696 (no dash) for $500 and you're worried about the cylinder's timing and some paint on the front sight. You can't be serious.

Trying to talk the dealer down is almost criminal. Good grief, just buy the darn thing!

Dave

$500 is NOT a steal for a 686 (not 696), and I almost never try to talk a dealer down on a fair price, but if the timing is off, the gun needs work, and the price is not fair if I gotta pay to get it fixed.

 

[k22fan]

Lots of S&Ws left the plant that will not lock up before their hammer cocks if they are manipulated very slowly or with any drag on their cylinder. Their cylinders are spun into lock up by momentum in normal use, so I doubt either the store or S&W will see the 686's late carry up as something that has to be fixed, and like you wrote, $500 is not an exciting price, so the advice "if in doubt about the purchase, move on" comes to mind.

If those Hogues are rubber, they're from Hogue's early years. After market stocks that match an old gun's vintage make it look like a well used revolver that had an active life. That gives it character in my eyes, but also is consistent with a worn revolver that would benefit from a tune up.

 

[kbm6893]

Lots of S&Ws left the plant that will not lock up before their hammer cocks if they are manipulated very slowly or with any drag on their cylinder. Their cylinders are spun into lock up by momentum in normal use, so I doubt either the store or S&W will see the 686's late carry up as something that has to be fixed, and like you wrote, $500 is not an exciting price, so the advice "if in doubt about the purchase, move on" comes to mind.

If those Hogues are rubber, they're from Hogue's early years. After market stocks that match an old gun's vintage make it look like a well used revolver that had an active life. That gives it character in my eyes, but also is consistent with a worn revolver that would benefit from a tune up.

It's more than that. After the hammer is cocked, fast or slow, you can then rotate the cylinder until it falls into the notch. I have owned many S&W revolvers, and I have never seen one do that. Yeah, the Hogue's are rubber. Gun look nice other than that. The crown looks like it's not as smooth as it should be, though. Still, I miss the 686 I once had. If it's still there in 2 weeks, maybe I'll offer $450. If he doesn't drop it $50, it's not gonna happen. I might have to pay for the timing work to be done.

 

[Hillbilly77]

It's more than that. After the hammer is cocked, fast or slow, you can then rotate the cylinder until it falls into the notch. I have owned many S&W revolvers, and I have never seen one do that. Yeah, the Hogue's are rubber. Gun look nice other than that. The crown looks like it's not as smooth as it should be, though. Still, I miss the 686 I once had. If it's still there in 2 weeks, maybe I'll offer $450. If he doesn't drop it $50, it's not gonna happen. I might have to pay for the timing work to be done.

It sounds to me like you are trying to talk yourself into buying a gun that is not what you want it to be, just because you miss the one you used to have. If the timing is off and you don't like the looks of the crown, I think I'd walk away and not give the gun another thought. As far as "looking nice", anybody with some polish can make a stainless gun shiny and look nice.
You could buy a very nice 686 for probably less money than you'd have to sink into that one (on top of the purchase price) to make it right.
It sounds like a loser to me.
Just my opinion.

 

[kbm6893]

It sounds to me like you are trying to talk yourself into buying a gun that is not what you want it to be, just because you miss the one you used to have. If the timing is off and you don't like the looks of the crown, I think I'd walk away and not give the gun another thought. As far as "looking nice", anybody with some polish can make a stainless gun shiny and look nice.
You could buy a very nice 686 for probably less money than you'd have to sink into that one (on top of the purchase price) to make it right.
It sounds like a loser to me.
Just my opinion.

I agree. I was drawn to the "no dash" aspect of it, plus that is was a local sale, so whatever I would MAYBE sink into it for the timing would be less than shipping and transfer ($70). Gun has never been polished, I can see that. Plus, I think S&W would probably re-time it for free while doing the M modification.

 

[k22fan]

I'd like to hear S&W's answer to whether they will charge for a tune up done at the same time as the recall work. My guess is the answer might depend on who you speak to, telling them how you love all your other S&Ws, how sweet the conversation runs, etc., but since you like the look of this 686, why not call S&W and ask what they'll do for you?

 

[SweetMK]

I am not there to look at it, but, could possibly the gun just be dirty, stopping the cylinder from locking up?

I have passed on guns that will not lock up on slow cocking, but have never seen one that the inertia does not lock it up.

The inertia could be hindered by friction, or other dirt, rather than timing!!

 

[Hillbilly77]

Plus, I think S&W would probably re-time it for free while doing the M modification.

I sent my 586 no-dash in for the M-stamp & at the same time, it had a broken hammer stud.
The M-stamp was free, but they charged me to replace the hammer stud. I'd be curious to see what they told you.

 

[kbm6893]

I am not there to look at it, but, could possibly the gun just be dirty, stopping the cylinder from locking up?

I have passed on guns that will not lock up on slow cocking, but have never seen one that the inertia does not lock it up.

The inertia could be hindered by friction, or other dirt, rather than timing!!

It is dirty, but not filthy.

 

[smith 629]

I'm new to the forum.
Can someone tell me what the no dash aspect is?
I think it is a gun that doesn't have the dash in the model number like. 629-3.
But is there a certain significance to the no dash that is a plus or minus to owning?
Thanks

 

[Hillbilly77]

I'm new to the forum.
Can someone tell me what the no dash aspect is?
I think it is a gun that doesn't have the dash in the model number like. 629-3.
But is there a certain significance to the no dash that is a plus or minus to owning?
Thanks

First, welcome to the Forum.

The no-dash just means the original production model.
The dash-numbers indicate a change or revision in design.
In this case, model started out as a 686. After a few years of production, Smith & Wesson changed a something about the gun, so the revised gun was a 686-1, and so forth until the current -6 model.

 

[Dave T]

In an earlier post I sort of took the OP to task for worrying about the timing and paint on what I thought was a "696". OOPS! When I visited this thread again this AM I realized he had been talking about a 686, not a 696.

I retract my previous comments. Mis-reading the numbers made me look like a goof-ball. An obvious case of, if the goof-ball fits wear it. (smile)

Dave