686 no dash

[scooterfiend]

I'm looking on a local sight that's listed a supposed 686 no dash for sale.
Did a no dash ever come from the factory with the slanted (don't know how else to describe it) thumb piece?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Retired W4]

Not sure, but my 581 ND, which came out at the same time (1980) has the standard thumb piece (not slanted).

 

[Toolguy]

They didn't have the slanted thumblatch until later. I think it was around the time of MIM parts. The old and new kinds are interchangeable.

 

[scooterfiend]

Thanks

I just needed confirmation. I have a no dash 681 w a standard thumb piece so I thought I had the right answer.
I'm old enough to realize that when I have a good idea, it's another good idea to check with someone else.
Thanks for the folks on this forum!!

 

[T44spl]

I have a 686 with 8 3/8" barrel bought new when they first came out. My gun has the old style traditional thumb latch release Not the slanted or angled release which I believe came along much later. I am the original owner of this gun and that is the configuration when I bought it.
If the gun is priced right that's something easily changed. You might want to ask the owner if he has the original thumb piece if he's the one that did change it.

 

[H Richard]

My 686 no dash shipped June 82.

 

[sophie]

I notice H Richard’s gun is from June of 1982 also.
Pretty cool.
Here’s another Model 686 - no dash from June of 1982. Actually the grip panel is stamped on the inside June 22, 1982. It’s complete with the box and goodies. June 22nd is my birthday, but certainly not 1982. It has not been back to S&W for the modification. I bought it as new many years ago and it has not been shot.
The thumb piece on these 2 guns look the same.

 

[chief38]

The M586 & M686 no dash came with the traditional thumb latch, not the slanted version which came out later. That said, if you want to get one and pop it on, it will fit.

 

[scooterfiend]

Thanks

Thanks again to all who responded.
The individual that has this isn't the original owner, doesn't have the original thumb piece and didn't seem to know why I even mentioned it.
Trying to communicate by text is not communication to me.
I'm still considering buy it but he wants more for it than I want to spend.
I knew the fix would be inexpensive and I could make the change but.....
Dang, it sure appears in nice condition, but then I wonder what other kind of "improvements" might have been made to it.
??"slicked up action done buy by professional gunsmith".??
My words not the owners.
Thanks again for the help.

 

[CH4]

The new style thumb piece didn't arrive until about '97. I believe it's the first MIM part to be used on S&W revolvers. The no dash came with the traditional thumb piece. I often swap them back and forth between guns.

 

[Borderboss]

I would be wondering why it was necessary to replace the original cylinder opening thumb piece with a new one. That's not exactly the kind of part that gets "upgraded" or "customized" from one factory part to another. What else got broken?

 

[Dvus]

Are you sure it's not a 686-6 and the -6 was not applied when the gun was manufactured? I've seen a couple of Smiths where the model number was stamped so far to the right that the dash number didn't make it, or only partially made it on to the frame.
OR, most likely, the original thumbpiece fell off during a range trip and this was what was sent to replace it.

It would be best to verify the date of manufacture by serial prefix in any case.

 

[AveragEd]

I have several 686s and all but one -4 have the old style thumbpiece. I believe the slanted thumbpiece was a -5 change when MIM parts became standard but obviously some late -4s got them.

Ed