686 picture thread

[C/O]

Hi. I'm new to this site. I was looking for information for the S&W 686-3 I just inherited. I was told it was a Distinguished Combat Magnum. It came from my uncle who my mother said bought it 20-25 years ago. As the story goes, it hasn't been shot more than a handful of times. The gun store I took it to in Utah said that looks to be accurate. Problem is, I can't seem to find a lot of info about this gun. I'm new to the handgun arena, having owned a few rifles most of my life. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Distinguished Combat Magnum is what they called the 686 when it came out, atleast that is what I have been told (may have been all L Frames, not sure). If you search around here you will get all kinds of info on the 686.

I will say that mine is the most accurate handgun I have ever shot. It will be with me forever. Don't ever sell/trade it, you will regret it. I almost traded mine off a while back, glad I decided against it.

 

[C/O]

I just went through this entire thread again, and there sure are some beautiful guns here.

Just think, there are people out there who says our old revolvers are outdated relics.

 

[John wilson]

 

[DeadWhiteGoose]

Sorry, those other pictures sucked. Here's a better one. 686-6 + Pro Series

 

[C&R Bill]

Sorry, those other pictures sucked. Here's a better one. 686-6 + Pro Series

SWEET!! Is that the one that takes 8 round full moon clips??

How do you like that one??

 

[DeadWhiteGoose]

It actually takes 7 round moon clips but yes! It's a great gun, perfect for the range and self defense. Nice trigger pull right from the factory. The 7 round moon clips fit perfectly in a speedloader pouch too.

 

[one eye joe]

DWG, Does the Pro Series differ from a standard 686, other than being cut for moon clips and the slab barrel ? ? ?

 

[DeadWhiteGoose]

Well it does have a 5" bbl which is harder to find for a 686 and I'm under the impression it has a lighter trigger pull than the standard 686. It also has a patridge front sight as apposed to the standard red ramp sight.

 

[one eye joe]

YUP, the 5 inch is seldom seen, and the front sight is different. Does it come out in the same state of tune, trigger wise, as the Performance Center revolvers ? This is all very confusing to an ol' geezer like myself. I think I saw a thread asking what the diff is between the Pro Series and the PC revolvers. I'm gonna try to search it for some clues. I own just one current production revo--a 4 inch 617, PLUGGED with a Weigand rear sight and the standard Patridge front blade. This new stuff is all a mystery......

 

[DeadWhiteGoose]

Haha well I know that my DA pull is around 14lbs where I believe it's usually 16lbs. But then there's models like the 60 Pro Series that has a front night sight, wood grips but is not cut for moon clips and does not have a different trigger pull

 

[h8rsMadEf4mou5]

686-5 Plus, my current carry fave. At my feet at work as I type this as a matter of fact

Are those the Hogue Cocobolo grips? I have the same ones on my 3 in 686P..Yeah,that's right, I CC that big hunk of metal.....









BTW..I think we even have the same HKS speed-loaders lol. Also those are A-Zoom Revolver Snap Caps in the first picture.

 

[one eye joe]

How do you know it's a Lew Horton ? ? ? The Standard Catalog would hold that info. I lent mine out or I'd answer you..

 

[JohnAC]

Here's a 1984 Lew Horton 686 no dash. Anybody out there have any idea how many of these were made?

"approximately 2,500" according to the catalog. Very nice gun!

 

[one eye joe]

Thanks guys. I guess I should read more closely. I see where it says "approximately 2500 manufactured" after looking closer.

Joe: This one is serial AFAxxxx. Made in 1984. I never knew the 686 wasn't cataloged with the 2.5" barrel until 1990.

Interesting..........

 

[one eye joe]

I'm fairly sure that one you have is a Lew Horton. What's the serial prefix?

Best I can tell, all of the no dash 686's with the 2.5" barrel are Lew Horton guns.

Photoman, I have a no dash 2 1/2 ", serial # ALV95xx. A query on this forum disclosed a DOB of 1984. If this is a LH, what if anything makes it special ? ? ?

 

[kdailey]

I will add my 686-3.

 

[photoman]

Photoman, I have a no dash 2 1/2 ", serial # ALV95xx. A query on this forum disclosed a DOB of 1984. If this is a LH, what if anything makes it special ? ? ?

It's definitely a Lew Horton gun. Officially called the Model 686 Compact 1984 Limited Edition. Product code 104212. These were the only no dash, 2.5" barrel Model 686's built. They only made about 2500 of them and this was the first ever 2.5" Model 686 offered. The factory didn't list the 2.5" gun in the standard production catalog until 1990.

 

[-db-]

That bit in the book about the 2.5" barrel, Lew Horton models aside, not being introduced until 1990 is incorrect. Product code 104231 is a factory 2.5" model available in 1987. I have one of these, a -1, the serial AWT5XXX dating it to 1987.

one eye joe's gun, with a prefix ALV-, dates to '85-'86, according to the book. That would be later than a LH model.

From what I understand, the best way (serials alone aren't definitive) to determine a LH 686 2.5" is whether or not the gun has a white outline rear sight. The LHs had this while regular production models available shortly after did not.

 

[inspcalahan]

My 686 Mountain Gun from 1998.

 

[TAROMAN]

Not many of these pre-IL 3 inchers, from what I've been able to determine. They're not listed in SCSW, either:

 

[one eye joe]

That bit in the book about the 2.5" barrel, Lew Horton models aside, not being introduced until 1990 is incorrect. Product code 104231 is a factory 2.5" model available in 1987. I have one of these, a -1, the serial AWT5XXX dating it to 1987.

one eye joe's gun, with a prefix ALV-, dates to '85-'86, according to the book. That would be later than a LH model.

From what I understand, the best way (serials alone aren't definitive) to determine a LH 686 2.5" is whether or not the gun has a white outline rear sight. The LHs had this while regular production models available shortly after did not.

-db-, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ! ! ! Ol' one eye had a senior moment. When I posed the DOB question on this forum, Revolver King advised me that ALV- was of 1986 vintage. It DOES NOT have a white outline rear sight, so it is NOT an LH. I confused this snubby no dash with my 8 3/8" no dash which WAS manufactured in 1984............

 

[photoman]

That bit in the book about the 2.5" barrel, Lew Horton models aside, not being introduced until 1990 is incorrect. Product code 104231 is a factory 2.5" model available in 1987. I have one of these, a -1, the serial AWT5XXX dating it to 1987.

one eye joe's gun, with a prefix ALV-, dates to '85-'86, according to the book. That would be later than a LH model.

From what I understand, the best way (serials alone aren't definitive) to determine a LH 686 2.5" is whether or not the gun has a white outline rear sight. The LHs had this while regular production models available shortly after did not.

I was wondering about those other 2.5" product codes. Unfortunately, in a moment of idiocy, I threw away all of my old S&W catalogs a few years back so I can't check and confirm.

My gun dates to November 1984 and does ~not~ have the white outline rear sight blade. Unfortunately, my gun didn't come with the factory box.

Did all of the no dash 2.5" guns come with wood combat grips?

 

[photoman]

2.5" 686 Product Code FYI:

104212 1984 Lew Horton
104231 1987 to 2001
104192 1996 to 1998 seven shot
164192 2002 to current, internal lock, seven shot
164231 2002 to current, internal lock, six shot

686 (1980)
686-1 (1986)
686-2 (1987)
686-3 (1988)
686-4 (1993)
686-5 (1997)
686-6 (2001)

 

[-db-]

I was wondering about those other 2.5" product codes. Unfortunately, in a moment of idiocy, I threw away all of my old S&W catalogs a few years back so I can't check and confirm.

My gun dates to November 1984 and does ~not~ have the white outline rear sight blade. Unfortunately, my gun didn't come with the factory box.

Did all of the no dash 2.5" guns come with wood combat grips?

Every Lew Horton 2.5" 686 I've seen has had combats on it but I don't know if every one S&W made sold with them.

As for the white outline sight, I'd have to look again but I'm pretty sure the book specifies WO for the 1984 LH guns.

 

[photoman]

The book does list the white outline rear blade. Serial number AFB0195 was the sample for the book. My gun is AFAxxxx and does not have the white outline blade but does have the red ramp insert.

 

[southernpride]

Here is my 686-3 and my 586 no dash.

 

[one eye joe]

I was wondering about those other 2.5" product codes. Unfortunately, in a moment of idiocy, I threw away all of my old S&W catalogs a few years back so I can't check and confirm.

My gun dates to November 1984 and does ~not~ have the white outline rear sight blade. Unfortunately, my gun didn't come with the factory box.

Did all of the no dash 2.5" guns come with Combats ?

Mine did, Photoman. I love their tacticool appearance, but no brand of finger grooves have ever fit my hand. I sold the ones that came on my 686 (pictured below) and replaced them with Magna PC grips and a Tyler-T adapter. This works better for me. While the no dash was away for the M recall, I had S&W swap the cylinder for a 7 shot. IMHO, it's a great carry weapon now...
.

 

[photoman]

Mine did, Photoman. I love their tacticool appearance, but no brand of finger grooves have ever fit my hand. I sold the ones that came on my 686 (pictured below) and replaced them with Magna PC grips and a Tyler-T adapter. This works better for me. While the no dash was away for the M recall, I had S&W swap the cylinder for a 7 shot. It's a great carry weapon now...
.

Very nice. I put some magnas on mine for the time being. Didn't want to beat up the factory combats any worse than they already are. I think I have a Tyler around here that will fit a round butt K frame...

 

[one eye joe]

Thanks, Photoman.......

 

[Reddog]

6"

Here's my 686, no dash. It's with my grandson in Kennewick, WA, now!
Dick