686 Target Champion

[Thuer]

This is my daily revolver. It is no part of my collection but the revolver i do take to the range all of the time. It is a 686-4. Has the firingpin on the hammer. The former owner has removed the text target Champion from the right side of the frame. So that reduce the collector value. I do not care. It is a very great shooter. The grip is standard for this type and is a german made Nill grip. The best i do know.

 

[oink]

Looks like mine except for the grips. It's always been a good shooter. It's not a collectible either. I used it as a duty gun for awhile and I loaned it out for an extended time to a new deputy back when we had to supply our own. It's always a pleasure to shoot it with light paper punchers or exotic hot magnums. It tames recoil very well. A great gun for anyone's accumulation.

For that matter I loaned my original 4" 686 out to a detective for an extended time when he needed a gun. I don't recall for sure what happened to his but I think he traded for a semi-auto back when the semi-auto transition and qualification course was ridiculously hard because the guy in charge of that stuff didn't like semi-autos. The detective was unable to pass the qualification and had to revert to a wheel gun which he no longer had. I had to pry that one back away from him after about a year.

Obviously I've never attached any mystical status to what I always considered to be tools of the trade. Tools I've always had an affinity for but never as collector pieces. I guess I wouldn't qualify for the collectors association.

 

[357 shooter]

My bought new in 1994 686-4 six inch is easily my favorite of all my Smith revolvers. It has been quite an accurate revolver for me over the years. Also have a 686-4 plus with the 2.5" barrel.

I have never seen a -4 with the silver trigger/hammer. My has the case hardened finish on the hammer and trigger. The Nill grips are very nice!

Another -4 just arrived a few days ago but this one is a 586 four inch.

 

[Coaltminer]

I’d be upset. That would be a conversation revolver. Same revolver or not, unique in my mind