A Collection of 686's

[s3dcor]

Got my first 686 in 1982 and thought they were the best S&W's ever made. Picked up a few more over the years but was always missing a 5" until last week when I picked up one from PSA. So I now have all the barrel lengths from 2 1/2" to 8 3/8", one 3" custom a 6" factory ported and a few more.

Hope you enjoy my good fortune.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

The L Frame 686 is the greatest thing S&W has done since 1981. I got my first then and it was a three month Waiting List because every cop wanted one.

My current favorite and I shoot it monthly is my four inch 686-6 Plus, the seven shooter.

 

[Dino44]

Very nice group. I hope you someday are able to find one or both of the CS-1s and a Mountain gun too.

 

[WCCPHD]

Two that you need to round out the collection.

686-3 with "Black Magic" finish.


CS-1

 

[WPSmiths]

The L frame is the cat’s pajamas for me. Unfortunately it’s also the one I’ve had to sell the most of because I had so many and life got in the way. I even still long for the beat to death 586 with very little finish left on it that was from (according to CDNN) some type of tribal police agency. Looked like a nightmare, shot like a dream.
Currently left with only my 686+ that is never going anywhere ever-it was the first gun I bought when I got to be manager of a little gun shop in the ‘burbs of Chicago.

 

[hkcavalier]

There was one of those rare 686-5 Plus 5" Hi Viz models up on auction this week. Not many pre-IL 686 5" guns out there, much less 7 shooters. Was pretty tempted until it went north of $1000 and kept going. I didn't look at the winning bid, but with buyer's premium it was probably over $1500.

My 686-4 Plus 6" will have to be enough.

 

[biku324]

Love the 686! Here's mine...

Before

After

 

[ladder13]

How about some with FS?


581



Cut down 681 7 shot



NYSP 681

 

[EricR]

Congratulations on an amazing collection. I too thought it was the best S&W 357 I could buy at the time. Bought my one and only in 1991. Still have the receipt.

 

[Greyman50]

Whats the consensus on the firing pin mod/ improvement? Those with the “ M” stamp in the yoke.

 

[stmry]

Bravo on a Great collection of 686’s.

 

[Claymore33]

686 in stainless was the favorite revolver of NAVY SEALS during 1980s and ‘90s

 

[Shark Bait]

There was one of those rare 686-5 Plus 5" Hi Viz models up on auction this week. Not many pre-IL 686 5" guns out there, much less 7 shooters. Was pretty tempted until it went north of $1000 and kept going. I didn't look at the winning bid, but with buyer's premium it was probably over $1500.

Weren't the 5 inch guns with the HiViz front sight a -6 stocking dealer exclusive with the half lug (164284)? There was an earlier 5 inch 7 shot (104098), but pics I have seen show a full underlug and no HiViz front sight. The SCSW4 shows 104098 did have the HiViz front sight though.

 

[Dino44]

This 686-5, 5 inches sold at a local auction house this past Friday for $900 hammer price. That does not include a minimum 18% buyer's premium for cash, sales tax, shipping, or transfer fee if purchaser was out of state.

 

[Sevens]

Whats the consensus on the firing pin mod/ improvement? Those with the “ M” stamp in the yoke.

It’s still a decision I think. One one hand, you will have the crowd who claims that their one gun over decades never exhibited a problem so to them, it was overblown and overhyped and they just don’t care. The other group would note that if your gun DOES happen to lock up, it’s a pretty ugly situation and there’s a fine chance you won’t even be able to open the cylinder, which could be a genuine pickle for you, especially if the revolver is still loaded.

I have maybe jumped sides myself. I had always been in the camp of “absolutely, send it in!” and I still feel that way — the problem is that I kind of hate what S&W does these days and I don’t particularly trust them with much. The optimist in me believes this is a temporary situation, and S&W will rebound and return to glory. I believe the designs and engineering is fantastic across the board, but the crew assembling things is an embarrassment to the brand.

 

[cd228]

You have very good taste.

A 686-3 4" has been my most trusted revolver companion since the early 2000s

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Quite some years ago I chanced upon a 2.5" 686+ for $350. I carried it afield more than a few times. Then Heritage Action had a 4" 686+ so I went for it. I've carried it afield a few times, too. Then someone on this Forum was selling a 3" 686+ so I had to have it. It became my nightstand gun.

So hard to control myself sometimes.....

 

[Papabear1324]

s3dec.......I do not see a 686 silhouette model in the group. (adjustable front sights). I have a 686-2 that shoots like a dream, great trigger and extremely accurate. Your collection is not complete yet.

 

[jrc1]

My 686 family


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Baxter6551]

Having carried K frames on the Police Dept, I’m late to the L frame game - but have managed to acquire two 686-4s in the last couple of years.
First was a 2.5 inch that had been “bubbed” with hammer spur removed and the trigger thinned to the point of being uncomfortable. I obtained replacements and my gunsmith reworked it like the factory “combat revolver package”. The 4 inch was perfect as is. I sure didn’t know what I was missing. Kicking myself for passing up a 581 and a 681 in years past.