Any 4" 686-4 roundbutts made?

[.357magger]

Standard Catalog does not list either way. Am aware that this is the last pre MIM model, last grooved backstrap model, etc. But...was the gripframe square or round?

Reason I'm asking is I walked into a rather nice -4 at a local pawnshop, plunked down the lay a way start after a rather close inspection of timing, bore, trigger pull, etc. But this model shipped with Hogue rubbers and I didn't have the time to pull the grips.

So all you "Wheel-canthropes" out there, what say you?

And yes, I'll put up free gun porn when I pic it up.

 

[wproct]

My 686-4 4" has round butt frame and came with rubber stocks which I have changed out for Hogue wood grips.

 

[.357magger]

Grooved backstrap though, correct?

 

[wproct]

Yep, grooved backstrap. I love mine, great revolver!

 

[SS57]

Yep, what he said. Got one. Love it.

 

[AveragEd]

I think ALL 686-4s had round butts; at least, every 4" gun I've seen did. You can tell just by looking at the backstrap. If it is exposed the whole way down, the gun has a square butt. If it curves into the grip, it is a round butt.

Ed

 

[Stevie]

My 686-4 is a 'square-butt'...they made both styles of frames and apparently the square butts are in the minority..

 

[.357magger]

Thanks to all the responses.

Stevie, I THOUGHT there were a smattering of squares and glad to see my memory was correct. Again, Standard Catalog doesn't get even close on this type of description. Don't know if this is any indication but serial starts with CAY if that helps anyone in the same date range to holler back.

Will have to make the time to go over on next payment with S&W screwdriver in hand.

Sorry, "rubbermaid's" have GOT to go. If it ain't wood, it ain't no good.

 

[grip frame]

I have an early 686-4 six inch, square butt.

 

[wproct]

Also, don't some of the 686-4 revolvers have the newer style sloped cylinder release latch button while others have the older squared style button? Mine has the older style.

 

[.357magger]

Yes, I've seen both releases. Like many times at Smith, it depends on where in the "dash" run they are on assembly and what was in the bin at that particular bench in the assembly cycle.

The one I'm getting has the smaller release but I'll be changing it back to the larger. Just prefer that one frankly.

 

[oysterhead]

My dash 4 plus has round butt and sloped release.

The plus models were the latest runs of the dash 4. (96-97)

I love the rubber grips.

 

[hkcavalier]

I too have a -4 Plus with a round butt. Just ordered Ahrends tactical finger grooves (the round to square conversion model) as I don't care much for the rubber.

 

[F224]

I too have a -4 Plus with a round butt. Just ordered Ahrends tactical finger grooves (the round to square conversion model) as I don't care much for the rubber.

I also have the -4 plus, nice gun.