Bought a 686 3" CS-1. Got some questions.

[Jeroenw114]

Today I bought this little revolver. Not because it is a CS-1 but because it is 3", not bed blasted and pre MIM etc.

Bought online and will take some time before I have it home. Looks unused to me. The pictures are from the seller.

This 3" will be less nose heavy than my 4" 686.

I read some threads about the CS-1. Very interesting, tolerances are a bit tighter and quite some parts are a bit different?

Questions:
- Which parts are different?
- Does anyone have a good readable parts list? Got one from a member but it is not very readable.
- How many of these were not bed blasted?













Big brother 696

 

[CHARLIE699]

IIRC ( and I sometimes do not), these were built to spec for the U.S.Customs Service/ Border Patrol. They were the first 686's with round-butt and pinned black front sight. Made with 3" or 4" barrels & Satin/ frosted finish. Only the 2.5" 686's used a round-butt frame until the -4 revision.
Factory also sold overruns to their dealer network. Many of the issued CS revolvers were destroyed by Government but some made it into the used gun market via S&W and their distributors.
These are several great threads on the forum about these revolvers.
My 4"

 

[murphydog]

Good information above. The front sight width (for trivia buffs) is 1/10" instead of the then-standard 1/8".

 

[Marshal Tom]

I have one and used to have two at the same time. I had read about them years ago but had never seen one in the flesh. I ended up finding two within a short time of each other at gun shows here in CO. Both had Box, docs and the works with magnas, not the pacs. I sold one on the forum to offset the cost of keeping the other one. I suspect they were both overruns. I have never run into another one since. I love the 3" guns. I have a 3" 66-2 as well and would not part with either of them.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Nice looking, well balanced revolver. Enjoy.

 

[Lonestar57]

I don’t think any were produced intentionally without the bead blasted stainless finish. That’s one of the things that set them apart. With that finish they tend to show scratches and wear marks easily especially with heavy use, so more than likely someone polished it a bit either to blend some imperfections in or just didn’t like the matte finish look. As mentioned already the black pinned narrow front sight was another feature unique to the CS guns. The other specs were:
3” and 4” barrels
Round butt
Pachmayr grips with butt window. Here’s one I found a few years ago.

 

[bipe215]

US Customs Service 686 CS-1

Everything there is to know