You are right. I own 2 three inch CS-1's now. And owned 2 four inch CS-1's before.
They seem to shoot better than other 686's.
CS-1 Three inch
- Thread starter fighter62
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You are right. I own 2 three inch CS-1's now. And owned 2 four inch CS-1's before.
They seem to shoot better than other 686's.
SAFireman
Member
...now there you go....I was thinking about selling this one as it really doesn't fit with my 58,57, 657 collection (and the 10mm line...) I just bought it because I liked the 3" barrel (like my 66, 65, 657 and OACP)....if you find that thread from SmithNut, please post it...i would like to read all about the differences in the CS 1 line before I go and make a mistake.
Sorry SAFireman! 
I let a LNIB 3" 686 CS1 go for $850 a few years back due to sorry circumstances. I regretted it for years.
I just replaced it with another LNIB 3" 686 CS1 this past year. I won't repeat my mistake! This one is a keeper.
I have noticed, having shot two different examples of the 3" CS1 as well as numerous other 686 variants, that the 3" CS1's seem to have Performance Center triggers. Extemely smooth. No difference between triggers on my 3" CS1 and my pre lock 586 L-comp. Perhaps that accounts for how accurate they are.
I'd advise you to shoot that 3" 686 CS1. I'll wager you won't want to part with it after that. Regards 18DAI.
I let a LNIB 3" 686 CS1 go for $850 a few years back due to sorry circumstances. I regretted it for years.
I just replaced it with another LNIB 3" 686 CS1 this past year. I won't repeat my mistake! This one is a keeper.
I have noticed, having shot two different examples of the 3" CS1 as well as numerous other 686 variants, that the 3" CS1's seem to have Performance Center triggers. Extemely smooth. No difference between triggers on my 3" CS1 and my pre lock 586 L-comp. Perhaps that accounts for how accurate they are.
I'd advise you to shoot that 3" 686 CS1. I'll wager you won't want to part with it after that. Regards 18DAI.
SAFireman
Member
Sorry SAFireman!
I let a LNIB 3" 686 CS1 go for $850 a few years back due to sorry circumstances. I regretted it for years.
I just replaced it with another LNIB 3" 686 CS1 this past year. I won't repeat my mistake! This one is a keeper.
I have noticed, having shot two different examples of the 3" CS1 as well as numerous other 686 variants, that the 3" CS1's seem to have Performance Center triggers. Extemely smooth. No difference between triggers on my 3" CS1 and my pre lock 586 L-comp. Perhaps that accounts for how accurate they are.
I'd advise you to shoot that 3" 686 CS1. I'll wager you won't want to part with it after that. Regards 18DAI.
Wooo Hooo! range trip time!
I admit that the trigger on this one is far nicer than my 681 and my last 686, but I would bet that it will be even nicer after I pull the side plate off of it and clean/oil it....I know that none of the US Customs guys did that unless they were really into guns...
will have to give her a try
SAFireman
Member
I would bet that the 3" version is more sought after, regardless of which one had the higher production numbers. I haven't seen many of either and the Supica & Nahas book does not break down how many were made in each length....somebody here probably knows....
tocohillsguy
Member
The CS-1's are nice revolvers... Found this one almost exactly one year ago...
surfdog76
Member
Agreed.
Picked up this 4" off gunbroker a month ago for $449. The seller, an experienced FFL, had it listed as a No-Dash...
However the black front blade told me otherwise. When the seller confirmed it had a round butt, I was (almost)
too afraid to ask him to check the crane for the CS-1...
That's not the first time I've seen a mislabeled 4" CS-1 sold as a 686 'no dash' on gunbroker. I'm now searching for it's 3" brother.
WFR
Member
Did I mention how well it carries in a Lobo holster?
SAFireman
Member
Thanks for the link Jughed....I just read through that thread and was surprised (not terribly) that Janet Reno had ordered the destruction of 1500 of the 3500 that were made...I wonder what the breakdown is now? (3" vs 4" survivors)
I will have some free time later this week to hit the range with mine and see just how good she really is....range report will be posted as soon as I get back.
revho
Member
WFR that is a awesome pic.
this thread has now conviced me as well to be on the look out for a 3" and 4" CS-1.
Thanks everyone for the expanded knowledge this board and its members bring to each other.
this thread has now conviced me as well to be on the look out for a 3" and 4" CS-1.
Thanks everyone for the expanded knowledge this board and its members bring to each other.
Here is some information I found from various internet sites. None of this is confirmed through Smith&Wessen. 3,271 total production number. 700 were 3" barrels so 2,571 would have been 4". It sounds like most if not all of the guns that Janet Reno destroyed were 4" guns that the uniformed officers carried. If that is the case you are lookin at approximately 700 (3") guns and 1,071 (4") guns left.
revho
Member
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surfdog76
Member
Well, playing Devil's Advocate (since I own a CS-1)... Doesn't the CS-1 have the 'floating hand' installed?
Some claim that a 'regular hand' is superior to the 'floating hand' in a double-action trigger (the 'floating hand' was replaced in the 686 -3).
The CS-1 also doesn't have the -3's new yoke retention system, nor the -4's new extractor, or a drilled and tapped frame...
Don't know how important these other 'improvements' are, but threads like this one talk about replacing the 'floating hand': http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/150503-floating-hand.html
Could someone more knowledgeable than me please comment? TIA
thanks a lot for that info!!!
i lettered a CS-1, and it gives 3281 for a production #, but it did not break it down between barrel lengths.
i lucked onto this one a few months ago. the seller didn't realize what it was, and neither did i until after doing some research.
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My CS1 does NOT have the floating hand. I don't know wether my previous one did or not.
I'll still maintain that any CS1 is superior to any 686 produced after 1997. No MIM parts, no "innovations" on the 686 CS1.
I could not locate the posts that SmithNut made. From my own records I located a couple of CS1 tidbits that may be of some interest.
There were a total of 7860 CS1 686's made for the customs service. This includes 3" and 4" totals.
In addition there were 1600 3" and 1600 4" overun 686 CS1 sent from S&W directly to distributors.
2500 CS1 686's were released from the customs service and sold to the public through the sales exchange program, before Reno put the kabosh on that. The rest were destroyed. No breakdown as to how many of the 2500 were 3" or 4". If statistically half of those were 3", that means less than 3000 3" CS1's out there.
SmithNut did tell me that if my 3" CS1 had the "2M" stamp and the Pachmyar grips vice the factory Magnas, that was a pretty good indicator that it was used by the customs service rather than one of the 1600 overuns.
So, using numbers taken from those who know, or were there - there were approximately 3281 3" CS1's delivered to the customs service. These, plus the 1600 overuns gives you a total of 4881, again, if these numbers are reliable.
So, if every 3" CS1 produced survived - and we know they did not - you still have a pool of less than 5000 examples. Less than the 3" 66-2 run for Ashland Shooters Supply.
Given the history, the scarcity of the 3" CS-1, the superior construction and accuracy, I don't think $1000 for a 3" CS1 is out of line. Especially when you see the asking price of new, lesser revolvers. YMMV. Regards 18DAI.
I'll still maintain that any CS1 is superior to any 686 produced after 1997. No MIM parts, no "innovations" on the 686 CS1.
I could not locate the posts that SmithNut made. From my own records I located a couple of CS1 tidbits that may be of some interest.
There were a total of 7860 CS1 686's made for the customs service. This includes 3" and 4" totals.
In addition there were 1600 3" and 1600 4" overun 686 CS1 sent from S&W directly to distributors.
2500 CS1 686's were released from the customs service and sold to the public through the sales exchange program, before Reno put the kabosh on that. The rest were destroyed. No breakdown as to how many of the 2500 were 3" or 4". If statistically half of those were 3", that means less than 3000 3" CS1's out there.
SmithNut did tell me that if my 3" CS1 had the "2M" stamp and the Pachmyar grips vice the factory Magnas, that was a pretty good indicator that it was used by the customs service rather than one of the 1600 overuns.
So, using numbers taken from those who know, or were there - there were approximately 3281 3" CS1's delivered to the customs service. These, plus the 1600 overuns gives you a total of 4881, again, if these numbers are reliable.
So, if every 3" CS1 produced survived - and we know they did not - you still have a pool of less than 5000 examples. Less than the 3" 66-2 run for Ashland Shooters Supply.
Given the history, the scarcity of the 3" CS-1, the superior construction and accuracy, I don't think $1000 for a 3" CS1 is out of line. Especially when you see the asking price of new, lesser revolvers. YMMV. Regards 18DAI.
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