Custom 686-1

[s3dcor]

I found this custom 686-1 at a pawn shop last week and decided I just had to have it. Some previous owner put a lot of money into this. It is not marked as to who did the work. It is a 3" by itself a hard to find model. It is Magna Ported, has two ball detents on the yoke and a very nice smooth trigger job. I paid $525 OTD. It looks good next to one of my other 686's.

The serial number range is BAN11XX which makes it about 1988.

Does the work on this 686 look familiar to anyone?

 

[WC145]

Well, the porting looks like Mag-na-port's work, they may well have done the ball detents and the action as well. I'm really surprised to see twin ball detents, one is usually plenty, even when the ejection rod "lock" (the proper name escapes me at the moment) in the barrel lug isn't there. Obviously someone was very concerned with the crane/cylinder locking in tight! Regardless it's a fine looking gun, 3" versions are always a prize, let us know how it shoots.

 

[onemanwolfpack]

You did good at $525...range report would seal the deal.

 

[bronco45]

Anytime you want to get rid of that ole 3" shoot me a PM.

 

[10mmauto]

Any chance that was a CS-1 somebody modded?

 

[rwsmith]

It's hard to buy...

It's hard to buy a plain one in good shape at the price and customization doesn't sound like anything that would degrade the value (except I don't like magna porting) so it looks like you 'done real good'. At that price I would say you did real DURN good.

 

[Allen-frame]

Aha ,,, I see you took my advice .....



I have a 3'' 686-1. sometime in the last 29 years someone
spun off the 2.5'' barrel and installed a 3'' .probably a CS1 barrel.

As to the one you saw if the porting was clean and crisp
it was probably Mag-Na-Port. about $120. if you have it done.

"Ball detents and such is anyones guess.
If it was in excellent mechanical condition $550.
would be a deal with all the features you list."

Purists and collectors would turn their noses up to it,
but I bet as a shooter it is a smoker."

Go tomorrow and make your best deal, OR lay it away. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Good luck,

Allen "

 

[koz5614]

Never saw two ball detents on a crane before. Thanks for posting a pic of it.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

BAN11XX which makes it about 1988.

Not to split hairs, but I'd put it in Febuary of 1989.

That front sight is custom too, or, as someone said, it's a CS-1 barrel. The -1 had a stainless ramp with red insert that was integral to the barrel.

 

[BobR1]

You did very well. A 3 Inch 686 SIX Shooter is very desirable.
I have not ran across a Double Ball Loc so far.
My 3 Inch 66-2 has a Ball Loc using a round end Pin instead of a ball. I had never seen that before either.

Bob R

 

[s3dcor]

Thanks for your replies and interest.

Well wc145 made a good guess and I did some more research so I may have answered my own questions. The post below shows another member who had Magnaport do the work on his gun and it looks like a match.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/197149-magnaport-mountain-revolver.html

A check of Magnaport's home page shows a current price of $99.50 for the ports, $55 for the double detent and $99 for an action job. I can also confirm that the barrel is not a cut down as the end of the barrel looks exactly like my 2 1/2" and another 6" that I have. I don't know what to make of the front sight, it may have also been changed. As I said before, someone spent a lot of money for little gain but better for me.

 

[WC145]

Yes, I am the man.

I've had a couple of different mag-na-port customs and can vouch that their work is top notch and their action jobs are second to none. Also, the ports actually do work, I had a Mag-na-ported 3" M29 and the ports made a substantial difference in felt recoil and muzzle rise.

If you check with Mag-na-port they may be able to look it up by serial number if they did the work and give you more info. I don't know what kind of records they maintain on customer supplied guns but they were able to give me info on a series of custom Bulldogs they built back in the late 70s when I picked one up a few years ago.