Dash, no dash, what does it all mean?

[Redlegvzv]

I am relatively new to S&W firearms and this forum, but I am very interested in both. Could someone possibly explain what all the "dash" and "no dash" terminology means, i.e. 686-whatever, 686 no-dash, etc. Obviously these are model number differences, but can someone explain if it is not too much trouble?

 

[murphydog]

The first production of a given model undergoes some type of mechanical change, or sometimes a different barrel length or type is put on an existing model - this leads to the "dash number". These are meaningful for ID purposes, and also because some variations are known to be rare.

The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd edition explains all of these pretty well, at least up to 2005. Hope this is helpful.

 

[FlyFish]

They simply indicate engineering or design changes made over time to a particular model. There's no consistent meaning across models for each dash number - for example, when the internal lock was added to the Model 10 it changed from 10-13 to 10-14; the same change on the 686 took it from the -5 to the -6. The original version of any particular model is the "no dash" (I think there may have been one model that entered the market as the "-1"). The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (sometimes referred to here as SCSW) lists all of the "dash" changes for each model.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Specifically for the 686, you can reference this thread (where I asked the same exact question.) I'm new like you and just as curious. I purchased a SCSW just for my own education. It's become my go to for answers to these kind of questions.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/327883-what-look-when-buying-686-a.html

 

[Redlegvzv]

Great answers and great help fellows. Bugkiller, thanks for the reference.

 

[snubbiefan]

ND guns used to be preferred, but not necessarily so much anymore. Some of the engineering changes were good improvements. Take the 686 for example. The dash 4 is generally considered to be the best of the bunch retaining forged parts and tapped for scope mounts. Some of this stuff doesn't bother anybody, but I buy guns based on the dash number for that "particular" gun. I like the ones with the radius stud package, new yoke retention system and forged parts, but I stop short of MIM components and the ILS. Like mentioned above....a certain dash number does not mean the same thing in all models. You really need to get a detailed list of all the engineering changes associated with any particular gun you're buying and get the best one.....in your opinion.