Evidently my 686 is "rare"

[S&W Fan]

**FYI my dad paid $268.18 out the door for this 686**

Met a friend for lunch yesterday, he brought along a guy he knows. Seemed nice enough, we got to talking guns and I brought up my no dash 686 I inherited when my dad passed in 1992. Dad bought it new in Sept. 1981, has a prefix of "AAB" as well as the "M" stamp when he sent it back.

I have the original 2 piece box, all tools, papers and even his receipt-yes, I've posted about this wonderful shooter before. Dad had it bead blasted and an action job performed on it and I used it to teach both my sons how to shoot a handgun (when they were young, now 34 & 30 respectively lol).

Anyway, this nice guy said that it's a first year production gun and with the 2 piece box it's very rare and I shouldn't shoot it anymore, also that it's too bad my dad had it bead blasted.

I mentioned that Dad carried it almost everyday until his health deteriorated, shot the hell out of it as have I though the past few years it's been about 98% .38s as I just don't enjoy the recoil of magnums. As the gun will not leave the family for at least two generations down the road what makes it "rare" to me is that it was my dad's.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I can't attest to it's rarity (or not) but just from what you've posted here, I will say that something with that much family history SHOULD NOT be put away to become a safe queen. Enjoy it to the fullest. When your done, pass it down to your kids and/or grand kids. That is where the real value is.

 

[hkcavalier]

Doesn't sound rare at all. Shoot it and enjoy it.

I know of quite a few guys my age (40s) and younger who shoot the heck out of their plastic guns and the revolvers, even newer ones, end up as safe queens. Fewer and fewer of these are "working guns" like in days past. So there are going to be plenty of nice 80s/90s S&Ws for decades to come.

 

[S&W Fan]

Yup, will go to my older son to share with his sons (they're 5yrs old and 18 months).

 

[robvious]

it is not new in the box, and hasn't been for a long time... the memories of your father and then your son's with the gun at the range are worth far more then any $$$ someone could offer you... shoot it and enjoy the time with your family...

 

[BAM-BAM]

Not rare.......first year production? most likely ........ but modified & bead blasted....... collectible ??.... maybe in 40 or 50 years

Today and tomorrow ........ a treasured family heirloom? YES

Value.........Priceless.


Per the SCS&W 4th Ed. page 322 some 686s in the AAAxxx range known AAA095- AAA0789 .....regular production started with AADxxx

 

[GerSan69]

Some folks get all caught up in that "rare" label, especially the ones trying to sell something for more than it's worth.

 

[Nick B]

Shoot it and enjoy it like dad would want .
The only thing rare about it is the cardboard box . Why ?
Because back then the first thing most of us did when we bought a new gun was throw the box away .

 

[okiegtrider]

Today and tomorrow ........ a treasured family heirloom? YES

Value.........Priceless.

There is the rarity and real value right there.

 

[S&W Fan]

Yes, decorum dictated I politely nodded my head while this gentleman continued to pontificate on those things his depth of knowledge was rather shallow.

My friend was good at eye-rolling just out of range of his friend lol.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Yup, will go to my older son to share with his sons (they're 5yrs old and 18 months).

Sounds like you need to hunt up a model 17/18 to get the tikes started soon. That way you can start your own legacy.

 

[JayFramer]

Sounds like you need to hunt up a model 17/18 to get the tikes started soon. That way you can start your own legacy.

Or just use light wadcutters.

 

[Det-Sog]

I will say that something with that much family history SHOULD NOT be put away to become a safe queen. Enjoy it to the fullest.

THAT. I can tell from the pictures that it has not been shot enough. I'd take that out once a month and shoot the you-know-what out of it. Your Dad will be smiling down on you every time that you do.

 

[S&W Fan]

Sounds like you need to hunt up a model 17/18 to get the tikes started soon. That way you can start your own legacy.

I did, a 1971 17-3 last August

1971 17-3 is mine! Added pic w/t-grip latest post

 

[S&W Fan]

THAT. I can tell from the pictures that it has not been shot enough.

Actually I just clean it really well after each range trip, at a minimum once a month I take it out.

 

[ABPOS]

Reminds me of the time I took my Garand hunting. One of the guys looked at me like I was a ninkompoop. I probably was. Am. LOL.

 

[Chukar60]

No ninkompoop

Reminds me of the time I took my Garand hunting. One of the guys looked at me like I was a ninkompoop. I probably was. Am. LOL.

When I was young I usually hunted deer with my older brother and his best friend. My brother had a thing for 24 and 25 caliber rifles in light weight configurations. His friend hunted with an old mil-surp enfield. The gun had not been modified including the sights. Weighed like a pallet of bricks, but I watched him kill a lot of deer with it and a couple shots that exceeded 200 yards.

I would not want to pack a Garand around the mountains, but would love to be able to brag about shooting an elk or deer with one!!!

 

[SLT223]

I hate it when people try to tell me what to do with my guns.

And no, it's not too bad your dad bead blasted his 686. It would have been a shame if he did anything other than what he wanted to with it. Sounds to me like he enjoyed it, and I bet he smiles when he looks down seeing his son and grandsons enjoy it.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Heck; my 4" 686 dash "nuttin"....... had an action job and was round butted in the 80s...... it's part of a set..... the other is a 4" 617 also with the action polished and round butted. Both wear custom Spegel Extended Boot Grips.



It's what I wanted at the time and I still have and use both.


But to some I guess they are now worthless..... to me they are the first revolvers I'd grab if I ever had to 'bug out"

 

[Engine49guy]

Your early 686 has the large right side TM, otherwise there is no real difference to the later made no dash guns.
BTW the change back to a small left side TM was supposedly done to accomodate comemorative sideplate engraving.