Mod 686 no dash age and value?

[BoilermakerJoe]

Hey guys I recently won a Mod 686/ 6” .357mag in a gun raffle and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the age and possible value of it. I know it’s a Mod 686 with no dash and the serial number is ADB8***, it’s clean and appears to be well kept. Thanks!

 

[armorer951]

Welcome,

Dates to mid-1983 according to the S&W Catalog.

No idea concerning value. (check Gunbroker for similar revolver and barrel lengths) Condition is key, as always.

 

[Pef]

Hey guys I recently won a Mod 686/ 6” .357mag in a gun raffle and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the age and possible value of it. I know it’s a Mod 686 with no dash and the serial number is ADB8***, it’s clean and appears to be well kept. Thanks!
View attachment 597394

1983-ish. Someone will chime in with a more accurate dating, I'm sure.

Value depends in large part on location. Here in GA, people are asking around 1k on gun boards for no-dashes, but they tend to sit for a long time.

Do you have box and dox? And is that front post original or after market?

I'd dangle about $800 - $850 on a local forum for a face to face sale. But I'm the type of guy that doesn't dicker, and my prices on local forums are "firm."

The issue with 686's is that there are so many made. The original no dashes are usually for people that don't want "shooters" but want "firsts," provided the gun is in very good condition. So the box, dox, and no mods all help in the price. The more original the overall package, the more you can ask and get bites.

Or, you can throw it out on Gunbroker, come up with a factually true description with truthful but skillfully crafted embellishments, ask a high price, and maybe a few will go crazy for it. That happens every once in a while....

 

[BoilermakerJoe]

Thank you for the quick responses! No I do not have a box or any documentation for this one and I’m not sure about the front sight. Nothing appears to be modded but I’m by no means a S&W expert. I own a few .357 mags and I just won this one in a raffle at work, trying to decide if I want to hang in to it or let it go to fund something else.

 

[c good]

The 686 "no dash" models were the subject of a factory recall. Some firing pin bushings were such that they allowed primer bulge or a pierced primer to flow back in around the firing pin and lock up the revolver.

I'm not sure how many actually experienced the problem, and I suspect it was with very high pressure rounds, but S&W did and possibly (?) still does offer to have it retro fit with a new firing pin bushing and firing pin spring.

If there is an overstamped "M" on the frame next to the serial number is has had the repair. If not, unless you're planning on using it for self defense, or running high pressure ammo, I'm not sure if I would worry about it. HTH.....

 

[MattLarmore]

Thank you for the quick responses! No I do not have a box or any documentation for this one and I’m not sure about the front sight. Nothing appears to be modded but I’m by no means a S&W expert. I own a few .357 mags and I just won this one in a raffle at work, trying to decide if I want to hang in to it or let it go to fund something else.

Sounds like a subjective choice you have. If you don't really care for shooting revolvers you might as well sell it, sounds like the no dash ones are the pricier ones anyway.

HOWEVER, I LOVE shooting my 686-6. Being able to plink with .38 saves a little on the wallet as well

 

[AveragEd]

Some early 686s had the Patridge front sight yours appears to have. I've owned two like that but sold them to offers too tempting to refuse. It's the best possible sight for bullseye target shooting.

Ed

 

[jeeps]

$800ish nib

 

[CH4]

Based on what I see in Vegas and Reno, I’d estimate a 6” no dash with factory target grips would go for $650+; a 4” $750+ and 2.5” with factory combats $1000+. However, the market is a little soft at the moment so the 4 and 6 inchers may be found for less, but the snubbies are holding their values a little better.

 

[AC Man]

I was slow to the keyboard last Sunday bidding on a as new 686 6" on Gunbroker. It sold for $900 something I believe. I put in a bid but missed it by that much.

 

[oink]

Keep it. I've always been very fond of mine. It's about the same age and has the same patridge sight. I carried it on duty some but it was mainly an understudy to my 629 6". I did loan it out to a new deputy that needed a gun for about a year. It was his duty gun for the duration. Come to think of it I loaned my old 686 4" out to another deputy in need for at least a year. I finally had to go chase that one down. Both the 4" and 6" are keepers.