Model 686 CS 1 4"

[Dino44]

Yesterday, I was in an unfamiliar town for a medical appointment. As I drove back towards the interstate highway, I stumbled upon a local gun shop. Being that the open sign was posted, I had to stop in for a look. Ended up find this, for a reasonable price and brought it home!

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Really cool to see a US Customs and Immigration Services 686, great find! The fact that it is a round butt makes it even more interesting to me.

 

[scott1970]

Good score. They're great performing guns.

 

[SAFireman]

Really cool to see a US Customs and Immigration Services 686, great find! The fact that it is a round butt makes it even more interesting to me.

All of the CS-1 guns are round butt. That's the way that they were ordered by US Customs Service.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

All of the CS-1 guns are round butt. That's the way that they were ordered by US Customs Service.

What I meant was that seeing a 686 in round butt was cool. I worded it clumsily.

 

[CHARLIE699]

The CS-1's were made to U.S.Customs & Border Patrol specs in 1988. That was two years BEFORE S&W cataloged the 686 in 2.5" round butt. Were other round butt "L" frames made prior to 1990?
I am blessed with two 4" CS-1's. Still l@@king for that 3"!

 

[BabaBlueJay]

The CS-1's were made to U.S.Customs & Border Patrol specs in 1988. That was two years BEFORE S&W cataloged the 686 in 2.5" round butt. Were other round butt "L" frames made prior to 1990?
I am blessed with two 4" CS-1's. Still l@@king for that 3"!

I was born in 1988 I was hoping my 686-1 square butt was a birth year gun, alas it was April 8, 1987 inside the stocks. I am never selling that gun though, too many rounds through it and I trust it too much to part with it for a 1988 version. I will admit the CS-1´s are one of my favorite variations of 686. I noticed the M stamp on your CS-1 meaning like mine it was modified (usually to update it to -2 with new hammer nose and bushing)

My favorite thing about the early 686 dashes is the hard chrome hammer/trigger that are forged instead of MIM. I know MIM parts are fine, but there is something cool about forged steel to me.

 

[Dino44]

I would like to get the Pachmayr, Compact Grips that shipped with this model. Should I be looking for open or closed back strap type grips?

 

[SAFireman]

I would like to get the Pachmayr, Compact Grips that shipped with this model. Should I be looking for open or closed back strap type grips?

The back strap is closed on all that I have seen (and are bonafide CS guns)

There is a window cut so that you can read the serial number on the butt without removing the grips.

 

[Baxter6551]

Dino - what a great score. I don’t suppose you would share the “good price” to make us all more jealous than we already are ?

 

[Dino44]

Dino - what a great score. I don’t suppose you would share the “good price” to make us all more jealous than we already are ?

I don't mind at all, while I certainly didn't steal it. I felt the price offered was reasonable at $799.99, considering its condition and rarity. I did not try to negotiate, so total with CT sales tax, was $850.79 OTD.

 

[Dino44]

The back strap is closed on all that I have seen (and are bonafide CS guns)

There is a window cut so that you can read the serial number on the butt without removing the grips.

Thank you for the education, kind Sir.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I’ve seen about a Dozen + of these guns new in the box.
They all had ugly Magnas including mine.

 

[Baxter6551]

Dino. Good price. CT sales tax ? Connecticut ??

 

[Dino44]

Dino. Good price. CT sales tax ? Connecticut ??

Yes Sir, Connecticut.

 

[Glashaus]

Very nice! I stumbled into my 3" 686 CS-1 when I wasn't looking for one either, nobody else was either in the late 90's

 

[CH4]

Very nice, OP. I would love a 3” to go with my brace of 696s.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I all of a sudden started hearing and reading about them years ago and then stumbled on not one but two of the 3"er's within a short time at Colorado gun shows. I think they were overruns because both had mangas and not the pac's on them. I sold one and kept the other.

 

[Dino44]

I all of a sudden started hearing and reading about them years ago and then stumbled on not one but two of the 3"er's within a short time at Colorado gun shows. I think they were overruns because both had mangas and not the pac's on them. I sold one and kept the other.

Lucky man, I only came across one CS-1 3" in Washington state. That was before Covid-19 struck the nation. It was "Rode hard and put away wet" it was also really overpriced, for the time period at, $1700.00. I used to attend 2 to 3 gun shows per month and I have been to every gun shop and most pawn shops in a 200-mile radius of Seattle, WA. Over a twelve-year time, frame.

 

[Glashaus]

Lucky man, I only came across one CS-1 3" in Washington state. That was before Covid-19 struck the nation. It was "Rode hard and put away wet" it was also really overpriced, for the time period at, $1700.00. I used to attend 2 to 3 gun shows per month and I have been to every gun shop and most pawn shops in a 200-mile radius of Seattle, WA. Over a twelve-year time, frame.

I found my 3" CS-1 in my favorite Gun shop that was owned and ran by a long and good friend of mine. This was in the very late 1990's. It was about 70 miles West of DC and he had a lot of retired Fed's as customers. I walked in one afternoon and he had just gotten in two CS-1's from a retired agent, a 3" and a 4". The 4" was in better shape and priced a little higher. I thought that the 3" looked pretty cool and bought it on the spot for $299. Took it home and did a little research, the next day I went back for the 4" and it was gone, but I did pick up the Galco Miami Vice Classic holster that the agent left with the CS-1's. It has been a favorite S&W for me for many years.

 

[Dino44]

Glashaus, Thank, you for relaying your experience. It certainly does pay dividends, being friends with a gun shop owner. Also being at "the right place at the right time" really helps too. Fortunately, I have experienced the benefit of such a relationship, but not to the same degree. I served in the military from 1983 to 2003. In the 1990's I didn't have the disposable income to enjoy firearms ownership. I envy you gentlemen that purchased firearms at the prices they were decades ago.

 

[Dino44]

I sent off for a S&WHF Letter of Authenticity on 11/19/2023. It arrived today. It turns out that, my revolver #AYF2545 was not one that shipped to the US Custom Service. It shipped on January 27, 1988, to Lew Horton Distributors as seen in the above photos, with checkered Goncalo Alves grip panels.

 

[Masterbuck54]

Thanks for sharing

Dino thanks for the update.

I’ve got a 4” that I purchased years ago.

I’ll have to get it out and see what serial range it is.

What post are you referring to as to the grips (checkered GA) it shipped with?

Masterbuck54

 

[Bruceboy]

I lucked out and picked up a 3" round butt at auction up here in the great white north. Just found a set of factory round butt targets. Looks and shoots great.

Enjoy yours.

Al

 

[Dino44]

Dino thanks for the update.

I’ve got a 4” that I purchased years ago.

I’ll have to get it out and see what serial range it is.

What post are you referring to as to the grips (checkered GA) it shipped with?

Masterbuck54

The historian stated in the letter, that the gun shipped with checkered GA stocks. I assumed that is the grip panels on the gun. No previous post.

 

[BAM-BAM]

The CS-1's were made to U.S.Customs & Border Patrol specs in 1988. That was two years BEFORE S&W cataloged the 686 in 2.5" round butt. Were other round butt "L" frames made prior to 1990?
I am blessed with two 4" CS-1's. Still l@@king for that 3"!

I had a 686 no dash round butted in 1985..action tuned... used the same Pachmayr grips! Was and is my favorite L-frame. the following year built a " companion/trainer" round butt 4" 617

 

[Luke Duke]

Gaurenntee it is a better gun than paying the same price for a new Smith! You did well. That's a great gun.

 

[10mmauto]

Just thought I'd chime in. I retired from DHS in 2011. I started with the US Customs Service in 1980. While it might not seem significant to most of you, to those of us who were involved, it is. The US Custom Service is not the same as the US Immigration (and Naturalization) Service which is not the same as the US Border Patrol - none of which are the same as the Department of Homeland Security. I know - it is confusing. Blame George Bush. I like George Bush - but there was no need to combine all those existing agencies into one huge, bloated bureaucracy - but I digress. I was a firearms instructor with the US Customs Service when the CS-1 was issued. The CS-1 (CS meaning Customs Service) had NOTHING to do with the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (USINS) or the Border Patrol (USBP). It was issued ONLY to the Customs Service. I mention this only because I see people displaying their guns with patches from the Border Patrol and Immigration. This is incorrect. The guns were issued ONLY to Customs personnel - Agents and Inspectors. Agents (investigators - non-uniformed, detective-type personnel) were issued the 3" versions and inspectors (the uniformed personnel who worked at the Ports-of-Entry) were issued the 4" versions. I could go on, but it is Christmas night and I'm tired. Happy holidays everyone.

 

[Shutthefrontdoor]

Fwiw, i recall (it’s been awhile) but that the grips were special in the sense that they were earlier models without the Houge logo. Customs got the earlier non-medallion open-slit bottom gripper grips. Overrun and return/for resale guns got the magna’s.

Unmarked Houge’s are very hard to find and now going on 40 years in use.

Please someone chime in. I’m a big fan and own several including a 4” LNIB.

 

[wheelyfun66]

"I stumbled upon a local gun shop"....
Ha, I'm divorced from doing that too frequently!