Model 69 with 686 marked frame
- Thread starter Red*stone
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There are more mis-marked models in the “yoke” area than most would think. No added or subtracted value.
StrawHat
Member
Heck, the factory was known to mis stamp barrel but use them anyway.
Yep, no added value unless you are trying to buy one. Then, the seller calls it “RARE”
Kevin
Yep, no added value unless you are trying to buy one. Then, the seller calls it “RARE”
Kevin
S&W was not and is not always good about getting the right model number stamped into their revolver frames. It could be that someone simply made a mistake when stamping the model number or that in order to fulfill an order for Model 69's, they ran low on available frames and used a frame already stamped as a Model 686 or someone mistakenly put a 686 frame into the production line of Model 69's. Regardless, there is no added value to such things as they are somewhat common among S&W revolvers.
Welcome to the Forum! As others have already stated, it appears that your revolver frame has been mis-marked by S&W and that the mis-marking doesn't really affect the gun's value one way or the other. However, that brings up an interesting question or two that I don't know the answers. Do L-frame revolvers use the same length cylinder for all calibers? I know that the .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum cartridges are almost exactly the same length, but are the corresponding cylinders the same size? Also, if they use the same length cylinders, would the OP's 5-shot Model 69 (.44 Magnum) use the exact same frame as a 6-shot Model 686 (.357 Magnum)? I'm just wondering how S&W would mix up those two models and mis-mark one of them.
Hawg Rider
Even if the cylinder lengths are different in a frame size, the frames window remains the same. What is changed is the length of the portion of barrel sticking though the frame. If the cylinder is longer the barrel shank is shorter and visa versa
When the I frame window was enlarged it became the J frame. The newer "Magnum" model J frames do have a slightly larger cylinder window than earlier J frames. But that never happened on any K, L or N frames
Even if the cylinder lengths are different in a frame size, the frames window remains the same. What is changed is the length of the portion of barrel sticking though the frame. If the cylinder is longer the barrel shank is shorter and visa versa
When the I frame window was enlarged it became the J frame. The newer "Magnum" model J frames do have a slightly larger cylinder window than earlier J frames. But that never happened on any K, L or N frames
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