Need advice: What's this 686 worth?

[HockeyPuck]

I'm going to look at a 20 year old 686 4" that was described to me as mint with only a few hundred rounds through it. The pictures looked good. I'm fairly new to S&W revolvers and don't know how the older 686s compare to the new ones. I have an idea of what its worth but would like the expert advice of the members of the forum. Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Hillbilly77]

It depends on where you are, but here in Central NY I've seen them as high as $689 for a 686 no-dash.
In a lot of places they seem to run around $500 - $550 +/-.

 

[JCS&W]

I have seen them listed at as high as $725, without the lock, but I believe they are selling $550 to $600, maybe a little higher with the box and in the condition you describe. Good luck. I hope it is the one for you.

 

[HockeyPuck]

Thats what I'm thinking right next door in NJ. So would a 20 year old 686 be a no dash? Any pros or cons to an older 686? Thanks

 

[Hillbilly77]

Thats what I'm thinking right next door in NJ. So would a 20 year old 686 be a no dash? Any pros or cons to an older 686? Thanks

You'll have to check the model number under the cylinder yoke to see if there is a dash-number.

If you didn't mind the IL in a new gun, a new gun would come with a Lifetime Warranty.
The old gun will not have any warranty.
That's the downside I can think of, and there's a great chance that you'll never need to worry about it breaking anyway.

 

[snubbiefan]

The dash-4 is arguably the best of the pre IL 686's, but anything from the 4 on back go for about the same price in my community.....buy at $500....sell at $575-or-so. If it's a no-dash, see if there is an M stamp on the frame beside the model number. You asked about pro-con. The no-dashes (and possibly some of the dash-1's) are still under what one would term as a "silent recall". The M stamp will indicate it has been home for the upgrade. Some worry about having it done....others don't. If it's a dash 2, 3 or 4....not to worry.

Some of us prefer the 4-inch barrel. Feels a little better balanced than the 6".

 

[HockeyPuck]

Where exactally would I find the model number and the dash and or "M"? sorry for all the questions. Do I need to remove the grip or is it somewhere else on the frame?

 

[murphydog]

Under the barrel, on the frame with the cylinder out.

 

[Bert Man]

Open the cylinder and look below the barrel on the frame. It will be stamped there.

Oops, I typed too slow. murphydog beat me to it!

 

[Hillbilly77]

Where exactally would I find the model number and the dash and or "M"? sorry for all the questions. Do I need to remove the grip or is it somewhere else on the frame?

Open the cylinder yoke & look at the flat under the yoke.
There will be the Serial Number and the Model Number.
The Model number may have a -1, -2, etc. If there is no dash, your gun is a "no-dash" or "pre-dash" model.
If the "M" is present, it should be between the S/N & Model No.

Like this:

P.S.
Don't feel bad about your questions.
We don't mind helping out.

 

[HockeyPuck]

Thanks again for your responses. I'm educated enough now to at least know what I'm looking at. Part of the fun for me is learning everything I possibly can about whatever I'm interested in at the time. I know a lot about Beretta Pistols and I own way too many in the 5 years that I'm into this. I took interest in the 686 5 years ago after shooting one that a friend of mine owns. That was the second time I went to the range and I knew that I had to get one someday.

I purchased a brand new 686 Plus 6" last Saturday and as I said at the top of this thread I'm already looking into my second (a 20 yr old 686 4"). If it really is mint I'll grab it. I hope it has the mod but we will see. It should be at my friends house in a couple of days. Think I'll go to the safe now and look at whats going on under the barrel of my 686 Plus!

 

[Hillbilly77]

I purchased a brand new 686 Plus 6" last Saturday and as I said at the top of this thread I'm already looking into my second (a 20 yr old 686 4"). If it really is mint I'll grab it. I hope it has the mod but we will see. It should be at my friends house in a couple of days. Think I'll go to the safe now and look at whats going on under the barrel of my 686 Plus!

The M-stamp mod only affected the no-dash & the -1's.
If it is one of those models and hasn't been done:
1) It may not ever need it.
2) If you choose to have it done, S&W still does it 100% free of charge.

I believe your new 686+ will be a -6.

 

[HockeyPuck]

Click on the left arrow to see it after the Hogue grip was installed....

IMG-20130126-00047_zps251d186a.jpg photo by crosscheck63 | Photobucket

Can you find another of my S&Ws seen here with a few Italian friends?

http://s955.beta.photobucket.com/us...rt=3&o=0&_suid=135950004316605208799838662566

 

[HockeyPuck]

Love it! If I do make this next purchase I'll have to take a breather! Got to pay for my range renewal soon.

 

[HockeyPuck]

Yes Hillbilly77 my 686 is a -6. Now what about the serial numbers? Mine starts with a CSN----. With the Beretta Pistols you could tell the year manufactured by the serial number.

 

[Hillbilly77]

Yes Hillbilly77 my 686 is a -6. Now what about the serial numbers? Mine starts with a CSN----. With the Beretta Pistols you could tell the year manufactured by the serial number.

SCSW dates that S/N to the approx. ballpark of July 1994.

 

[HockeyPuck]

Thats on my new 686? Thought it was a CSN. Just purchased this -6 on Saturday. Hope its not from 1994. It does heve the lock and is a -6.

 

[Hillbilly77]

Thats on my new 686? Thought it was a CSN. Just purchased this -6 on Saturday. Hope its not from 1994. It does heve the lock and is a -6.

I take that back. I missed where you said it was a new purchase.
Disclaimer:
There is NO rhyme or reason the the S/N dates. They tend to bounce all over the place. It should also be noted that the SCSW 3rd edition is now 7 years old, so it doesn't have any new info beyond 2006.
The only listing I saw for a CS--- S/N was in '04. Sorry about that.

There is another way to check the date if you still have the original box:
Check the label for a 4-digit number. Something like 2321. The first number will indicate the year the gun was built. The next three numbers will indicate the 321st day of the year.
So my example would mean the gun was finished and ready to be shipped on Nov. 16, 2012.
Also if you still have the spent casing from the factory, it should be dated.
SCSW says the build date & test-fire date are usually no more than a couple days apart.

 

[HockeyPuck]

Good tip on the box! Yes I have it and will check it tonight. Thanks again.

 

[RTM]

Model 910

I have a model 910 in very good shape with the factory case and two 10 mag's what would it be worth today. This gun was in my family several years ago and then was sold I recently bought it back for $250. I didn't need the gun but I always liked the look's and feel of it and liked shooting it. Very clean gun.............