New 681

[Sailfish 40]

I picked this up off gunbroker a couple of weeks ago. seller advertised it as new, old stock so i put a few rounds through it yesterday. serial number dates it to 1982. sweet shooter with the tightest lockup of any smith i've owned.

 

[loeman]

Congratulations!

I got mine about 6 months ago and it has now become my favorite gun to take to the range. Mine also has the tightest lock-up and sweetest trigger I could ever hope for.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I've been trying to con a friend out of his mint 681 for several months. He has to sleep sometime.

 

[vytoland]

that is one fine looking S&W .357 revolver.. enjoy..

 

[mike from st pete]

581/681 were S&W's best revolvers, it is a shame they made so few.

 

[hangnoose]

681

I bought a 4" 617 to practice alongside my 681 at steel challenge. with 38 special wadcutters I'm faster & more accurate with the 681 than with the 22lr, go figure. congrats, & enjoy.

 

[sac-gunslinger]

581/681 were S&W's best revolvers, it is a shame they made so few.

I agree. The classic "service revolver" configuration is hard to beat for an all-around useful gun. The 581/681 is, arguably, the contemporary implementation of the M10/64.

I guess the only way Smith could improve it would be to offer it in 38 Special.

To quote my friend Kaaskop49, "everything you need, nothing you don't"

 

[SJshooter]

I have a 681 just like it. Shoots fantastic and just asks to shoot until the wallet is empty.

 

[mag318]

I still can't figure out why S&W stopped making these excellent revolvers. Perhaps they didn't want to compete with the costlier 686s.

 

[03Fatboy]

That is sweet. I have my eyes open for a stainless or blued version!

 

[80sgyrene]

Gotta agree with others, my 581 & 681 are my favorite revolvers...lock up is the best, as are the actions.

 

[ben1]

Congratulations.I picked up its twin a few weeks ago that was made in 1981. Very lightly used. Great trigger and just about the perfect 357. 681's are the best all around magnum they made. Everything you need nothing you don't.

 

[wnc wheelgun]

My favorite .357 is my 581 trade-in from a former prison guard. Any stiff recoil is absorbed by the under lug. Easy to acquire target with the fixed sights.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Don't you just love New Old Stock. I've got an unfired 686-4 4" that I bought about ...damn I bet it's going on 20 years when a store was going under and it is just sitting there. Can't bring myself to sell it.....

 

[Sailfish 40]

Don't you just love New Old Stock. I've got an unfired 686-4 4" that I bought about ...damn I bet it's going on 20 years when a store was going under and it is just sitting there. Can't bring myself to sell it.....

The seller may have been stretching the truth a little. there were carbon rings in every cylinder. i'm still very happy to have the gun, box and all the stuff that came with it for $650 shipped. i'm going to put it away for my 11 year old cousin.