New 686+; 3" with Unfluted Cylinder, Customer Service Says It's a Mistake

[Red Rover]

I ordered a 3" 686+ 7 shot from my regular shop. After a 7 week wait it finally arrived and I was very surprised to find it had an unfluted cylinder. My initial reaction was negative, but I have grown to like it in the last 24 hours.

4/30, Edited to add: I just got off the phone with S & W Customer service. I was told the unfluted cylinder on my 3" 686+ was a mistake from the factory. Apparently I have an unusual .357, at least that's what they told me.

Here are some photos:

Group shot with my nickel revolvers:

 

[handgunner356]

What was the SKU# on it? 164300?

 

[Red Rover]

Originally posted by handgunner356:
What was the SKU# on it? 164300?

Yes, 164300.

 

[handgunner356]

They must have been too busy to flute it. Mines a couple of years old now, same SKU with the fluted cylinder, great gun.

 

[maxxpower]

I just bought the same gun and expect it in at the end of the week. I hope it doesn't show up with the unfluted cylinder.

Is that just a random thing from S&W?

 

[Revolver King]

I would love to have that gun with unfluted cylinder. where can I get one?

 

[Red Rover]

Originally posted by Revolver_King:
I would love to have that gun with unfluted cylinder. where can I get one?

I'm not sure if this was a mistake or an option because the S & W website shows a fluted cylinder with the same SKU number as the one on the box my unfluted model came in. I'm going to call on Monday to see what I can find out.

 

[Revolver King]

I have one of those myself and it has a fluted cylinder. But I love unfluted cylinders.

 

[ENH]

Nice, just nice

 

[northslope]

I'd snap one of those in a heartbeat. I'm still irked I didn't snag one of the 5" unfluted beauties from BudsGunsshop last year when they were ...~$550 or so.

--Neill

 

[Revolver King]

Originally posted by neillcallis:
I'd snap one of those in a heartbeat. I'm still irked I didn't snag one of the 5" unfluted beauties from BudsGunsshop last year when they were ...~$550 or so.

--Neill

Do you mean one of these

 

[Red Rover]

I just got off the phone with S & W Customer service. I was told the unfluted cylinder on my 3" 686+ was a mistake from the factory. Apparently I have an unusual .357, at least that's what they told me.

 

[SmithNut]

Could be a mistake, or not. They've made that configuration before. Here's a -5 in the same config, this one has a matte finish.

 

[Red Rover]

Originally posted by SmithNut:
Could be a mistake, or not. They've made that configuration before. Here's a -5 in the same config, this one has a matte finish.

Well, the gun I ordered should of had a fluted cylinder, but this is what I got.

What year was that -5 made SN?

 

[SmithNut]

I bought it new in March of 2002. Another member here owns it now. It is also a 7 shot.

Product code is 149137 - shipped to Lew Horton in 2000

 

[Stillwater788]

Originally posted by Revolver_King:
I would love to have that gun with unfluted cylinder. where can I get one?

Here ya go...

 

[Red Rover]

It seems that there are other "mistakes" out there.

 

[Revolver King]

Thanks stillwater788, I have a call into him and have sent him an e-mail. I bought it.

 

[Stillwater788]

Originally posted by Revolver_King:
Thanks stillwater788, I have a call into him and have sent him an e-mail. I bought it.

Excellent!

 

[carbofan21]

Originally posted by neillcallis:
I'd snap one of those in a heartbeat. I'm still irked I didn't snag one of the 5" unfluted beauties from BudsGunsshop last year when they were ...~$550 or so.

--Neill

saw this the other day. i don't know the seller:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti...m.asp?Item=128173707