Andy the Aussie
Member
So after waiting a couple of weeks for the bureaucrats to get my paperwork out to me this week I was finally able to make a little time to slip out and collect the 686 I bought nearly a month ago...well sort of anyway.... 
What I had paid for was a 686-3 with a four position adjustable front sight. It was in better than average condition with all issues being purely cosmetic. Fining a -3 or earlier 686 had been a bit of a quest for me as all the ones I had examined were pigs. The adjustable front sight was a bit of a compromise to for me to get a 686 of the vintage I wanted but one I could live with.
So I land at the counter with paperwork and case in hand and talk to the handgun guy, he does know his S&Ws and previously he and I had only spoke on the phone. He fished out "my" 686 and in passing I asked if in the past couple of weeks any other 6 inch 686s had come into stock...he then recalled I wanted a -3 and said maaaaybe... he then produced a -3 with a red ramp front in what I would describe as around 90% condition. Probably a bit better than the AF model I had paid down on. It was however the same ticketed price. Now they normally charge a 10% fee if you change your mind once you have paid down on something but he went to speak with the boss who's mother happened to be with him at the time, now I have known her for almost 30 years....she is from the Mediterranean so there was much hugging and telling every one what a "great boy I was" (hey....I'm 42)...so I think guilt on the part of her son saved me my 10% fine...
I will post a few pics later on, it is basically stock from the factory but the pretty wood grips have been replaced with Hogues.
I have already arranged an action job and bead blasting (shinny guns are too pimp for me) and then getting the red ramp machined off and a black blade installed...all in all I am a happy little camper tonight...
Now if someone could give me an approximate birth date on BPH 01** I would really appreciate it ..
What I had paid for was a 686-3 with a four position adjustable front sight. It was in better than average condition with all issues being purely cosmetic. Fining a -3 or earlier 686 had been a bit of a quest for me as all the ones I had examined were pigs. The adjustable front sight was a bit of a compromise to for me to get a 686 of the vintage I wanted but one I could live with.
So I land at the counter with paperwork and case in hand and talk to the handgun guy, he does know his S&Ws and previously he and I had only spoke on the phone. He fished out "my" 686 and in passing I asked if in the past couple of weeks any other 6 inch 686s had come into stock...he then recalled I wanted a -3 and said maaaaybe... he then produced a -3 with a red ramp front in what I would describe as around 90% condition. Probably a bit better than the AF model I had paid down on. It was however the same ticketed price. Now they normally charge a 10% fee if you change your mind once you have paid down on something but he went to speak with the boss who's mother happened to be with him at the time, now I have known her for almost 30 years....she is from the Mediterranean so there was much hugging and telling every one what a "great boy I was" (hey....I'm 42)...so I think guilt on the part of her son saved me my 10% fine...
I will post a few pics later on, it is basically stock from the factory but the pretty wood grips have been replaced with Hogues.
I have already arranged an action job and bead blasting (shinny guns are too pimp for me) and then getting the red ramp machined off and a black blade installed...all in all I am a happy little camper tonight...
Now if someone could give me an approximate birth date on BPH 01** I would really appreciate it ..
