Brazil Contract 586's
Aside from the Brazil contract guns mentioned in Supica & Nahas 3rd Edition of the SCSW (page 248) that were 586-5’s and were shipped in 1993, there was apparently a second contract shipped in 1997, oddly enough, marked as 586-4’s. Both contracts used the product codes 103497 (2.5”), 103498 (4.25”) and 103499 (6”).
The serial numbers for the 586-5 guns carried the alphabetic prefix “BPY”. These were shipped in blue cardboard boxes marked “Brazil” on the end label. The 586-4 guns carried the alphabetic serial number prefix of “CCE” and were shipped in the blue, hinged plastic boxes, also marked “Brazil” on the end label.
Special order numbers on the 586-5 guns were 3299 – 3301, which translates to ship dates in December of 1993. I could only find a special order number for the 6” 586-4, which was 7252, which translates to September of 1997.
Even though they were shipped in 1997, the 586-4 guns (which is a 1993 engineering change) have MIM triggers and cylinder releases (which, again, according to Supica & Nahas, were part of the 1997 dash 6 engineering change) but forged hammers with hammer-nose mounted firing pins.
These guns are certainly examples of the anomalies that may be encountered with Smith & Wesson revolvers.
My personal opinion is that, while rare, the Brazil contract guns are only of interest to collectors if they are complete with the box and correct end label plus all documents and tools. Without all that being present you are left with a 586 that only shoots .38 Specials. I feel the majority of 586/686 buyers purchase the guns as all-around shooters and want the capability of shooting both .38 Specials and .357 Magnums. In that case the single caliber capability of the Brazil guns is a detriment to selling one.
I own a 4.2” 586-4 Brazil gun. I purchased it without “box & docs” with a singular purpose in mind, that being for use in IDPA’s (then) SSR division. It has worked out very well in that regard, albeit with some modifications.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
