S&W 686, what can you tell me?

[mohrt]

Hi,

My father passed and in his gun collection is a S&W 686 Revolver, SN AFJ8675. anything you can tell me about it? Is it a first edition model? Year? Value? Also, first post

TIA
mohrt

 

[reddogs]

Nice gun hope you are shooting it. I have guns from dad and granddad good memories.

 

[SAFireman]

Looks to have a very desirable 3" barrel, but from a later time....take the stocks off, is this a square butt?

Open the crane, do you see a marking CS-1? or CS-3?

 

[swagmeister]

Manufactured approximately November, 1984. If that is a 3" unmodified barrel and also a CS Model, the sky is the limit in the condition it is in with those stocks. Probably $1500-$2000, depending on how bad someone wanted it. If it were mine these days with the outrageous pricing on vintage Smiths, I would take no less than $1500 for it. Good luck.

 

[mohrt]

Looks to have a very desirable 3" barrel, but from a later time....take the stocks off, is this a square butt?

Open the crane, do you see a marking CS-1? or CS-3?

More photos!

 

[Breakaway500]

Your Dad had good taste! See if you can locate the factory grips and box.

 

[mohrt]

Manufactured approximately November, 1984. If that is a 3" unmodified barrel and also a CS Model, the sky is the limit in the condition it is in with those stocks. Probably $1500-$2000, depending on how bad someone wanted it. If it were mine these days with the outrageous pricing on vintage Smiths, I would take no less than $1500 for it. Good luck.

I found the receipt, he bought in 2016 for $850

 

[mohrt]

How do I measure the barrel? The exact measurement from the seam to the tip is 2.25 inches.

 

[Gregmk]

from the face of the cylinder to the tip of the barrel

 

[mohrt]

from the face of the cylinder to the tip of the barrel

Ok yep 3" barrel

 

[BillBro]

I'll give you $1200 for it.����

Nice piece. Enjoy it.

 

[kansas]

I was of the belief that 3" 686's from that era had a round butt. Being that it is a square butt, it may be a factory rebarrel, or perhaps a special run for some distributor. Someone with a little more knowledge will chime in soon.

 

[Sevens]

I believe that revolver is re-barreled because the ".356 Magnum" is on the left side and "Smith & Wesson" is on the right side and for that era of 686, it should be the opposite.

The stocks are classy, but not original, they are Alatamont.

Also appears that this revolver is subject to recall but wears no "M" stamps which gives me the idea that it was not S&W that did the re-barrel work.

 

[Sevens]

^^oops typo above should read ".357" of course.

 

[ImDrRich]

Probably one of the finest, if not THE finest, revolvers ever made. I bought a 686+ 2 1/2" bbl a few years ago and it is an awesome shooter. An absolute keeper.

 

[wvs&w]

It sure is a nice revolver, shoot it and enjoy it.

 

[mohrt]

I have been shooting it and it is an absolute joy!

 

[raygixxer89]

Very nice revolver. I have a 6 inch no dash and was looking for a snub-nose to match. I couldn't find one so I ended up with 2.5 inch 66-1. I think I like the look of the full under lug on the 686 a bit better, lol.

 

[357 shooter]

I believe that revolver is re-barreled because the ".357 Magnum" is on the left side and "Smith & Wesson" is on the right side and for that era of 686, it should be the opposite.

Plus it has the larger barrel stamping that we see on the newer Smiths. All the older ones I have seen have the traditional smaller barrel stamping. Plus I don't recall any of that time period with a pinned red ramp sight.

Regardless , still a hec of a nice gun!!

 

[SAFireman]

Not a CS-1, and 99% certain that it has a later issue barrel. The barrel alone is probably worth 250-300 right now. It likely started life as 4" or 6" barrel gun.

It is missing the recall stamp, but I probably wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Neat gun BTW