zzzcici
Member
Fell in love with a 686-3 . On lay away . but dont know much about this model. It is stainless of course and is unfluted with a 5" bbl. any further info offered is greatly , greatly appreciated
Thanks .
Thanks .
seeking oh knowlegeable ones
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pangris
Member
Great gun. I think the only real issue with the 686 was the floating hand, and that was in the -1 guns, but I'm not a 686 expert.
Revolver King
Member
If you have a 686-3 that is unfluted and a 5", I think you have a really rare one there, I have only seen 4" & 6" in this configuration. I have a 4 & a 6 but have not seen a 5" like that.
Revolver King
Member
Here are my 2 686-3s
Centenniel
Member
I have a 686-3 with a 5" barrel and an unfluted cylinder. It is one of my favorite L Frame revolvers. I'm not sure how many were made.
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I also have a 686-5 with a 5" barrel. It was a "Stocking Dealer Exclusive" that I purchased several years ago. The product code is 104098 but don't know the year of mfg. Maybe someone could tell me? Very nice gun to shoot.
ZZZCICI: According to the SCSW there was a run of just 500 with a 5" barrel and an unfluted cylinder made in 1989. "Manuufactured for Bill Davis (??), dual sped loader cutouts,. National Match". Gives a production code of 104254. Do you have the box? I'd certainly invest the cost of getting that lettered if it were mine. The 1989 date is concurrent with the -3 enginering change that was from 1988 T0 1994. Sounds nice, Got any pictures?
Mr. Goodwrench: I have a 5" inch Stocking dealer Special also. Full lug and 7 round cylinder. I think these are the first of two runs of SDSs with 5 inch bbls. The second one had the internal lock and did not have the full lug. Try a search. A copy of the original advertisement had been posted previously. I could check the production code on mine but the box is stashed away pretty deep.
I forgot to add: I think the L frames are great guns, and I have been building a minor collection of no-dash varieties. A 5 inch early 686 (as in no dash through -4) would be one heck of a gun. Unless the price was way out of sight, I would be looking to take it home. How much was the dealer asking? And welcome to the forum.
Mr. Goodwrench: I have a 5" inch Stocking dealer Special also. Full lug and 7 round cylinder. I think these are the first of two runs of SDSs with 5 inch bbls. The second one had the internal lock and did not have the full lug. Try a search. A copy of the original advertisement had been posted previously. I could check the production code on mine but the box is stashed away pretty deep
These were produced late 2000. I have one with a spec order # of 0342. These were 5" full-lugged guns with a Hi-Viz front sight, v-notch rear. Mine is a great shooter. I'm guessing the original poster has one of the Bill Davis National Match guns or a later barrel switched onto a -3 frame. Pics would be helpful. Smith never did many 5" barreled 686's.
These were produced late 2000. I have one with a spec order # of 0342. These were 5" full-lugged guns with a Hi-Viz front sight, v-notch rear. Mine is a great shooter. I'm guessing the original poster has one of the Bill Davis National Match guns or a later barrel switched onto a -3 frame. Pics would be helpful. Smith never did many 5" barreled 686's.
wheelgunnut
Member
686s are excellent .357s and I'm fortunate to have collected 2½-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, and 8 3/8-inchers. Just missed a 7-inch on GunBroker because I ate dinner before deciding to bid, and someone made a 'Buy It Now!'
BTW, cutouts on stocks aren't for speedloaders. That's a common misperception. They are so the extractor star clears the wood or rubber.
BILL SHANER
BTW, cutouts on stocks aren't for speedloaders. That's a common misperception. They are so the extractor star clears the wood or rubber.
BILL SHANER
DJINCO
US Veteran
Sounds good - shoot it to enjoy it.
First allow me to thank each and every one of you.
I must say I love it when I get home from work and sit down ,check this forum, and there are a dozzen replys, I love it.
The 5" 686-3 unfluted was not cheap. It was 825. He estimated it at 90-95% , I assumed he was talking NRA guidlines. The shopkeeper knew he had something pretty scarce and told me so. I wanted a nice .357 and set my limit at a grand. I know that is a lot, although by comparison in todays market I doubt I would find anything for much less, and in a few years I wont be sorry,especially if it actually is one of only 500.
My plan is to shoot it, but will primarily send .38s through it.
I will post a picture as soon as I bail it out. The shop asked for 150 down and the rest by 90 days I found it friday and went back today with another 325, balance is about 400 which I will make just 2 more payments. I did not try to bargin down since he is allowing me the latitude to pay it out over time.
I looked on the box but found no sticker , it is blue plastic. A set of black grips are in the box and the
Mikulek grips are mounted on it.
I must say I love it when I get home from work and sit down ,check this forum, and there are a dozzen replys, I love it.
The 5" 686-3 unfluted was not cheap. It was 825. He estimated it at 90-95% , I assumed he was talking NRA guidlines. The shopkeeper knew he had something pretty scarce and told me so. I wanted a nice .357 and set my limit at a grand. I know that is a lot, although by comparison in todays market I doubt I would find anything for much less, and in a few years I wont be sorry,especially if it actually is one of only 500.
My plan is to shoot it, but will primarily send .38s through it.
I will post a picture as soon as I bail it out. The shop asked for 150 down and the rest by 90 days I found it friday and went back today with another 325, balance is about 400 which I will make just 2 more payments. I did not try to bargin down since he is allowing me the latitude to pay it out over time.
I looked on the box but found no sticker , it is blue plastic. A set of black grips are in the box and the
Mikulek grips are mounted on it.
You're welcome.
Congratulations. $825 is a bunch of money but its a unique gun. Like the poster above, I've got L frames in 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 and 3/8 inch barrel lenghts. (All no-dash except the 5 inch Stocking Dealer Special I mentioned earlier.) They're all great but its the 4 and 6 inchers I find I shoot most often. If I could design one gun to my own specifications, it would be identical to yours: an early 686 with a five inch barrel. So enjoy it. And I would definetly invest the money ($35?) to get it lettered. I'd do that partially for my own satisfaction, but also as a value enhancer should I ever decide to part with it.
Congratulations. $825 is a bunch of money but its a unique gun. Like the poster above, I've got L frames in 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 and 3/8 inch barrel lenghts. (All no-dash except the 5 inch Stocking Dealer Special I mentioned earlier.) They're all great but its the 4 and 6 inchers I find I shoot most often. If I could design one gun to my own specifications, it would be identical to yours: an early 686 with a five inch barrel. So enjoy it. And I would definetly invest the money ($35?) to get it lettered. I'd do that partially for my own satisfaction, but also as a value enhancer should I ever decide to part with it.
I also have a 686-3 with a 5" barrel and unfluted cylinder. It has a partridge front sight. At the time of purchase back in the late 1980's, it was known as a Classic Hunter (in .357 magnum). I find the 5" barrel to be a near perfect balance and is one of my favourite 686 guns (along with a 2 1/2" 686-3).
I think I am S.O.L. on getting a production code ,I saw no label or sticker on the box(if the box is original).
Revolver King posted up some beauties. I must be carefull not to drool. I must say those look teriffic. I use to think I wanted my first S&W to be a model 27 6" nickel. I am usually the frugal(tight wad) type, but once I wraped my hand around this 686 I couldn't start counting the Ben Franklins quick enough. lol.
Wheelnut, you are indeed fortunate to have such a great collection. Maybe next time you'll get the 7" to round out that great collection.
Cptdco, another fine collection you have also. I'll look into recieving the letter , of course I will need to find out what all that means. I assume you refer to a letter of authinticity.
Revolver King posted up some beauties. I must be carefull not to drool. I must say those look teriffic. I use to think I wanted my first S&W to be a model 27 6" nickel. I am usually the frugal(tight wad) type, but once I wraped my hand around this 686 I couldn't start counting the Ben Franklins quick enough. lol.
Wheelnut, you are indeed fortunate to have such a great collection. Maybe next time you'll get the 7" to round out that great collection.
Cptdco, another fine collection you have also. I'll look into recieving the letter , of course I will need to find out what all that means. I assume you refer to a letter of authinticity.
I just purchased a 686-3 5 inch unfluted cylinder was wondering what the correct grips for the gun are wood or rubber? The book says dual cutouts, like to know what other -3 owners or previous owners have or had on your 686-3 5 inch guns? Thanks
My 686 now has wood grips aftermarket. The original grips I understand were black rubber type.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37506&stc=1&d=1297659142
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37506&stc=1&d=1297659142
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AveragEd
Member
If my memory serves (and that's questionable), Bill Davis is a large wholesale firearms distributor in Wisconsin or Minnesota. They commission special runs from numerous manufacturers.
I have one of their Remington special-run rifles. It is a Model 700 in stainless with a brown laminated thumbhole stock in 300 Remington Ultra Mag that they ordered for a dealer in Canada. Remington stainless rifles with laminated stocks usually have black and gray stocks and the non-varmint models are not available with thumbholes. They had them named "Mighty Elk Thumper." Because they were intended for export, they didn't have J-locks on the firing pin shield or the "Read the owner's manual..." script on the barrel that Remington rifles had at the time.
Congratulations on your purchase! I'd love to have a 686 like that and while $825 is a lot for a used 686 right now, your gun will only appreciate over time if not abused.
Ed
I have one of their Remington special-run rifles. It is a Model 700 in stainless with a brown laminated thumbhole stock in 300 Remington Ultra Mag that they ordered for a dealer in Canada. Remington stainless rifles with laminated stocks usually have black and gray stocks and the non-varmint models are not available with thumbholes. They had them named "Mighty Elk Thumper." Because they were intended for export, they didn't have J-locks on the firing pin shield or the "Read the owner's manual..." script on the barrel that Remington rifles had at the time.
Congratulations on your purchase! I'd love to have a 686 like that and while $825 is a lot for a used 686 right now, your gun will only appreciate over time if not abused.
Ed
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