Tuned 686 CS-1 surprise!

[PatriotX]

Hi folks,

I stumbled across an unadvertised CS-1 at auction, and one thing led to another. It just landed at my FFL, and there were a few surprises!







Decent-looking gun, right? Swapping the crusty Pachs for some PC Magnas helped. Loosening the strain screw to take off the side plate revealed the first evidence.



Old school shortened screw and metal cup…but wait! There’s more!



Fully polished and stoned hammer and trigger. I’m guessing there’s a coil cut on the rebound spring too.




Trigger had an over travel stop silver-soldered in!




The cylinder held the greatest surprise. Numbered and chamfered charge holes, and trailing edge of the cylinder given a light chamfer as well…



Gun was clean upon arrival, unlike most.




I guess if you’re going to build a shooter, starting with the best possible platform helps!

Trigger pull is nice, not too light; the over travel stop is set up perfectly. I look forward to making a range report.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Sevens]

I like this stuff -- others would be completely horrified.

 

[75Vette]

That was some find. Congrats!

 

[hdfinder47]

Super sweet!

 

[stansdds]

"Tuned" firearms often make me nervous, but this one appears to have been done by a professional, so it is more likely to be reliable. Please remember to post a range report.

 

[sodacan]

I wouldn't buy a modified gun unless I knew who did the work, and I would have walked away after seeing that strain screw. Here's hoping that the gun is everything you hope it to be, and more.

 

[Hawg Rider]

I know that you are one of the Forum's preeminent gurus and collector of Model 686 CS-1 revolvers. I think that you found a gem! There weren't that many CS-1 revolvers made for the U.S. Customs Service, and S&W used the outstanding L-frame 686s (3" and 4" bbl. ca. 1988) for their production runs. CS-1 versions bring a substantial premium over standard 686s, so hopefully you got a great deal. Whoever did the "tuning" on this one appears to be a professional. I'm not a big fan of the trigger over travel stop (and that could be removed if you wanted), but if it's located properly and works well, that's great. I really like the chamfers and internal polishing, and I'll bet it's smooth as silk. It's interesting to me that your revolver is stamped 686 M, because I believe that the M (modified) stamp was done in 1987 on recalled 686s and 686-1s. Perhaps S&W used some older 686s for their run of CS-1s? Do you know how and when the USCS excessed their 686 CS-1 revolvers whenever they transitioned to pistols? I would think that the mods were completed by a subsequent owner and not during use with the USCS. Great catch, you did good. Enjoy!

 

[PatriotX]

It's interesting to me that your revolver is stamped 686 M, because I believe that the M (modified) stamp was done in 1987 on recalled 686s and 686-1s. Perhaps S&W used some older 686s for their run of CS-1s? Do you know how and when the USCS excessed their 686 CS-1 revolvers whenever they transitioned to pistols? I would think that the mods were completed by a subsequent owner and not during use with the USCS. Great catch, you did good. Enjoy!

Thanks!

When the factory armorers were dispatched to fix the binding issues in the CS-1s, due to the close tolerances, any found to not have the bushing and hammer nose recall work completed were updated and stamped as such at that time.

The revolvers that had already received the M update received a *2* next to the previously-stamped M.

If this was an overrun gun, it could have had the M recall done at any point by a previous owner as well. Hard to say, without a letter.

I have only seen one CS-1 without an M or 2M stamp. It was pointed out that it was likely an overrun gun that ended up in a sock drawer.