US Customs Service 686 CS-1

[DAdams]

I have had this 3 inch for 10 years. Purchased it from a retired LEO, who switched to a Semiauto.
I think I paid $250 for it.
Glad I didn't know anything about the CS-1 then because I would have safed it. As it were I have put a few hundred rounds through it.
Unfortunately there was no box. I do have the original grips.

 

[regalsc]

That's a nice 3 inch cs-1. The pic comes across as a gun for lefties.

 

[automan71]

Picked this one up yesterday. Came with original box, but no paperwork...Serial# AYD48xx...Prod. Code 104229...Spec ord# 8011. Has been stamped with the "M"

Does anyone know the date of mfg?

 

[StakeOut]

Picked this one up yesterday. Came with original box, but no paperwork...Serial# AYD48xx...Prod. Code 104229...Spec ord# 8011. Has been stamped with the "M"

Does anyone know the date of mfg?

Product code 104229 :4" barrel with round butt,manufactured for US Customs Service ,pinned black front ramp,dull grey bead blast finish,1988

The Special Order # 8011 means it shipped from the factory on the 11th day of 1988

 

[automan71]

StakeOut....thanks for the info! I appreciate it!

 

[824tsv]

Very interesting!! I just bought a 4" CS-1 M yesterday with a s/n only 239 lower than yours. Does your's have the 1/10" wide front sight? The guy I bought mine from replaced the original sight with a gold bead.

I can't even find the ANS prefix in the S&W catalog (edit - actually I did find it & referenced it in an earlier post.....) so knowing that you bought it in 1987 really helps. I'll have mine lettered but am very excited to see one so closely related. Where are you located? Do you remember what it cost new?

I'm in Eastern Canada.
The gun is 100% the way it came from S&W. Mine is one of the over-run guns and I would assume your's is as well. I'm sure I have the sales receipt, but off the top of my head I think the purchase price was around $500.
My SPC.ORD. code is 7054 which indicates that it was completed and boxed in February 1987. I'm pretty sure I bought it later that spring.

 

[Hoot]

Has anyone seen a CS-1 with a satin finish? Not super shiny like high polished, or matte like bead blasted, but in between? I have a chance to buy it, but I haven't seen or heard of one with this finish. The stampings on the barrel and frame still have halos around the letters, so it doesn't appear to have been polished after the stampings. It's a 2M with Pachmeyer grips, no box or docs or tools.

The guy wants a premium for it ($1200), so I'm really on the fence on this one.

 

[PDX1953]

I recently bought a CS-1 that is probably a production overrun and it's in excellent condition. I paid $825 for it w/o a box & the front sight had been replaced with a gold bead. It also had a Hogue Monogrip which is incorrect.

The government spec'd sight should measure 1/10" vs. the OEM 1/8". I found a new 1/8" sight which will be installed after it's narrowed a few thousandths to make the gun period correct.

The grips that were originally spec'd are Pachmayr Compacs with a "window" in the bottom so the s/n can be seen. I just a bought new pair of them on Amazon & they have the window but maybe they didn't originally come that way when the gun was issued in the mid 80's.

The 2M marking shows the gun was issued to the Customs Service & then sent back for a rework. As far as finish mine is brushed stainless & none of the photos I've ever seen show anything more / less.

IMHO the price is at least $300 too high. The gun is used but if it came with the original blue & white box that might add a little. As you may have read in previous posts many Inspectors threw away the OEM box & when the guns were re-worked / reissued they probably came in a plain brown box. I'm going to say this is a huge maybe but your gun might have been bead blasted after repair but I've never seen it mentioned.

There's a photo in this thread of a CS-1 with a box & it's in Canada. His & mine are only 200+ apart & his is in better condition. He said he knew his was an overrun but I'll have mine lettered from S&W.

 

[824tsv]

PDX1953,
I answered your question in my post above. Your CS-1 would have come with round butt walnut magnas just like mine pictured. Mine is pictured the way it came from the factory.

 

[PDX1953]

PDX1953,
I answered your question in my post above. Your CS-1 would have come with round butt walnut magnas just like mine pictured. Mine is pictured the way it came from the factory.

Thanks for the correction. I still need to get letters sent off to S&W on the CS-1 & my State Dept DSS 19-5 for history confirmation. And you do have a beautiful gun!

 

[Hoot]

Thanks PDX 1953! I've read everything I can find on the CS-1, and the finish seemed a bit odd.

I forgot to mention that it's a 3" which might be kinda important, valuation-wise. It looks to be in very nice condition, no scratches and such, and not a lot of wear I can see, but since I don't have it in hand, I can't say how good.

 

[PDX1953]

Thanks PDX 1953! I've read everything I can find on the CS-1, and the finish seemed a bit odd.

I forgot to mention that it's a 3" which might be kinda important, valuation-wise. It looks to be in very nice condition, no scratches and such, and not a lot of wear I can see, but since I don't have it in hand, I can't say how good.

Ooooh - a 3". That's a whole new ball game. I think I read somewhere that the plain clothes Customs Inspectors carried those. The link is from 2012 but you may have uncovered a unicorn.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/228252-s-w-model-686-3-inch-cs1.html

They're also phenomenal shooting guns. They were apparently built to closer tolerances than production guns. I've bought my CS-1 three weeks ago & took it out a few days later. I didn't feel like paying $30 for a box of .357 (I live in a small beach town) so I fired some .38 reloads that were originally loaded for a 2" Chief Special as well as factory new .38s & it was a real pleasure.

Now I'm just jealous!!

 

[old bear]

Some threads are never going to go away. I think this one may be one of them, for good reason.
I received my new, to me, 686 CS-1 today. The yoke has both the CS-1 stamp as well as the M stamp. It came equipped with Pachmayr wraparound grips, without medallions or the bottom serial number cut out. It does show the “M” stamp, indicating the hammer nose busing had been inspected and found to be Ok, or repaired.
I’ve not had the chance to shoot it yet, but have dry fired it a bunch. As much as I hate to admit this, it has one of the smoothest trigger pulls, both S/A & D/A of any of my beloved K frames.
Several posters who were issued/ required to carry their revolvers mentioned that they were overly large and heavy to carry in street clothing. All I can say you are/were correct. My CS-1 will be a seldom carry but shoot a lot revolver and will do double duty as one of my home ready revolvers, loaded with midrange .357 Magnum ammo.
Thanks all, old bear

 

[625-7]

Musta been though the custom shop

About 20 yrs ago, I was at my LGS at lunch time and a gent was torn between a Colt 357 either chrome, stainless or nickle, ( hey it was a long time ago!), and a S&W 357 stainless, both 3-4 inch. I waited as long as I could, pulled the boss aside and told him that whatever the guy did not choose to put the other one aside for me. Stopped by the next day at lunch time and the boys said I now own a model 686, says cs1 in the frame. Musta been through S&W's custom shop because the trigger is real smooth. Has a 4" barrel and pach grips with a slot in the bottom. I liked it so much that a little while later he had a smaller S&W 357 with a 2 1/2 barrel that was stamped 66-3 that I told him to set aside for me. Probably paid around 8 bills for the pair. Maybe sometime we'll discuss the T series Hi Power

 

[Glashaus]

Old Bear, did you get a 3" or a 4" CS-1? I know what you mean about being smooth! Mine is just about the the smoothest S&W that I own.

 

[10mmauto]

Clarification

Just thought I'd offer a clarification here. I worked for U.S. Customs (and the DHS) for 31 years and was lucky enough to have been a firearms instructor when we had the CS-1. There is no such thing as "plain clothes Customs Inspectors." The 3" CS-1 was carried by U.S. Customs Special Agents (who as investigators would be considered "plain clothes") and the 4" guns were issued to U.S. Customs Inspectors (the uniformed individuals who worked at the ports of entry, airports, seaports, etc.)

Ooooh - a 3". That's a whole new ball game. I think I read somewhere that the plain clothes Customs Inspectors carried those. The link is from 2012 but you may have uncovered a unicorn.

S&W Model 686 3 inch CS1

...

Now I'm just jealous!!

 

[PDX1953]

Just thought I'd offer a clarification here. I worked for U.S. Customs (and the DHS) for 31 years and was lucky enough to have been a firearms instructor when we had the CS-1. There is no such thing as "plain clothes Customs Inspectors." The 3" CS-1 was carried by U.S. Customs Special Agents (who as investigators would be considered "plain clothes") and the 4" guns were issued to U.S. Customs Inspectors (the uniformed individuals who worked at the ports of entry, airports, seaports, etc.)

Thanks for the correction / clarification. The gentleman I bought my 4" from had a Partridge style gold bead sight installed. I bought a couple of OEM .125" sights & will have a local gunsmith narrow each side so the blade will be period-correct .100".

 

[old bear]

Old Bear, did you get a 3" or a 4" CS-1? I know what you mean about being smooth! Mine is just about the the smoothest S&W that I own.

3" version.

 

[markeb]

I really enjoy reading this thread. I was fortunate enough to acquire a CS-1 2M 4" awhile back. I am curious about how many of these fine revolvers survived destruction from one of our previous administrations?

I think a good estimate is posted earlier in the thread. Just didn't go back far enough.

 

[clang444]

I got this one 5-10 years ago at a gun show:

It was in with a bunch of 4" 686 police trade-ins. The dealer said is was a "CS" gun, which meant "Custom Shop". I didn't argue with him.

Used and carried with honest wear, but tight and a great shooter. No box etc. The grips have the serial number window. I think I paid about $400 for it.