Who's got a Model 681?
- Thread starter Jlduke
- Start date
WaMike
Member
Alas.....I was only allowed one "like" for your 581. I'd add a hundred of them....
loeman
Member
Here's Mine, a 681 no dash, no M
I found mine recently in a LGS. It's a 681 no dash and no M. It's in great condition. I've only had it to the range one time, but Wow, I was elated with my groups. Here's a few pics. Since the pics, I have put on factory Target stocks from the same 1982 vintage as the gun.
I found mine recently in a LGS. It's a 681 no dash and no M. It's in great condition. I've only had it to the range one time, but Wow, I was elated with my groups. Here's a few pics. Since the pics, I have put on factory Target stocks from the same 1982 vintage as the gun.
Just bought one. Still waiting on it to get delivered to my FFL. Should have had it there last Friday.
Those grips looks to be "Cokes". Or am I mistaken? If so you could have half the price of the auction in grips alone.
terry
loeman
Member
I hope 581's count. Mine has the tightest lock up of any of my S&W revolvers!
My 681 also has the tightest lock up of any of my S/W revolvers.
Here's my only 681. It's one of the 681-1 CAI imports I picked up at a great price. I bought it as a shooter and it is a good one. I had Revolver Armorer over in Suffolk, VA bead blast it and do a trigger job on it.
Dave T
Member
I have 2 of them but only have pictures of one and it's not very original.
I kind of like it despite all the modifications. (smile)
Guess I need to get some pictures of the other one, one of these days.
Dave
I kind of like it despite all the modifications. (smile)
Guess I need to get some pictures of the other one, one of these days.
Dave
snubbiefan
Member
Does anyone have a clue about how many of these were/may have been sold to the general public? Mine is marked S.A.P.R. and I don't plan to remove it, but I could as it is lightly stamped/laser cut. Most of the 681's you see are C.A.I. imports and there is nothing wrong with that. I have owned a C.A.I. gun myself. I have a friend that has one un-marked, but you can plainly see the sanding-and-polishing tracks where it was removed. I plan to leave mine alone and I'm not bashing those that have removed any markings......just curious as to how many may have been sold to the general public and not some agency? It's just rare to see one un-marked and I guess I never have other than in a picture.
hangnoose
Member
681'S
Mine is a mis marked Mod 68-1, a no dash, but wears the pachmayer grips and I'd like to get a pair of those big S&W period correct wood grips. It does real well every wed for steel challenge along with a 617. I did Bubba them with some orange nail polish so I could see the front sight better.
Mine is a mis marked Mod 68-1, a no dash, but wears the pachmayer grips and I'd like to get a pair of those big S&W period correct wood grips. It does real well every wed for steel challenge along with a 617. I did Bubba them with some orange nail polish so I could see the front sight better.
snubbiefan
Member
I believe the service grips/stocks (skinny) were on the early guns and the Packy's came later, but I suppose the agency could have ordered them dressed in either. Mine is a dash 3 and it wore Packy's. I ran-across a pair of service grips at a recent gun show for $25 out of some guys grab-bag complete with the screw. Don't get that lucky very often. Some folks seem to prefer the 686 style target grips.
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EDIT: I'll post a pix of my 4-inch trio. The 686 wears the Targets, the 617 the Combats and the 681 the Service.
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EDIT: I'll post a pix of my 4-inch trio. The 686 wears the Targets, the 617 the Combats and the 681 the Service.
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Here's mine.
It is a 681-1 that was re-imported by Century Arms. Like some others, it was stamped "686" first, then the last numeral was overstamped with a "1".
I cleaned it up, polished it with Flitz, and added some fancy grips from Thailand.
Great shooter!
It is a 681-1 that was re-imported by Century Arms. Like some others, it was stamped "686" first, then the last numeral was overstamped with a "1".
I cleaned it up, polished it with Flitz, and added some fancy grips from Thailand.
Great shooter!
hangnoose
Member
686 TARGET GRIPS
Some nice looking grips but think I prefer the 686 targets but they would be for show. The pachy's stay put in my braces better.
Some nice looking grips but think I prefer the 686 targets but they would be for show. The pachy's stay put in my braces better.
snubbiefan
Member
I'm enjoying going down all these little side-trails. I never knew that there were such over-stamping and stamping errors in these guns.
I think they put some "magic" in these when they built them.....a special touch, or it's a wonderful testament to the L-Frame in general. I know for a fact that mine has been well-fired and the end-shake is nil. I've never tried to polish out the character blemishes or the turn-line....I just shoot it. It's as tight/tighter than my little fired 686. On a police turn-in, one can assume that it was kept mechanically sound either by the agency armorer, or the LEA's trusted gunsmith. I have a friend that was not so lucky with a C.A.I. gun and wound up sending it home to S&W for a re-build. He's happy with it now, but it cost him $140 in labor and shipping cost both ways.
I think they put some "magic" in these when they built them.....a special touch, or it's a wonderful testament to the L-Frame in general. I know for a fact that mine has been well-fired and the end-shake is nil. I've never tried to polish out the character blemishes or the turn-line....I just shoot it. It's as tight/tighter than my little fired 686. On a police turn-in, one can assume that it was kept mechanically sound either by the agency armorer, or the LEA's trusted gunsmith. I have a friend that was not so lucky with a C.A.I. gun and wound up sending it home to S&W for a re-build. He's happy with it now, but it cost him $140 in labor and shipping cost both ways.
gkitch
Member
What the heck are cokes doing on an L-frame? Stainless Steel, no less...and an auction gun? This does not compute...
bwdilli
Member
I believe them to be. Haven't gotten it in hand yet. I'll pick it up Saturday morning.
This is a case of bought it for the grips. I'll know soon how I did. Regardless, the price for the auction was good enough that I'm making out okay if they aren't cokes.
Green Frog
Member
I have to admit a preference for the 686 and a set of factory smooth combats, but when the OP showed the picture of his very street ready 681 with bobbed hammer and those smooth target type grips, I'm beginning to waver. That looks to me to be some real "Fightin' Iron!" I wouldn't want to give up my 6" Model 686, but it might be "needing" some "company." Nice gun!
Froggie
Froggie
snubbiefan
Member
Mostly C.A.I. imports, but gunpoker has been flush with 'em.....get 'em while you can. Some are at $475 shipped free.
I would not turn loose of my 686-4 for one either, but the 681-3 I have makes a perfect companion. I actually got it for a bed-stand gun. My wife shoots the larger frames in 38-special better than her Jay, but they don't fit in her purse. If she decides to throw it at me.....no sights to knock out of alignment.
You could have a duo....or a trio. Get a 648 and you could have quadruplets....and on-n-on it could go.
I would not turn loose of my 686-4 for one either, but the 681-3 I have makes a perfect companion. I actually got it for a bed-stand gun. My wife shoots the larger frames in 38-special better than her Jay, but they don't fit in her purse. If she decides to throw it at me.....no sights to knock out of alignment.
You could have a duo....or a trio. Get a 648 and you could have quadruplets....and on-n-on it could go.
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