Who's got a Model 681?

[hangnoose]

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.

 

[snubbiefan]

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.

_______________________________

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.

 

[lowercase]

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!

 

[hangnoose]

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.

 

[snubbiefan]

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.

 

[gkitch]

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

What the heck are cokes doing on an L-frame? Stainless Steel, no less...and an auction gun? This does not compute...

 

[bwdilli]

Are those coke grips??!! Whoa!!!!! Arguably nicer than the gun!

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]

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

 

[snubbiefan]

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.

 

[Smithy]

I do and like it!

 

[WaMike]

I appreciate this thread in that mine came with factory targets, which to me look weird on this particular model. To illustrate my angst, I removed the targets and put on Pachmeyer, which actually look better (to my eye, anyway!).

So the various grips on this post are helping. I'm leaning toward smooth, darker, maybe finger grips?

 

[Coaltminer]

Jlduke, what's the holster pictured with your revolver? I carry mine in an OWB Bianchi Ranger, but would prefer an IWB like yours. Thanks!

 

[Jlduke]

It came with the gun. I really have no idea.

 

[mike from st pete]

^ I've got a 681 no dash it is in my avatar.

 

[4D5]

Here's mine

 

[Vulcan Bob]

That's a nice one, like the grips! The only 681 I have is a CRPD "Con Rail Police Department" in .38 Special. Still looking for it's big brother in .357 Mag, just don't see em used around here. The single Pic's of it went down with my last computer but here it is in a .38 Special group photo, it's center top row.

 

[stantheman86]

I have a 581 no dash that was carried by a Memphis police officer. It has seen quite a few rounds, looks like it's fair share of light bullet .357's given the visible flame cutting but endshake is minimal and it times perfectly.

I left the springs and grips stock, it shoots just fine , no need to mess with it. Looks like it just came off the streets yesterday

 

[Wee Hooker]

Here is my (soon to be sold) CRPD in 38 special. I'm replacing it with a early production (stamp on right side) 357 flavor. (Pics pending.)