[jame]

I have a S&W 686-3 Classic Hunter, factory Hogues, unfluted cylinder, 6" bbl, that has been a safe queen for 4 years now. I am considering selling her or trading for something I will use more often. Handgun hunting is a lot more work (for me ) than it used to be, and for the occasional varmint out the back door, I find myself reaching for a rifle more and more often. This goes against one of my rules of never selling a gun that's accurate, but with my middle aged eyes, it ain't as accurate as it used to be. Any ideas about value? I'm not sure if it gets standard 686 pricing, or if it gets a little more.

Help?

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's jame-

The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Supica
and Nahas list pricing of all 686's as follows:

NIB 400 EXC 325 VG 275

It makes No mention of a price differential for the
"Classic Hunter" series. However, if its really nice
you may could squeeze out $350?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Stainz]

Gads... my eyes were giving me grief, too. I'll hit double nickels next month, so prebsbyopia is my problem. I sold most of my rifles (Eight!) last year since I couldn't visualize that rear sight. I bought S&W revolvers... I can hold them at my ever-shrinking-arm's-length. I added a +1.25 diopter dollar-store reading glasses and voila, I can see the revolver and out to 25+yd in decent light. Heck, I started hitting plates at 100+ yd with my 4" - 7.5" revolvers - what a blast. And... I gave away my guncase - these revolvers fit in an unobtrusive lockable drawer. Just a thought...

Stainz

[E357]

Almost all my larger revolvers now (thanks to my aging eyesight) now sport some kind of optics. Ultra small Optimas for pin or plate matches, red-dots for bullseye and small scopes for hunting. Carry guns either do without or have a grip laser.

My guns all shot WAY BETTER with optics. Welcome to middle age. I have the same rule about holding on to "shooters". But, the "Safe Queens" are just not any fun.

Elliot

[Jason Demond]

FWIW the new 686's are selling for 500.00 and LNIB 686's are just a tad over 400.00, in my neck of the woods.