New S&W 681 (to me)

[4D5]

Picked this up this Saturday at one of the pawn shops I frequent. It had only been out a week so the negotiating wasn’t as easy if it had been there a while. But I’ve bought from them before so I did pretty well anyway. I though I’d better buy it now rather than wait for better negotiation opportunities because it might be gone later (happened to me once).

It had a few cosmetic issues on a part of the cylinder and one side of the barrel but I got those cleaned up with Birchwood Casey lead remove and polish cloth.
There were a few rough spots on the right recoil shield edge that cleaned up with a little stone work. The action is ok but probably could use a little work.

I got it cleaned up and got to take it out for a quick trip and ran 50 rounds through it. Shot nice but the grips have to go. I’m either going with hogue or Ahernds for better purchase and control.

No box or papers. I checked its DOB and it somewhere between 1980-1986.

S&W model 681 no dash and no “M” stamp
Stainless steel
4” bbl
357mag

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

Nice. I put CT grips on mine for my wife and keep it loaded with +P .38 Specials.

ECS

 

[rainbowbob]

That is beautiful! It would make a perfect companion to the nickel Model 10 I picked up last week.

I hope you will consider leaving those beautiful stocks and adding a Tyler T-Grip (t-grips.com). You will love the way they fill the hand and prevent the knucle-busting on your middle finger - while retaining the classic good looks. An alternative would be wood target grips with a cut-away to facilitate a speedloader (available from S&W).

Or you could sell it to me??

 

[jad0110]

Very nice gun. My sister lucked out in Dec 07 and bought a -3 before the prices shot up ... for $350.

S&W will perform the recall work, and I believe they'll cover shipping both ways. That would be good timing to have them do an action job.

 

[amd6547]

I agree on the Tyler T-grip...I use it with My 686-1, and I can even CCW it, four inch barrel notwithstanding. I have a set of target cocobolo's for the range.

 

[rainbowbob]

S&W will perform the recall work

Recall? Can you elaborate please?

 

[sgt127]

rainbowbob:

The original L frames had a problem with the primer flowing back into the firing pin hole bushing. It could lock the cylinder up. Particularly with full house 125 grain loads. Smith replaced the firing pin and bushing and then stamped an "M" beside the model number on the frame. Alot of kits were sent out to LE armorerers to make the repairs. I actually have the whole set of tools to do it, but, no new parts. (A Smith Collectible that has little or no value. )

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Love that gun 6+1

Wish I had one, even with a 3" barrel.
I think they came new with both Hogue Bantam rubber and S&W wood grips.

I doubt a knowing seller would come down much on a 4" 681 (over $800 new I think)
Good Eye and Great Find

 

[Confederate]

Nice gun. Oh, if Smith still made guns like that!

 

[amd6547]

Here is my 686-1, with the Bianchi holster I found cheap on EBAY. Mine has had the M mod.

 

[Barker45]

The 3" or 4" 681 is my idea of the perfect duty/combat revolver! You did good.

 

[VA27]

Keep those grips and put on a nice Tyler T-Grip! It's a classic, congratulations!

 

[billybob44]

681 Deal...

Picked up my Model 681 in 1991..Traded a like new GM AM-FM/Cassette radio and $50.00.. The FIRST thing I did was "Run" the serial #.. Came up clean+have been shooting it ever since..

 

[Nico Testosteros]

My 681 was the first revolver I bought. I love it. I replaced the stock grips with a Hogue grip made out of coco bolo. It's more accurate now I've replaced the grips and its beautiful.
I need to take some pics to post.