686-5?

[Sniper X]

Never saw one until today. In my fav gun shop used. Perfect condition or so it looks. 7 shot 357mag with a very nice set of stag (genuine) grips on it!

 

[hexidismal]

Mine is a 686-5. Actually they are a downgrade, as they started MIM parts on the dash 5 designation.

 

[gunzrfunz]

I also have the 686-5 . Mine is the 6" and I wouldn't consider it a downgrade. As many ppl have said on previous posts, MIM parts are common among even the most elite of gun manufacturers these days and does not denote poor quality, as you infer. I bought mine from gunbroker last summer for $370 slightly used but in excellent shape and even my FFL said it was one of the best deals he had seen in a long time. It has handled everything I put in it w/o a hiccup and I plan on keeping till my toes point up.

 

[Scooter72]

I have a 686-6 6" ported and I love it!!!

 

[Confederate]

I love my 6-incher, too. And I have chrome plated hammer/trigger and a stamped side plate. Wowso!

 

[Sniper X]

This one at the shop is a 2 or 3 inch. Never saw oone before.

 

[jato]

Here is mine purchased new in 1991. I used to carry it for duty, now it is just a safe queen. It is still my favorite .357

 

[Sniper X]

In excellent condition what is it probably worth?

 

[Kor]

$335 according to Supica & Nahas' Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson(2nd ed.) - although, in all honesty, I'd probably bite even if it was marked as much as $450(but for that much, it MUST be "Excellent" condition and WITHOUT the integral "doofus-lock" IMO). Case in point - I'm laying-away an excellent-condition 4" 686(6-rd., no-dash) right now, @ $375 + tax = $405.

If the gun is ported, or marked "Mountain Gun" or "Performance Center" it could be worth significantly more - but the book I referenced above has no info on values for limited-edition guns like these. I'd have to guess an extra $100 for a Mountain Gun, maybe $200-300 more for a Performance Center gun.

If that's too rich for your blood, post or PM me contact info for the shop, and I may take it off their hands - I could always use another 3" 686...

 

[hexidismal]

They definitely go for a good amount more around here. I've seen two used 686-5s, a 6" and a 4", in local shops marked $500 and $475.

 

[18DAI]

I haven't been able to find a 3" 686 for less than $550. The performance center made some 686-5, 3" 7-shots. If it's one of those, it's worth more than $500.

 

[Confederate]

Yes, I think some of those "wet dream" prices you see in some of these handgun blue books are ridiculous. They're almost always off by miles. The prices that guns are selling for are driven by what people will pay for them, not what some book says. Dealers and buyers may wave them under your nose, hoping you'll sell at those prices, but if you do, you can bet the person who ends up with it will subsequently say to other people, "Hey, guess what I paid for this gun?"

The books are very useful for resellers to show people who know nothing about handguns. They may get some firearms in an estate and a reseller or buyer can always look it up and show the seller "what the bluebooks says."

The idea of buying a 686 in primo condition for a paultry $335 would work out great for the buyer.

 

[hexidismal]

I paid $475 for this 686-5 6" in lightly used condition.

 

[Ala Dan]

I too have a 6" Smith & Wesson 686-5 .357 magnum that I originally paid
$439.95 for back in April of 2001. Its slightly used now, with box and doc's
but NOT for sale. I now sell used (but not abused) ones's in this kind'a
condition for $475.

The S&W 686 is a great firearm, worthy of being in anybodys collection;
regardless of barrel length. I still occassionally drag mine out, and send
some lead down range. My daughter actually loves shooting it more than
she does all of the semi-auto's that I own.

FWIW, the 27th edition of The Blue Book Of Gun Values list $390
for a 98 per center; but they say add $28 for a 4" gun, $35 for a 6" gun,
$84 for a PowerPort 6" barrel, or $55 for a 8-3/8" barrel (discontinued).
These prices are for the six-shot models only, and DO NOT reflect values
for the 686 Plus model.

 

[Bob79]

I've got a 686-5 plus model with the 4" barrel and I love it. Has a decent stock trigger pull, and I don't give a hoot about the MIM parts (just the lock). They are great guns, got mine from gunbroker.com for $465 about a year ago.

 

[Confederate]

Hexadismal said: "Mine is a 686-5. Actually they are a downgrade, as they started MIM parts on the dash 5 designation."

I'd sure like to know just why MIM parts are considered so awful. I understand it was a way of cutting corners and increasing profits, but what, really, is the downside? Do they wear faster? Are they rougher? Are they more susceptible to catastrophic failure?

MIM parts can be made from any type of metal, so what type of steel does Smith & Wesson use on a stainless revolver? Has anyone checked to see if an MIM part will rust?

 

[wooderson]

I believe it's partially an issue of tolerances. It's harder to get parts down into that hundredths or thousandths of an inch using the MIM process vs. forging or casting.

But where appropriate (where that small difference in tolerance isn't an issue), I don't see an issue with MIM.

 

[HighVelocity]

I picked up a LNIB 4" 686-5 2 years ago at a pawnshop for $300 out the door and use it to shoot SSR class in IDPA. I was a little concerned about the frame mounted firing pin at first since I'd never owned one but after many thousands of rounds downrange, it hasn't failed. I replaced the rebound slide and trigger with solid steel parts (because I had the parts already) but the hammer is still the original MIM piece.

Here's a pic. 686 (no dash) on top, 686-5 on the bottom.

 

[Sniper X]

Dang! They want $650.00 for the thing! NO WAY! I'm still going to see if it is a custom shop built doggie or something trick as I only looked in the case at it before.

 

[Bob79]

That is pretty high Sniper, usually you can find a pre-lock 686+ on one of the auction sites for +/- $500. Then add about $25 shipping, and your transfer fees, which brings to about $550 or so, which still beats $650. Keep checking and you'll find one, and you'll be happy, I can't remember reading any posts/info where someone did not like a 686.

 

[Ala Dan]

Definitely, on the high side. Here is my area, $599 is 'bout topps~!

 

[Sniper X]

Yeah, I got the revolver thing bad now after finally getting A Python! In fact, I'll have a second Pythoon next month. I'd love to have a 686 since I am trying to build a quality revolver collection. Right now I have

1975 6in Python
Taurus 605
Taurus model 88
AWA Longhorn with coil spring mod
Uberti Cattleman
1970 2 1/2 in Python (on lay away)
8 3/8 in 1970's Smith model 29 ( ala Dirty Harry) bought it for $200.00!
Colt Detectives Special
Smith model 60

thats just the revolver side of things!