686, missing rear sight - worth the trouble?

[hAkron]

Local gun store has an S&W 686 4" barrel, no lock, with the shiny trigger and hammer, not the dirty looking newer ones. It seems to lock up tight, it's got the wooden square butt grips and they are in good shape. Not really a mark on it and they are asking only $450, the only catch is that the rear sight assembly is missing. Looks like all of the parts can be had from Brownells, but I have no idea the age of his gun, and it looks like some of the older versions of the sight assembly have been discontinued...so maybe I can get a replacement quickly and maybe I'll have to hunt. I'm probably going to pass on this deal, but I would appreciate any input.

 

[theicemanmpls]

I own one. Love it. Sights are not that much to buy, I think it was less then $20 labor to replace the broken front site.

Look at the online sites for pricing. Offer the gun store less then asking. Have cash in hand.

 

[hAkron]

The front sight is leSs involved than the rear though. The schematic that Brownells shows has like 10 individual parts...the guy at the counter said quietly to me that if I found one online and told them what it would cost me to replace it, he's pretty sure he could knock down the price enough to make the sight replacement a wash, my only worry is if the main assembly is still being sold. I should have written down the serial number and called S&W to ask them the part number for the sight assembly.

 

[hAkron]

I just added up a parts list at Brownells and it's like $85.00, assuming one of the assembly's they sell will work. I doubt they would let the gun go for less than $400, which would be about $430 after tax, and another $20 round trip in gas. That takes me up to $535.00 with a bag of small screws and springs that I need to assemble into a working rear sight. I think I'm going to pass. Anybody in north east Ohio that wants to jump on this, PM me and I'll tell you where theY are selling it.

 

[Black Knight]

Why not contact S&W and ask if they would sell you the entire rear sight assembly? I had to replace the rear sight on a S&W 28-2 about 25 years ago and all that was done was remove one screw, slide the sight off, slide the new one on, and replace the screw. Give S&W the serial number and they will be able to tell you if the sight for that particular dash model has been discountinued. Also check out Numrich Arms. They may have the assembly you need from an old parts gun. Good luck.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Sounds like a good opportunity to get the revolver on the cheap and upgrade it with a Bowen Classic Arms rear sight. As I recall they make them for S&W revolvers and they are a fair bit nicer than the factory rear sight is.

 

[Cearbhall]

I went to adjust the rear sight on my 686 and the screw snapped. Bought Bowens "Rough Country" sight and it gives the whole gun a nice quality look.

 

[earplug]

Scope it

You have to take the rear sight off for most scope mounts.

 

[Marty Hayes]

You can buy parts directly from Smith and Wesson. I wouldn't offer more than $400 for the gun. By the time you are done, you will have another hundred bucks in to it.

 

[oldbear]

Even if you could get the 686 for $400.00? You will have another $100.00 or more in repair costs. $500.00 for a really clean 686 is not out of line, the question is do you want to have to mess with a new,to you, revolver before you can shoot it?

 

[Dr_B]

If it were in my LGS for $400 and all I had to do was replace the rear sight, I'd grab it.

 

[Master Blaster]

You can probably find a rear sight on ebay for about $40, it will take you 5 minutes to install it, just make sure you get the nut with the hollow threaded stud with it. Back when there was a scope mount that replaced the rear sight on guns that were not drilled and tapped, thats why the original owner most likely removed it. If they took it on consignment or as part of an estate, the original owners family probably has it in a junk box somewhere.

 

[OldCavSoldier]

Check out GunBroker.com for 686 rear sight assemblies. Of course, Coal Dragger does have a great point about the Bowen Classic Arms rear sight.....

 

[Coal Dragger]

I would even go as far as replacing an existing rear sight with the Bowen rear sight.

 

[HankB]

Rear sight assembly for a 686 is $45.68 if you're registered at Brownell's . . . you might contact them with the dash number of the 686 you're looking at to verify.

FITS: 17-4, .22; 19, .357; 66, .357; 617, .22; 586, .357; 686, .357; 629, .44 Mag; 657, .41 Mag

 

[rcmodel]

they are asking only $450,

Try to trade the same gun missing a rear sight to them and you would be lucky if they gave you $100 bucks on it.

I'd offer them $300 tops to take it off their hands, and let you worry about fixing it..
They would still make a 300% profit on it I betcha.

rc

 

[rjrivero]

Try to trade the same gun missing a rear sight to them and you would be lucky if they gave you $100 bucks on it.

I'd offer them $300 tops to take it off their hands, and let you worry about fixing it..
They would still make a 300% profit on it I betcha.

rc

This is the way to go. I'd snap it up in a hearbeat for that price.

 

[hAkron]

Rear sight assembly for a 686 is $45.68 if you're registered at Brownell's . . . you might contact them with the dash number of the 686 you're looking at to verify.

FITS: 17-4, .22; 19, .357; 66, .357; 617, .22; 586, .357; 686, .357; 629, .44 Mag; 657, .41 Mag

That is JUST for the assembly (as far as I know) it doesn't include any of the springs or screws or anything that make it a complete rear sight.

 

[hAkron]

Try to trade the same gun missing a rear sight to them and you would be lucky if they gave you $100 bucks on it.

I'd offer them $300 tops to take it off their hands, and let you worry about fixing it..
They would still make a 300% profit on it I betcha.

rc

What would it be worth WITH the rear sight? I have to figure if theY bough it or $100 and if a rear sight is under $100 then they would buy one at their low dealer cost and slap it on there and turn their $200 investment into a $500+ gun if It was that simple.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Replacing the rear sight is not rocket surgery, so you either buy the gun and put a new rear sight on or you don't. If you don't know what the rear sight of your choice comes with for screws then call the seller and ask.

If putting a rear sight on is out of your skill set, or you are uncomfortable with doing it then best move on and find another revolver. I have taken the rear sight of my Freedom Arms off, and put it back on several times with no trouble, and I can't imagine a Smith being any more or less difficult to play with either.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Why not contact S&W and ask if they would sell you the entire rear sight assembly?

They might even replace it for free. S&W has very good customer service.

Tell them it came off and was lost. That's not lying; You don't know whether it was removed or just popped off when the previous owner was shooting it. All you know is, one way or the other, it came off, and you don't have it

 

[Prodigalshooter]

I'm jealous, here where I live, that gun would be selling for a lot more, even w/o the rear sight.

 

[mooner]

I'd say if it is really that nice, it is definitely worth it. You also can't factor in the price of gas to go to and from a gun store. Gun stores are a "fun" trip. Fun trips don't use gas money, its a nice way to spend an afternoon. Did you factor in the gas money when you went to the gun store the first time?

Also, regarding the assembly not including springs and screws. You might want to check the details on that one. To me, the fact they call it an "assembly" means that all the parts are included.

 

[TonyT]

If I remeber correctly there are two different rear sight assembles for guns of that vintage. One was rounded at the forwad edge the other had a square front edge. A look at the top strap will tell you which one fits.

 

[aaronu]

Not sure what a good condition 686 goes for these days but take that number, figure $85 in parts and $15 in hassle and subtract $100. Offer them less and compromise on that number. $300 is low but maybe you can get it for $350 to $375.

I just posted in another thread that a S&W rep gave me a new rear sight because the one on my 686 was bent... probably dropped by the previous owner. Smith & Wesson sure did right by me. I say it doesn't hurt to ask them.

FYI it was two screws to change the sight. Really not a big deal.

I should check around. There's a fair chance I still have the old, torqued rear sight in a box somewhere. I'm on the road but I can check this weekend. I can't remember if it's the rounded one or the squared off one.

I bet there are ppl on fleabay or craigslist that changed sights and want to get a quick $20 out of the stock one. That's probably the easiest option.

Good luck.

Aaron