I've never been more desperate for help: 686 3" Unfluted

[mattz357]

After recently seeing a picture posted by Smithnut, I am all but completely obsessed with the 3" 686 with unfluted cylinder. Have you ever had that "perfect" gun, well this is it for me. If anyone can provide me with ANY info how or where to find one of these, I would be forever in your debt. It is a recent version with internal firing pin, but still before the lock. Many thanks in advance!!!

 

[Standing Wolf]

Since buying a three-inch model 629 with an unfluted cylinder, I've come to like the look and feel of these guns.

There's a problem.

I called Kramer Leather about a holster. The individual I spoke with talked to his boss, then assured me the company could, indeed, make a holster for the gun with an unfluted cylinder. By and bye, the holster was delivered, but for the gun with a fluted cylinder.

After about a dozen telephone calls and a considerable delay, Kramer reluctantly agreed to "make the holster right."

By and bye, the holster was returned to me. It was patch-jobbed into a holster for a... Well, for a... Well, how about a semi-fluted cylinder?

I've spoken with several other holster makers who weren't interested, and a couple more who were, but only for super-premium prices. I'm still looking for a local leather person to fix my Kramer patch job holster.

Unfluted cylinders are mighty pretty, especially after you have them engraved; finding a way to carry them, however, can take some extra doing and money.

 

[grey9551]

Holster Maker

Standing Wolf,

Try Eric Larsen at

http://www.hbeleatherworks.com/

He should be able to make one for you with out any problems.

Gary Morris

 

[Glock Hoss]

Wow, that is gorgeous. I have been real interested in the 686 3inch, but have also been unsuccessful. Is that made entirely of S&W parts or are there some aftermarket? I'd love to get my hands on one.
Hoss

 

[Black Snowman]

Eric will probably need the gun to make the holster and he'll probably need it for a while, but he does good work and charges reasonable prices for it. I have a few of his holsters myself.

That does look like a sweet gun. I've always been fond of unfluted cylinders. Good luck in your quest! An alternative might be getting an unfluted replacement cylinder for a fluted 3" 686, but that would run a couple hundrad dollars. Still, if you can find a 3" cheap it might be a more cost effective way to go.

 

[DHart]

There are 3" 686 guns out there with fluted cylinders which I think makes good sense... lightens the gun just a bit and makes finding good holsters much easier and much less expensive. Round trip shipping alone to send your gun to a holster maker will add anywhere from 50 to 75 bucks to the cost of the holster. Would you be nearly as happy with a 3" 686 which has a fluted cylinder?

 

[mattz357]

I'd be very happy with a 3" with a fluted cylinder as well, but the holster isn't a bid deal for me. I'm in IL, no carry for us, so no matter how nice the holster is, I can't use it.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Grey9551:

Thanks for that link, eh? 'Tis appreciated!

 

[9x19]

RSR "Exclusive" 3" 686... made well before "the agreement", lock or other silliness that so cheapens the S&W name these days.

 

[mattz357]

9x19, is that yours? Great pic, thanks!

 

[Brian Williams]

3 inch guns look great and here is another only a Mod 19 from the S&W forum

 

[DHart]

Brian... sweet 3" Model 19!

Here's a gun I will be picking up tomorrow... I'm really excited about this "find"! These are the sales photos. I'll make some more of my own as soon as I get a beautiful pair of Spegal boot grips on it.

Smith & Wesson Model 686 CS-1 .357 Magnum 3" barrel

 

[DHart]

Mattz... speaking of 3" revolvers (my favorite wheelgun size) here's another 3" model which I really, really love... you might consider adding one of these someday. They are just about the exact same size as a 3" 686, but with fixed sights (really better for concealed carry). And readily available in both blue and stainless. They're remarkably accurate, comfortable to shoot, and can handle hot loads with ease.

Ruger GP-100 3" Barrel, Fixed sights, .357 magnum (KGPF-331)

Ruger GP-100 3" Barrel, Fixed sights, .357 magnum (GPF-331)

 

[mattz357]

DHart, I knew I should have emailed you. I'm well aware of your love for the 3" models, I have the same love for them. You seem to have a nack for finding them, so if you come across another 65 or 686 in any configuration in 3", would you mind giving me a head's up? I was taking a serious look at a 3" GP100, but I couldn't bring myself to buy it. All I could think was that it looked like a brick compared to my Smiths. Thanks for all the awesome pictures and thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.

 

[MrMurphy]

It may look like a brick, but the GP handles well in the hand, and shoots as well as, if not better, than some 686s.

I owned a 581 (4" blued fixed sight L-frame) and shot about half a dozen 686s, and the GP100 gives up nothing to them, except maybe a bit of trigger weight (fixable).

Ruger still makes the 3" GP too.

 

[Marshall]

DHart,

If you don't mind, how much is that 3" 686 setting you back? Oh yea, the Pachmayr's look good on it.

 

[Brian Williams]

Matt try Rusty sherrick 1-717-361-7699 I have seen some of his work and it is excellent. I want to get one of his for my 13 and 65.

 

[DHart]

mattz... if you haven't handled and, especially, fired the 3" GP, you're in for a treat. They are magnificent guns which I like every bit as much as I like my Smiths (and I have a heck of a lot more Smiths). The triggers are heavier out of the box and have a different feel, but with a little spring work and some dry firing, you can get a very nice trigger indeed on a GP. I will often use my GP's in place of my Smiths because I'm less worried about hurting them or wearing them out. They can handle heavy loads with ease, are exceptionally accurate (even with fixed sights!), and are almost exactly the same size and weight as a 686. Nice thing is that you can buy them new in the box, with no internal locks... yet! If you can afford to, why don't you pick up a blue or stainless 3" GP to enjoy while (and after) you look for your 3" Smith? I don't think you'll be at all disappointed with the GP. Having a GP and a Smith is like having a Mercedes and a BWM... they're different from each other, but both wonderful.

Marshall... I got a package deal since I bought two guns: 3" 696 and 3" 686 for $550 each. In fact, I'd better get my butt on the road to go meet Smithnut and get my guns! Today's the day.

 

[DHart]

mattz... another option to the 686 3" would be to buy a used 4" or 6" 581 or 681 (fixed sight models) and have the barrel cut down and the butt rounded. That would actually be a much better carry gun than a 686 because you wouldn't havee those adjustable sights hanging up on clothing. In fact I'm doing just that. I recently found a 4" 681 which will undergo the knife soon! It will emerge as a 3", round butt 681. It will be a magnificent defense/carry revolver. Doing so is a little more work and money, but well worth it and you'll have a true custom S&W. Pick a big name outfit to do the work to protect your investment. Used 581's and 681 are not in much demand as everyone seems to think that adjustable sights are necessary on such guns... you can pick them up for $275 to $300. Spend $300-250 for the customization and still be less than you would pay for a 3" 686! =

 

[groessebaer]

Having a 686 and GP I have to agree with DHart - each is different in a way and equally nice. Seems to me there were some 7 shot 686 + 3" models made as well before the lock. Don't recall if they were -4's or -5's, though.. Cylinder and Slide makes a fixed sight to replace the adjustable if one was going to carry concealed. This would add to the cost, though.

 

[U.F.O.]

Re: Holster for unfluted revolver.

Check out the post by Bob R in this thread. It looks like this IWB model would work regardless of whether cylinder fluted or not.

U.F.O.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=1456513#post1456513

 

[DHart]

groessebaer... nice to know there is a fixed sight replacement for the adjustable sights on a 686! I'm definitely going to look into that for my 3" 686 CS-1. Cool!