Model 686

[Budshad]

Is a Smith and Wesson no dash model 686 something special to have? Its the first model without revisions. Sometimes that can be a bad thing. Mine is the 4 inch stainless steel frame with black adjustable rear sights and the red marked non adjustable front sight. Holds 6. Its in great shape with the wooden grips. Is it a collectible? Just curious as to what y’all think. Thanks.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Yes, yes, and YES!

My absolute favorite handgun-

and Ive had/got a few......dozen.......hundred......

The dash revisions didnt make it a better gun, just cheaper to manufacture.

There were some early teething problems with binding due to oversize FP bushings and a few reports of canted/loose barrels, but otherwise the 686 is one of the finest weapons (or even tools in general) made by man.

Although they were made in large numbers, you dont see them for sale every day anymore because those who have them tend to keep them. I would say they are definitely collectible, as is any pre-lock S&W revolver.

 

[AustinTX]

Is a Smith and Wesson no dash model 686 something special to have?

Sweet-shooting and desirable guns, but not special in terms of being particularly collectible, in my opinion. S&W made a boatload of the no-dash 686, and they aren't that scarce, even in excellent condition.

That said, if the gun is unfired, comes with the original box (with serialized tag) and all papers, and has not been sent in for the hammer nose bushing recall (it would have an "M" stamp added on the crane), then it would be worth a few hundred more than a current-production 686. Some might legitimately call such a specimen collectible. If any of those conditions are not met, however, the value of your gun wouldn't be very significantly different from that of a factory-new 686.

 

[ms6852]

When I bought my 686 no dash over 36 years ago , I chose this model over the Colt Python because the action was smoother and it was stainless. At the time Colt was having timing issues with their Pythons, it was a hit and miss. I have both now and still prefer to shoot the 686 over the python but it's just my personal preference.

 

[mope540]

Quite a number of 686s have been produced. The common 686s are just that, and collectors want only NIB, but they are desirable to many because they are great revolvers. Most 'collectible' 686s will be pre-lock, have unusual barrel lengths, hold 7 rounds (-4 and -5 + models), or will be a Performance Center model.
Edit to add...keep an eye open for any 686 stamped "CS-1" on the crane. Made for U.S. Customs. May or may not have been issued by USC, but still collectible. Barrel lengths are 3" or 4"...3" being more valuable.

some 'scarce' models...top to bottom
686-3 w. Millet rings 1of 1100
686-4+ (7 shot) produced for about a year. 1 of ???
PC 686-4 Light Magnum Hunter 1 of 260. Best shooting revolver i have ever owned.

 

[J-Bar]

S&W recalled the 686 no dash because some had problems with locking up when primers failed to reseat completely. The fix, at factory expense, was to replace the bushing around the firing pin. Those that were corrected at the factory have an “M” stamped on the frame under the crane. S&W still honors this recall.

I cannot comment on collectibility. On shootability, I love mine, corrected after inheriting it from an uncle.

 

[TonyAngel]

Desireable but not collectible. Too many of em around, so shoot the snot out it and have fun.

 

[Eddietruett]

Some say the -4 is the best of all, but I've owned at least one of all the revisions and I can't tell the difference. One thing that some like is a lot of the -4's have a case colored hammer and trigger instead of the flash chromed one. As @TonyAngel said not really collectable, but you can expect to pay a nice penny if you run across a -4 that is 7 shot. The prelock, pre MIM 7 shots go for some serious change especially in the 2.5" Barrel.

 

[cfullgraf]

I know the 586 no dash had a recall concerning the firing pin. I believe the recall applied to the 686 no dash as well. My wife's 4" 586 no dash has not had the issue that prompted the recall so it has not been updated--yet.

So, you have to decide if the update is valuable or not. We are not planning to update our Model 586.

Engineering changes, otherwise known as dash numbers, are both improvements and/or cost cutting manufacturing changes in the design of the revolvers. Some changes are desirable, some changes are considered not desirable. The "Standard Catalog of S&W" book is a good reference to have on hand for determining the changes of various models of S&W handguns.

 

[Budshad]

I worded my question wrong. Of course its special. Lol. I meant rare or something to not ever get rid of. Y’all all answered my question and have the same exact opinion as I do about it being a sweet shooter. And no, mine hasnt had the M recall done. Bought it for 400 bucks at my favorite pawn shop because it was in just great shape. Thanks guys.

 

[ms6852]

One thing I've known about the 686's is that they did not balloon in value like my python which I shoot quite often as I do all my firearms as I am not a collector and don't see my firearms as an investment, just big men toys. My 686 with the 6" barrel will probably still fetch me the same dollar value that I paid for the 686+ that I carry and bought 3 decades later.

 

[GRIZ22]

The problem with collectibles is you have to find someone willing to pay the price.

I've never looked at collectibility. I've sold every gun for more than I paid for it.

When I was looking for an L frame 357 I wound up buying a GP100. I'm more into shooting than collecting.

JMO. If you can get the 686 for a good price go for it.

 

[gotboostvr]

My 686-0 is probably my favorite handgun. Such a sweet, light action. Great shooter. Definitely nicer than the -6 I used to have.

 

[badkarmamib]

Coming from someone who doesn't enjoy shooting wheelguns, but thinks that they are hands-down the most aesthetically pleasing firearms, the S&W 686 is by far the nicest-looking handgun to me (no offense to JMB, who made the nicest-SHOOTING handgun, IMHO). So, the pictures in this thread are welcome.

 

[AustinTX]

The problem with collectibles is you have to find someone willing to pay the price.

Not particularly hard to do in the era of online gun auctions and discussion forums.

Coming from someone who doesn't enjoy shooting wheelguns, but thinks that they are hands-down the most aesthetically pleasing firearms, the S&W 686 is by far the nicest-looking handgun to me

I know I’m very much in the minority, but the L-frame S&Ws have always left me a bit cold in terms of aesthetics. I think they’re nice-looking (and great-shooting) guns, but a full underlug on a S&W just doesn’t look quite right to me.

 

[DDDWho]

My 686 no dash that I bought new in 1986. I still have the receipt ($310), box and all of the paper work that came with It. A gorgeous gun

 

[Budshad]

My 686 no dash that I bought new in 1986. I still have the receipt ($310), box and all of the paper work that came with It. A gorgeous gun View attachment 898048

Thats my gun. Looks exactly like it. Beautiful.

 

[I6turbo]

I love my 1982 model 686 (no dash) that I've had since 1985 or so. I've handled several revolvers, Pythons and other Colts, other S&Ws, and Rugers but the 686 is above all of them, IME.

Back in the day I lightened the springs, but I don't recall if I did any other work on it, or not. DA is completely smooth, 6.5# pull, SA is 2.3# and just perfect. The 686 action is noticeably better than my 1983 model 586 (I don't know why that would be, but it is) and noticeably better than my 1985 model 67-1. The 67 and 586 both have lighter springs (though not as light as the 686), but there's more to the 686 advantage than just the lighter springs. It is a fabulous gun, and of course is very accurate as they all tend to be.

 

[I6turbo]

That said, if the gun is unfired, comes with the original box (with serialized tag) and all papers, and has not been sent in for the hammer nose bushing recall (it would have an "M" stamp added on the crane), then it would be worth a few hundred more than a current-production 686. Some might legitimately call such a specimen collectible. If any of those conditions are not met, however, the value of your gun wouldn't be very significantly different from that of a factory-new 686.

That depends upon the buyer. For me, the value would be MUCH different, i.e. higher, than a factory-new (current production) 686.

 

[Eddietruett]

The 686 is one of my favorites. I just recently picked up this little beauty.

 

[Rock185]

Since shortly after they were introduced I've owned several L-frames, including at least three no dash models. One did have to go back due to primer flow tieing up the action, another no dash I sent back for the M modification just because. They are favorites of mine, but I never considered the standard production versions to be collectible. Now days of course, any pre lock S&Ws are touted as something special by sellers. The ones that seem especially desirable to buyers, due to engineering changes to that point, were the 686-4 versions.

 

[AustinTX]

That depends upon the buyer. For me, the value would be MUCH different, i.e. higher, than a factory-new (current production) 686.

Well, for me too, since I have less than zero interest in a current-production 686. But my point was just about average fair-market values. While you may place a much higher personal value on a 686 no-dash in the condition described than on a current-production 686, you wouldn't ultimately have to cough up anything close to the full amount of that difference, judging by records of recent online sales.

 

[gotboostvr]

Well, for me too, since I have less than zero interest in a current-production 686. But my point was just about average fair-market values. While you may place a much higher personal value on a 686 no-dash in the condition described than on a current-production 686, you wouldn't ultimately have to cough up anything close to the full amount of that difference, judging by records of recent online sales.

Agreed, I paid about 2/3 of the price of a new 686-6 a few years ago for my excellent 686-0. I considered it a no brainer.

 

[.38 Special]

I know I’m very much in the minority, but the L-frame S&Ws have always left me a bit cold in terms of aesthetics. I think they’re nice-looking (and great-shooting) guns, but a full underlug on a S&W just doesn’t look quite right to me.

Actually, I suspect that the people who tend to collect "rare and desirable" S&W revolvers also tend to share that opinion, along with a preference for blued finishes. That may be the reason the 686 - while a fine and useful gun - doesn't seem to have aroused much interest among those collectors.

 

[SteadyD]

My uncle carried a no dash 686 as a deputy many years ago. His still never has had the recall taken care of.