Need Info On S&W 686

[charliemopic]

Few days ago I bought an H & R Model 905. This is a .22LR 9-shot stainless steel revolver with a 4" bull barrel that measures .725" dia. It has adj. rear sight and looks to be a Bullseye gun...its heavy.
I also got a lightly used stainless S&W 686 with 6 inch barrel.
Both wheelers for $600...probably paid too much.

Anyway, Once i got the Smith home I started looking at online pictures of other 686's and found a few differences.
-I see others have a 'pinned' front sight, mine does not.
-If I'm not mistaking, some of the model 686 have a pinned barrel. Mine does not.
-Trigger color differs too. Mine (and others) are a matte stainless color. I've seen others that are a multi-color case hardened color.
Mine has the firing-pin On the hammer.
-Do all 600 series (686) Smiths have the F-pin on the hammer?
I have a 5 year old taurus that does not have a hammer mounted F-pin and a Rossi that does.
-When and Why did S&W stop mounting the F-pin on the hammer?
-Is there a data base somewhere where I can find out what year my particular Smith was manufactured?
At least what decade?
-Where online can i read up on on my model Smith.

Thank You For Your Time
-charliemopic-
who is also -VonBarky- at ar15.com

 

[charliemopic]

Uhhh, maybe I should check out the stickies.

 

[hexidismal]

Well, start here. A 23 page thread dedicated to the 686.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=257401

The first thing you want to look at is what 'dash' revision your 686 is. This is smith and wessons method of showing different changes in production to a model. It will be visible on the frame when the cylinder is out. It may also have no dash revision , or a code 686 M which indicates a return to the factory for a recall fix to early models.

These are some basic guidelines. Quoting myself from post #325 of the 686 thread.

686 ''dash nothing'' - 1980
686-1, 1986 - radius stud package and floating hand
686-M - 1987 recall stamping on earlier versions
686-2, 1987, hammer nose change, bushing and ass'd parts
686-3, 1988, new yoke retention system, 1990 - 2 1/2" barrel introduced.
686-4 1994 - 1998 - many changes including move to 7 shot, sight changes etc.
686-5 revision built with MIM parts and frame-mounted firing pin. varied other changes
686-6 introduction of S&W internal lock

As to your questions

-I see others have a 'pinned' front sight, mine does not.

Yep, that's normal. Some revisions and special models have a pinned sight, some don't.

-If I'm not mistaking, some of the model 686 have a pinned barrel. Mine does not.

I don't think any 686 has a pinned barrel. It could be that I'm half a sleep and wrong about that , but I'm fairly certain.

-Trigger color differs too. Mine (and others) are a matte stainless color. I've seen others that are a multi-color case hardened color.
Mine has the firing-pin On the hammer.

Yes, the 686-4 revision and forward has the color case hardened appearance of the trigger I believe.

-Do all 600 series (686) Smiths have the F-pin on the hammer?

No. 686-5 and 686-6 have a frame mounted pin.

-When and Why did S&W stop mounting the F-pin on the hammer?

They claim less breakage. Probably true since the change to MIM parts. Some would argue that.

-Is there a data base somewhere where I can find out what year my particular Smith was manufactured?
At least what decade?

Other than from my list above, use the..
DOB thread for S&W Revolvers

 

[Jim K]

Having replaced a fair number of hammer mounted firing pins, I can't argue with S&W saying they changed to reduce breakage. The change to a frame mounted firing pin is not directly connected to the use of MIM parts.

Jim

 

[LubeckTech]

Sounds to me like you got a decent deal price wise.