Need Info on S&W 686

[gwlammers]

I'm interested in a S&W 686 Plus (7 shot) revolver. In my research I have come accross some variants that I'm hoping one of you all can explain.

What is the difference between the Standard, Talo, Deluxe, and Distinguished Combat Magnum versions?


Thanks.

 

[philpost]

Can't shed any light on the different models, but I just picked up a 686-P last Thursday (7 shot, unfluted barrel) and it's a very nice piece.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

I it a 5" one like this?

 

[Jim Watson]

"Distinguished Combat Magnum" is the name S&W introduced the L frame revolvers, models 581, 586, 681, and 686 under, going back to the pre-1957 era when guns had names, not numbers.
It did not catch on, nobody uses the names any more. A .38 revolver built in 1948 is seldom called a Military & Police, it is usually called a "pre-model 10."

Talo is a distributor big enough to have special order guns made up at the factory with some set of features not in the makers' catalog. They might offer 500 guns with a non-standard barrel length and/or pimp styling with plating and etching. A couple of years later somebody finds one in a store and thinks he has struck gold.
Waldo's unfluted cylinder may be from a special order gimmick like that.

I don't know what standard and deluxe descriptions you are referring to. Maybe you could link me to advertisements using those terms. But advertising is mostly what it is.

 

[tprice]

Some of those are not S&W factory models, but may be modified by distributors or tacked on by people trying to get $100 bucks more than retail for the same gun. Window dressing that has no collector's value and will not significantly change resale (other than maybe reducing it) - similar to putting 20" wheels on a Chevy sedan (aka "bling"). Search "Talo" for a few (mostly negative) posts on that resale group.

*cracks open the Standard Catalog*

The current S&W nomenclature for the 686:

"Distinguished Combat Magnum" is the name S&W gave the 686 - all 686's are DCMs.

SSR, "Stock Service Revolver," is a model with a special barrel (angled underlength lug), grip, and tuned springs.

"Plus" refers to a 686 with a 7-shot cylinder.

There was a "deluxe" model I guess, the 686-5 DX, but it was only sold in 2000 through the S&W company store.

Unfluted cylinders were available from the factory for a brief time under the name "Euro-Hunter"

Other official model names included: Classic Hunter, Competitor, Action Revolver, CS-1 (made for US Customs Service), Powerport, Mountain Gun, Target Champion, Challenger, Carry Comp, and Super Target.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

Jim Watson

Waldo's unfluted cylinder may be from a special order gimmick like that.

That it is, it is one of 1125 for Southern Sports. I will post another picture today after I get a couple taken. You will love the new wood.

 

[Jim Watson]

I am sure that is a very fine gun but the lack of flutes would not make it worth more (or less) than a stock gun to me.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

Well Jim it would not to me either. The reason I like the idea of unfluted cylinder is they are easier cleaning. No messing around trying to get crud out of the flutes and not as much seems to come back over the cylinder.

I guess of the life of owning and cleaning a revolver it would be worth maybe a $50 premium at best, but the gun should be cheaper because of less work milling the cylinder. I like the looks of them also.

 

[madcratebuilder]

It did not catch on, nobody uses the names any more.

I don't know about that, my Smith shooting buds and I use names as often as model #'s. It distinguishes us from the the unwashed masses

Model numbers for most folks. I never liked the "pre" model name bs.

 

[philpost]

Waldo, that's the one. I don't think it's any more valuble for the 7 shots or unfluted barrel, just a little more unusual.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

I sold it to a local dealer who will probably put it on GB, he gave me what I had in the gun and I put the money in the bank to almost pay for my Model 41 7" I ordered from S&W on the 40% discount for Active Duty and Retired military. I was able to order the new gun for $772.20 and am happy as a lark. I look at it as getting a the 41 for $200 trade difference with that 686 and sure make me happy. That is like getting $700 to $1000 for the 686 at dealer trade in for me. Now for the wait, and I'm told by S&W about 60 days for a delivery time.

They will be doing it again next year I was told and if I can I will order my 310 Night Guard at that time.

 

[Raspy]

A couple of features I've seen listed for the Talo model 686+ (besides the wood grips) are forged hammer and forged trigger. Are these on the standard model 686+ too?

 

[Radagast]

AFAIK the 686 & 686 plus use metal injection molding triggers and hammers. The 686SSR uses a forged hammer and trigger.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

I thought Talo was a Ruger model.

 

[nerd-with-a-gun]

Talo customizes many different makes of handguns. Here is a Talo S&W 686:

http://www.coolhandlukefirearms.com/sw686talo.html

 

[Waldo Pepper]

Learning something new is really quite a pleasant experience when it concerns guns & ammo.