New 686 - an unusual find? (dial-up warning-lots of pics)

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

WebHobbit

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2003
Messages
410
Location
Rockport, IN - USA
I just took some quick and dirty pics of my new gun with my digital camera. I hope to do some better ones to add to my Gallery later as time allows (and I need to recharge the batteries!). But these should give ya the idea. I'm gonna post them one per post as I can't seem to figure out what this boards image limit is and this is the SECOND time I've had to type all of this out because it said I have too many images! ARRRRGGGGHHH!

Anyway after spending the last few days bemoaning that stupid internal lock S&W puts on all the new revolvers I actually found one today without it! :)

This 686 has some unusual features:

1) 7 shot cylinder (not so unusual but still new to me as I haven't bought a new gun in several years)

2) 5 inch barrel - balances quite nicely!

3) Round butt (again not so unusal anymore but back when I got my 4 inch it was pretty hard to find a round one and I had to "settle" for a square.

4) Cylinder seems to be a bit "radiused"/rounded. I like it.

5) Back of the trigger is somewhat "skeletonized".

6) High Visibility Front Sight (picks up any light in the room and sort of glows orange) Nice!

7) NO INTERNAL LOCK and NEW! Yeah!


So what do ya all think? Do I have a find here or what? The dealer said he didn't know if this was part of a special order/run or what but he was able to buy 4 of them and this is the last one.

I think I might have something special here.


:cool:

More pictures to follow this post.

686_5a.jpg
 
Does your camera have a 'macro' mode? Might help with those close ups.

Nice looking revolver.
 
Yeah, I'm sure it does. Has a lot of stuff I haven't explored fully yet and these I took in a hurry as the batteries were going down fast!

I plan to take some primo ones for my website. I just wanted to get these up quick because I'm curious to see if anyone has seen a 686 optioned like this before.
 
What is that a 686-? The new one's are -6. I think you do have
a special gun that's not part of regular production.
 
686-5 but was sold as new.

Could this have been some order from some department that was never fully "picked up" and sat someplace before getting sold to regular dealers?

:confused:
 
It could be something like that with a 5 inch barrel and a sight that is not normal production as far as I know.
anyway very nice. enjoy your new toy.
 
Supica and Nahas don't list a 686-5 with a 5" barrel. Are you sure it's 5"? Looks like a 6" to me, but I could be wrong. (It has happened...)
 
The -5 is not the barrel length. You must measure the barrel.
The -5 is the model revision.
 
Uhhhh..yeah. I know that. Stamped on the gun is "686-5" and it also happens to have a 5 inch barrel. Says so on the box and it's obviously one inch longer than my older 4 inch 686.


Edit: Just measured it with a tape measure and it is indeed 5 inches exactly.
 
Yup, ye olde hi-viz.
I got one with a 5 inch tube, and it seems like the perfect length.
I have an N frame 627 6 shot with 5.5" barrel which is about as handy as the L-frame, just a little heavier to pack.
It's a shame they don't have more 5" and 3" barrel lengths, they really are quite nice.
 
Is there someplace online I can plug in the numbers from this gun and find out more about it? Or am I gonna have to wait until tomorrow and call S&W's 1-800#?
 
You have an MIM trigger. It matches the trigger on my new (with lock) M66. I had thought that the MIM parts began on revolvers with the lock, Putting all the little oddities together, you certainly have an unusual one. It is possible that some -5 frames were set aside for a distributors' special order that never materialized, and were held and assembled later. You nver know what may jump from "unusual" to "rare", but if t was mine, I'd shoot it and enjoy it all the more....sure looks like a shooter :D
 
The MIM trigger & hammer came on the scene with the 686-5 in 1996, while the lock didn't show up 'til '01 or so.
 
I've seen these before at one of the local shops who happens to be a 'S&W stocking dealer'. They usually wind up as 'show specials' along with the model 65 Hi-viz.
 
I called S&W today. They said it was special. Took her a while to find it in the system. She said it looks like only about 1200 of these were made.

How does that compare to regular 686 production runs in a typical year? Anyone have any stats? Is it pretty rare?

Not like I'd ever sell it or anything! It's a keeper. I just never had anything "special" before.

:)
 
...WebHobbit is right...that was one of the "Stocking Dealer" guns from, IIRC, 2001 or 2002...1,200 sounds about right for the production total...FWIW, I've got one of the "Stocking Dealer" "Hi-Viz" Model 66's with the 3.2-inch barrel...also with the MIM lockparts, but no lock...don't like the "Hi-Viz" setup on the 66...the front sight has a ROUNDED top, and, in combination with the "V"-notch rear, leaves me cold...IF I decide to fire it, I'll probably change out the sights for a more conventional post-and-notch...MY two cents' worth, anyway....mikey357
 
You have a great find there, I'd like to feel the balance. I have a 686-5 6" gun and I just found an unfired 686-1 4". The -1 has the smoothest action I have ever owned. Now I need a 5" to fill in the gap.

Best,
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Unusual ammo, can't find reference
Replies
2
Views
419
sgt127
sgt127
D
  • Locked
For 686 lovers... about as sweet a set-up as I can imagine...
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
P95Carry
P
Mr.Revolverguy
  • Locked
Help Please 686 Identification
Replies
4
Views
409
Mr.Revolverguy
Mr.Revolverguy
D
  • Locked
Snubby fever hit me again: 686-4 2.5" 7-up
Replies
17
Views
1K
lunde
L
S
  • Locked
S&w 686
Replies
14
Views
904
MachIVshooter
MachIVshooter
Back
Top