S & W 586 vs. 686

[2dswamp]

Need some advice from you Smith guy's. I posted this question in the H/Guns General section also.

True or false...model 586 was replaced by the 686?

686 only comes in stainless steel?

586 can be found in a blue finish?

Dilemma...I want one with a 2.5" barrel in blue finish. That leaves out the 686 (True?)

So how hard will it be to find a 586 in blue with a 2.5" barrel?

or
Should I buy a 686 and duracoat it?

Help

 

[Colt46]

Same gun

Smith usually likes to add a 6 at the beginning of many models to indicate that it is a stainless offering. 29/629, 57/657, 25/625 are all examples of the same gun being offered in blue and stainless.
There are exeptions to this system and the 586/686 is one of them. They are the same gun, but you will never find a stainless 586 or a blue 686.
Not sure as to what barrel lengths you can get the 586, but I'm pretty certain they are much harder to find than their stainless brothers.

 

[highorder]

Not sure as to what barrel lengths you can get the 586

2.5", 4", 6", 8 3/8"


the 586 was available in nickel as well, FWIW. you may have better luck buying a 4" 586 (they're common) and buying a 2.5" barrel from Numrich...


and remember, duracoat is paint and looks like it, especially on a revolver.

there are other mock-blued finishes for stainless that look better.

 

[ArmedBear]

The 586 was reintroduced a year or two ago. The ones I saw sat around the shop for a while. They were pretty, but even as a lover of walnut and polished blue, I wouldn't buy one. A couple times in a holster, and blue isn't so pretty any more. I can afford to buy a gun like that now and again, but I'm certainly not wealthy enough to buy that gun so it can sit in a safe.

A friend of mine has the 8 3/8" 686, though. I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat if I found one for sale locally. One of the best shooting guns I've ever pointed at a target.

 

[2dswamp]

Appreciate the feedback

As always...excellent advice! I appreciate all the info/intel!