S&W 686 3 1/2" question?
- Thread starter Roboshred
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SouthpawShootr
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Can't find any reference to a 3.5" barrel on a 686. A run of 3 inchers was made for US Customs Service. A special of of 3 inch Performance Center guns. No mention of 3.5". You sure it was 3.5? Any box with it? If you could get a product code or SN, I'm sure S&W could probably tell you something about it's original condition. Sounds like it might be a chop job. Is the Smith and Wesson engraving on the right side of the barrel centered along the length of the barrel? Lots of little things that can tip you off.
bpisler
Member
When you measure the barrel you need to go
from the muzzle thru the frame to the forcing
cone.
from the muzzle thru the frame to the forcing
cone.
SouthpawShootr
Member
Didn't think to mention that. If you (or the seller) just measured from the front of the frame to the end of the barrel, in all likelihood, its a standard 4 inch. Thing is, you mention the front sight has a black insert. This seems to me to be atypical for a 686 no dash with one of the shorter barrel lengths, however, it was a common modification since, on a stainless steel gun, a stainless ramp tends to disappear. Can you manage a picture of this gun?
alchemist11
Member
686
As was mentioned previously, the US custom 3" are very rare and a 3.5" was never made, so yours is probably a 4" measured wrongly. If it is a 3", then it's worth some $.
As was mentioned previously, the US custom 3" are very rare and a 3.5" was never made, so yours is probably a 4" measured wrongly. If it is a 3", then it's worth some $.
Stephen A. Camp
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Hello.
This is the 3" version mentioned above.
This revolver has Eagle Grips on it, but should let you see what the 3" version looks like.
Best and good luck.
This is the 3" version mentioned above.
This revolver has Eagle Grips on it, but should let you see what the 3" version looks like.
Best and good luck.
SouthpawShootr
Member
Roboshred said:
If it's a CS 3", it's probably worth about $150 over what the asking price is (I've seen them sell on gunbroker for in excess of $700). Only thing is, the CS models were made in '88 which puts it in the 686-3 production range. BTW, according to Supica and Nahas, the 2.5 was not brought out until later in the same production range (1990). The only other mention of a 3 inch barrel is a special run of 350 Performance Center guns in 1992, also 686-3, (this would have the S&W Performance Center logo in lieu of the standard S&W logo). These would be immenently collectable and worth a pile of money. 3 inch barrels were available from the factory and several people over at www.smith-wessonforum.com had existing standard barrel length 686s converted to this 3 inch length.
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