Taurus 686 or what did I trade for? (Identification help)

[Spec ops Grunt]

Traded for this the other day, looks kinda worn out but the trigger is smooth and it seems sound. Haven't had the chance to shoot it yet. The problem is I have no idea what model it is.

Its a 38 special with adjustable sights. There is a stamping on the crane and the butt that says G and 686 (or 989?). Running the serial number through Taurus's database turns up nothing.

So uh what is it?

 

[ljnowell]

Has the sideplate on that revolver been welded?

 

[hemiram]

I don't know all the ins and outs of Taurus models, but it looks just like a blued version of my old Model 83. I'm going to take a chance and say it's a Model 86.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

I'm not sure if its been welded or what. yeah though there is something there.

It doesn't appear to be deep. Maybe its some sort of importation thing?

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Hmm, according to the Taurus manual for the 86, that model was only configured in a 6 inch barrel, yet this revolver has a 4 inch barrel.

Interesting.

 

[Jim Watson]

That is a pretty old Taurus, it has the top sideplate screw and looks like the cylinder stop screw of a 5 screw Smith. The bracket for the coil mainspring is retained by what would be the strain screw on a Smith, which they do not do any more. Did they once have a leaf mainspring like a K-Smith and this a "transition model" to coil? Looks like it.

It would be a major research project to find a model number for it.

The weld bead on the sideplate is scary. If it didn't warp the plate, it won't likely affect the shooting. You say the action is smooth so it is probably usable.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

good news, taking it apart revealed there is nothing wrong with the sideplate

bad news, I don't know how to put it back together. :banghead:


Edit: Yep, looks like I'm gonna have to make the walk of shame to a gunsmith.

 

[ljnowell]

did you look online for assembly instructions?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Even though it's hard to see much from those pictures it seems to be a M82.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

I've looked but not dice really :c

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

So this revolver appears to be a copy of a Smith like a model 19 or something an I have been able to put it back together, the problem is when I screw on the side plate it binds up, the hammer and trigger won't move and you have to force the cylinder to swing open. What am I doing wrong? Pop off the side plate and it functions fine

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Necro bumping cause I'm trying to figure out what kind of grips I should get for it. It came with a Hogue monogrip but I'm more of a factory wood sort of person.

I see Taurus factory grips for sale on ebay, would this be a large frame or medium frame square butt?

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Spec ops grunt, with jacked up stamping like that on your exemplar, my pistol does not seem so special. What do you make of this?

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

If I could read it I'd say something

 

[David E]

Hope you fixed it by now, but it sounds like the screws are in the wrong holes.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Yeah I fixed it myself rofl

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Glad to hear you found a solution. The picture sucks, but the gun was missed stamped. Believe it was supposed to be 686 but ended up 666.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

I wonder why these stampings are there when they don't correspond to any Taurus models. That seems like an interesting stamping all right.



Any ideas what kind of grips fit on yours, I'm assuming its really similar to mine.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Hogue TR-GP. My pistol has the square butt and is 357 mag.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Can't say I'm a fan of rubber grips, I'm just trying to figure out what kind of Taurus factory grips would work for it.