The 686
- Thread starter g5reality
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model49
Member
Let me add mine
This would be one of the very last guns I own that I'd part with.
m49
This would be one of the very last guns I own that I'd part with.
m49
glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
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- 3,700
Beautiful guns guys.
Love the grips on the 2.5"
Love the grips on the 2.5"
glassman
Member
New To Me
Picked this up the other day. When I got it, it was filthy and didn't seat the .357's real well. I figured there must have been a lot of .38's through it and very little cleaning going on. Took it home and with a brass brush, lots of hoppes, somochrome polish and a lot of elbow grease, came up with this. A diamond in the rough for sure. I want to change out the grips for something a little chunkier in the hand and would like to hear suggestions from all you guys.
Picked this up the other day. When I got it, it was filthy and didn't seat the .357's real well. I figured there must have been a lot of .38's through it and very little cleaning going on. Took it home and with a brass brush, lots of hoppes, somochrome polish and a lot of elbow grease, came up with this. A diamond in the rough for sure. I want to change out the grips for something a little chunkier in the hand and would like to hear suggestions from all you guys.
hexidismal
Member
glassman, as far as grips go I'm a big fan of both Badger Customs and Ahrends grips. Both are high quality. The badgers tend to have a less than standard feel for some people, because they are shaped a bit more unusually. They work for some people and not others. I feel the same way as you about those rubber hogues, they are much too skinny in my hands. You can see my pic of two guns with badgers in post #250 of this thread. And there are other pics from posters with ahrends grips around there somewhere too.
http://ahrendsgripsusa.com/revolver.htm
http://www.badgercustomgrips.com/
http://ahrendsgripsusa.com/revolver.htm
http://www.badgercustomgrips.com/
glassman
Member
Hexidismal... Thanks for the info. I've looked at the Badger as well as Excaliber on 'grips4guns'. I had a set of the Excalibers on my python and liked them a lot. Also went to the Ahrends site and thought the grips looked real good. There are so many grips on the various sites out there that I get a bit overwhelmed as to which ones to choose. Found one site that offered a round to square butt conversion that looked good..Can't remember which one it was but I'm sure I can find it again. Wonder if S&W carries a diamond pattern target grip for the round butt. Gonna give them a call this week. Thanks again.
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AStone
Member
Bianchi Model 7 Shadow II holster for sale
Will fit K- & L-frames (but doesn't fit 7-rnd L-frames well).
Details here.
Will fit K- & L-frames (but doesn't fit 7-rnd L-frames well).
Details here.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I also bought a set of Hogue grips for my M686 and I shouldn't have. I replaced them with Pachmayr Gripper grips and they feel much better. I like shooting with the original Stocks (like slick6 has above) but I'm afraid of damaging them while shooting PPC so I went with the rubber replacements. The photo of my revolver with the stocks is in post #297.
mikey357
Member
...my first 686 was a "Dash Two", MANY years ago...still have it, a NICE six-incher "Tuned" to perfection by Lou Ciamillo of "MGW", still shoots GREAT! I have lately become VERY fond of the SEVEN-shot 686 "Plus" configuration, and have at least ONE example of every barrel length they have made with the seven-shot "wheel": two-and-a-half inch, three-inch, four-inch, five-inch, six-inch AND the ALMOST "Mythical" seven-inch seven shooter...took a while, but it WAS fun!!!....mikey357
vanilla_gorilla
Member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2006
- Messages
- 360
I don't have a 686, but can I join? 
AtticusThraxx
Member
Hey everyone, I'm new here and just wanted to say hi. Seems like alot of knowledable folks and I was hoping to tap some of that. I have a S&W 686 Bill Davis Model. I'm trying to find some info on the history and maybe the specs. I've banged around on the web, but can't find anything specific to the Bill Davis Model. Any help would be appreciated.
hexidismal
Member
Hi AtticusThraxx, welcome to THR.
It would be most helpful if you were to post some pictures or at least describe of any specific markings on the gun. For instance, what makes you call it a "Bill Davis" model ? What type of sights ? What barrel length ? I'm sure with a little more info we can help you out.
Bill Davis, was a custom guy known for building PPC competition guns. I don't think he ever had a model with his name on it come from smith and wesson. It would be a gun built by his company on a 686 frame.
It would be most helpful if you were to post some pictures or at least describe of any specific markings on the gun. For instance, what makes you call it a "Bill Davis" model ? What type of sights ? What barrel length ? I'm sure with a little more info we can help you out.
Bill Davis, was a custom guy known for building PPC competition guns. I don't think he ever had a model with his name on it come from smith and wesson. It would be a gun built by his company on a 686 frame.
AtticusThraxx
Member
My picture exceeds the size limit to post and I don't know how to make it smaller. I suspect your right about being made in a custom shop, but I don't know for sure.It's stainless 6 inch with squarish slide,adjust sights and has Bill Davis Custom Model on one side and a Bill Davis emblem etched on other side. Came with Pachmyer grips but I doubt they are original. On the frame when you swing out the cylinder it has the serial number and MOD.686-3.
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glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,700
The gun does not show up in the BBoG. I think he just customize a S&W 686-3.
AtticusThraxx
Member
Roger that, thanks guys. I'll hit the range this weekend and tellya how she shoots. Needs a good cleaning though.Got it from someone who's idea of cleaning a weapon is wiping the outside with a rag and putting it away. Half think I picked it up just so I could clean it!
I said slide, but meant barrel shroud.
I said slide, but meant barrel shroud.
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hexidismal
Member
AtticusThraxx, if you're on a broadband connection and want to send the picture to my e-mail [email protected], I'd be happy to resize it and post it for you. I'm curious to see it. I could probably tell you a little more about it having seen it.
AtticusThraxx
Member
On it's way Hex,thanks.
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hexidismal
Member
Here you go Atticus, I didn't resize it by much. Just cropped, resized a little, and sharpened it up a bit. Anyway, this gun was customized by Davis probably somewhere in the very late 80s ( '88 or '89 ) to early 90s. If it was toward the latter of those dates, it was most likely not done by Davis himself, but by someone else at his shop. When you get it cleaned up, check the bore and see if is has a lot more rifling than a normal 686 barrel. Davis sometimes used Apex barrels, which if in good condition should make it a really awesome shooter. How much did you pay for it ? ( if you don't mind me asking) It should have considerably more value than a standard 686. No question in my mind that the gun was made for PPC competition, and it's probably seen a LOT of rounds. No problem with that though if everything works like it should.
AtticusThraxx
Member
Best I can tell barrel has six-grooves. Not much wear at all compared to my Model 19 and feels a tiny bit heavier. Trigger feels good, but I'll know more when I get it cleaned and shoot it.I picked it up from a guy in a bit of distress who inherited it from his father. $400.00 with a box of SilverTips. Thanks for the help Hex, hopefully I can return the favor at some point.
AtticusThraxx
Member
Best I can tell barrel has six-grooves. Not much wear at all compared to my Model 19 and feels a tiny bit heavier. Trigger feels good, but I'll know more when I get it cleaned and shoot it.I picked it up from a guy in a bit of distress who inherited it from his father. $400.00 with a box of SilverTips. Thanks for the help Hex, hopefully I can return the favor at some point.
Elm Creek Smith
Member
I have a no-dash 681 four inch with Pachmayr grippers. No picture until I clean the thing up again. I have to say that I probably got a better deal on it than anyone else can claim. My former next door neighbor gave it to me when he remarried (he was widowed by cancer). His new wife absolutely wouldn't countenance guns in their new house. (I would have found a different woman.)
I have a couple of nylon hip holsters for it and have carried it concealed under a vest in a Fobus Paddle Holster. I'm shopping for a good crossdraw and a good highrise hip holster.
ECS
I have a couple of nylon hip holsters for it and have carried it concealed under a vest in a Fobus Paddle Holster. I'm shopping for a good crossdraw and a good highrise hip holster.
ECS
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CommanderPoopyduX
Member
I'm sure this has been asked before, and I just missed it with my searching, but what is the whole "dash" thing with S&Ws? What do the numbers after the dash mean and does it say "686-x" on the gun?
AtticusThraxx
Member
Good question Commander, was going to ask that myself but forgot to.Anyone?
hexidismal
Member
The dash numbers are manufacturing revisions in S&W revolvers. Its not just 686s, all S&W revolvers have them. What each revision means is entirely dependent on the model. Sometimes it implies small changes, and in other cases somewhat big ones. For example the 686-5 revision is the last model to not have the key lock.
686 ''dash nothing'' - 1980
686-1, 1986 - radius stud package and floating hand
686-M - 1987 recall stamping on earlier versions
686-2, 1987, hammer nose change, bushing and ass'd parts
686-3, 1988, new yoke retention system, 1990 - 2 1/2" barrel introduced.
686-4 1994 - 1998 - many changes including move to 7 shot, sight changes etc.
686-5 revision built with MIM parts and frame-mounted firing pin. varied other changes
686-6 introduction of S&W internal lock
Sort of. They're not made in the same design as the old Jarvis weights(I think), but Jarvis does still make 686 competition barrels and 8oz barrel underweights. Heres a link.
http://www.jarvis-custom.com/Products/tabid/53/ctl/ProductDetail/productId/11/mid/388/Default.aspx
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