Where's all the S&W 686 Mountain Guns??

[20nickels]

S&W 686 Mountain Gun.
It was said to be the ultimate defensive revolver when it debuted, was raved and reviewed by top gun rag writers. One world class gunsmith even started customizing it probably fully expecting it to stick around.
I know they are out there it's just that the overwhelming majority of 686's are underlugged. You can currently get one in about every barrel configuration except tapered. Do revolver buyers carry less now than before and prefer the underlug over that gorgeous lightweight tapered barrel or did we all just get big bore fever (read .44, .45) with the Mountain Gun series?

L-Frame Mt. gun pics welcome.

 

[Ala Dan]

Excellent Thread

I haven't seen a NIB S&W "Mountain Gun" in ages; as the last one we had
was a .44 magnum, that sold very quickly. Does anyone know if S&W has
discontinued these weapons~?

 

[Rover 'n Rugers]

They are around (and probably hoarded). As you note they are light at about 35.5 oz per the factory. In fact, I prefer it to a 4" Model 66 I had as it had one extra shot. For a while S&W also had barrels for it (and the 629) available. One would think with all the reissues of other Mtn. Guns the 686 would have another run. The round butt I find useful, too. I have 2 sets of grips for the gun: round butt and round to square conversion.

 

[pig dog 02]

About 6 weeks ago, I sold my model 57 mtn gun. I have been haunted by it ever since. Why did I sell it? Can somebody help stop the horrible dreams at night or help me go back in time to stop myself from selling?

 

[20nickels]

Hi, Pig Dog. This won't help, I saw a shiny NIB blued 57 Mt. Gun last weekend circa 2004, drooool.

Back to the 686 Mt. Gun.
It just seemed like it was everybody's perfect SHTF/desert Island/you can have only one gun. Maybe people took that seriously and took them all to a desert Island.

 

[Brian Williams]

There weren't many made and S&W has not made another run since. IIRC They made less than 2000

 

[Bob79]

You're right, there were only about 2000 made by S&W. They don't come up for sale often, and lately I've seen them go for about $750. I had two of them, but was thinning out the entire safe, and sold one. Got $805 for it, but I still have another that doesn't see much use, but it won't be getting sold.

They have the strength of an L-frame, but the weight/feel of a model 66, plus you get 7-shots. I wish S&W would make them again, I think they would sell a lot of them. Then again, maybe people find them so interesting because they aren't made anymore

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you can't find a M686 Mountain Gun (and you probably won't) then why not buy a M620? It has the look of the MT because of the barrel and also has a 7 round cylinder. I had a M619 and foolishly sold it.

Here is a photo of the M620 off the S&W site: