Who says you can't buy sunshine? 686 no dash

[bikemutt]

Well, I really hope I didn't step in it too badly. I'm working this week in sunny Florida and since the bosses don't get here for a couple days I went visiting gun stores this afternoon.

What do I spot but an unfired, absolutely mint, no-dash 686 6" barrel, not even a turn line on the cylinder, nary a burn mark on the topstrap, a lockup that makes an oyster look loose. Basically perfect.

Except he's asking $630 for it. So I offer $530. He says $550. Sold.

I wont have it until I return home and hope I didn't overpay.

Pics when I get it.

 

[philoe]

I think you did well, assuming its like new. The only way you do better is walking into a deal where someone desperately needs to sell or they don't know what they have. Nice pick!

 

[Walkalong]

I had a 4" 686 no dash. I was a fool to sell it.

Congrats. $550? I would pay it.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Yep, sounds like a good deal. Congrats. I look forward to the pics. I don't own a 686 of any age, but there is one on my list for sure.

 

[CSA 357]

you will love it! i have a 4 and a 21/2both no dash and they are sweet

 

[bannockburn]

I love my 4" Model 686 no dash and would have definitely been interested in that 6" model for that price.

 

[JoeMal]

I need to visit more fun shops to come across deals like this. Good job

Subscribing for pics

 

[yenningcomity]

I had a 586 no dash with a 6" barrel. Very very nice gun, you might want to see if it has had the update done on it. There is something about the no dash that can allow the cylinder to lockup under certain conditions.

 

[bikemutt]

Well so far it sounds to me that I haven't fallen into the pit on this one, got word it shipped today.

I knew sometime, somewhere I'd heard about an issue with the no dash, just can't put my finger on it right now. I may call S&W before I shoot it just to be on the safe side.

I have high hopes for this one, everything just felt right. Even my penchant for N frames couldn't override how nicely this revolver felt in my hand, it was a "where have you been all my life" moment

 

[ric426]

The "issue" you're probably thinking of was a problem that would sometimes occur with the firing pin bushing. In some cases primers would flow enough to get into the bushing and lock up the action. From what I've heard it's one of those "if it's not broke, don't fix it" things. When you get the gun, look for an "M" stamped in the frame near the model number. If it's got it, it's already been updated at the factory. If not, shoot it and if it doesn't show a problem, don't worry about it. My no dash 4" 686 came with the M stamp when I bought it last year. I paid $550 for mine with a fair amount of miles on it and have been totally happy with the purchase.

Now if I can just find some magic way of cleaning the carbon rings out of the cylinder when I shoot .38 wadcutters in it.

 

[sidheshooter]

What is it about Florida and great old guns? The last revolver I bought (SPNY) came from Florida.

At any rate, sounds like a good buy to me.

 

[788Ham]

What did you do while waiting? Drum your fingers on the bar, wishing you had it with you to take home? Nice deal on the Smith, some of you folks are just plain lucky! What were you afraid of stepping into, warm sand? Ha

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I bought my lightly used M686-2 a few years back for $500 so IMO you did very well for the same revolver in unfired condition. Good for you...

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

I actually sold one today also. I gave it to the guy for $550 out the door. it was a super clean 6" no dash with the M stamp.

You have a very nice revolver and you should enjoy it.

 

[Dr_B]

Good deal on a great gun.

 

[psyshack]

Folks can buy the older revolvers all they want. My new school mim, lock so called hunk of junk I got NIB for $500 is a great shooter! Having shot 3k rounds of well above book loads with it. It's still tight and dead on. It took a trigger job very well, polished up fantastic. And shoots great!

I will put this new Smith up against any old Smith out there.

 

[Guillermo]

I have a couple of 686s (no MIM, pre lock)

good guns

guess the ones before all of the cost cutting "features" are going up.

Being a "no dash" it is worth every cent.

Enjoy

 

[MrBorland]

Being a "no dash" it is worth every cent.

Only if it was given to me

I recently did an action job on a friend's 686 no dash. I was blown away at how rough every surface was. It looked like every surface was machined & finished off with a course file. I got the action smooth, but there were other things out of spec that I certainly couldn't fix. This is superiority? I wouldn't take that gun if it were given to me.

 

[Guillermo]

This is superiority?

if the barrel was straight and it had the right number of flutes you would still be better off than a new one!

 

[bikemutt]

Finally, picked her up today, pics

Well, this was sheer torture. I returned from Florida fully anticipating having the new toy to play with. Turns out as I landed at Sea-Tac, my FFL landed in Las Vegas for the SHOT show

Our schedules finally came together today, I brought her home, cleaned and lubed, ready for some range time tomorrow.

Here are a few pictures of the 686 no-dash, rescued from the sunshine state, now residing in my safe

 

[bannockburn]

bikemutt

Way to go! Good to hear you've finally taken possesion of your Model 686-no dash. Hope it shoots as good as it looks.

 

[ms6852]

You paid a fair price and will truly enjoy it. I shot my two favorite revolvers today.

 

[bikemutt]

ms6852, you've inspired me to bring along my Python tomorrow, thanks!

Actually, I'm to shoot with a good friend who's a devoted plastic-fantastic fan, maybe one of these two revolvers will bring him back from the dark side

 

[788Ham]

psyshack,

You've still got that "old ammo" sitting around? I've got 2 boxes of it myself, plus I found a couple boxes of that Nyclad ammo in .357 also!

 

[JTQ]

What do I spot but an unfired, absolutely mint, no-dash 686 6" barrel, not even a turn line on the cylinder, nary a burn mark on the topstrap, a lockup that makes an oyster look loose. Basically perfect.

Except he's asking $630 for it. So I offer $530. He says $550. Sold.

Kind of pricey. I only paid $318 for my 6" 686 ($300 + $18 tax). Of course that was 1983. I just pulled out the receipt to verify. I've still got the blue cardboard box too. Of course my Goncalo Alves target stocks got lost in one of my moves over the years.

I'm sure the new ones are good pistols, but I don't think they have the firing pin on the hammer like the old ones do. Revolvers just don't seem right without the firing pin on the hammer.