Thinking of putting on consignment at LGS

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bannockburn said:
Let's see, pre-lock, 3" barrel, great shape, Model 686...somewhere between $900 to $1100.
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My LGS has one on consignment. Owner set a price of $1750 and told the store nothing less. Still sitting there; if it was $750; I would have bought it. By the time you add BG check and sales tax, it's another $100 in added cost. Around here my small town guy charges 10%; most other stores charge 15-20% so keep that in mind.
 
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If it were on my table.... this takes into account the unlikeliness of me selling it - I would have 1,200 or so on it.

I seriously doubt that I would part with it for anything south of 1,000 but you'll know your regional market better and you'll have to contend with consignment fees, sales taxes and the like as well. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

Todd.
 
I am not an experienced S&W collector. My wife bought me the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson 4th edition for Christmas and I am still learning how to use it. So here is my best effort:

Looking over the product codes for all 686s, show very few 3" models.

The 686-4 came out in 1993. So any product codes with a 3" barrel that date prior to 1993 cannot be your revolver. The 686-5 came out in 1997 so any product codes dating after 1997 cannot be your revolver,

The catalog lists product code "104265 3" 686-4 w/Full Length Extractor Black Ramp FS (BRL3635) Reported as "Limited Edition" w/2500 made."

There were 3" 686s with round butt made for export, no date of production listed, product code 104280.

All the other 3" 686s listed either fall outside the dates for a 686-4, or have disqualifying features such as unfluted cylinder.

So as best I can tell, your revolver was either made for export, or is a limited edition. I can't tell if your revolver is a round or square butt from the photo. If it is round, it was likely exported, and there may be re-import marks somewhere on the inside. Either possibility could bring a premium from a collector.

Tell us about the butt and the grips. Factory original grips or aftermarket? Square butt or round butt frame? Do you have the original box, which would show the product code number on the label?

It might be worth the investment to get a letter from Mr. Jinks on this one.
 
Cabela's has a 686-6 3" 7 shot for sale for $1200; I would think you could easily get that on GunBroker
 
Also..the grips were what came with the gun. They are Hogue grips. I do remember when I bought it the salesman said it was a limited edition run. At the time I brushed this off as a sales talk. I purchased it at CR Specialty in Kansas City. I’m thinking it was sometime in the 1980’s.
 
xring3 said:
Also..the grips were what came with the gun. They are Hogue grips. I do remember when I bought it the salesman said it was a limited edition run. At the time I brushed this off as a sales talk. I purchased it at CR Specialty in Kansas City. I’m thinking it was sometime in the 1980’s.
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Without removing the grip, it appears to be a round butt. The CAC serial prefix is not specifically listed in the catalog, but other CA- prefixes began in 1995, which is consistent with the 686-4 window we are interested in. The article in the catalog is titled, "The Dreaded Triple-Alpha Serial Number Ranges", and goes on to say that they were not always used in order, and some were skipped altogether. You might want to take the grip off and make sure the number stamped in the bottom of the steel grip matches the one shown under the yoke, just so we are not being fooled by an assembly number. CAC may not be specifically listed in the catalog because it was a special run.

I doubt the revolver was purchased in the 1980s, because the 686-4 began production in 1993. The -4 indicates a "change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, change extractor, Introduce Hogue grips." Therefore, the grips on the gun may be factory original.

So assuming your revolver really has a round butt, the only round butt 3" 686-4s made in that time frame were for export, as best I can tell.

I stand by my previous recommendation. If it were my revolver, I would spend the $100 bucks on a factory letter.

Or you may consult the more experienced collectors on the Smith and Wesson Collectors Forum:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum-office/392854-smith-wesson-collectors-association.html
 
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bannockburn said:
xring3

If you don't desperately need the money I would listen to the store owner and hang on to it.
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I guess in reality I probably will keep the 686. I’m 71 years old and probably should thin out my collection. I’ve 2 RC P-38’s and might put one on consignment there. Then again selling one of your guns is like selling one of your kids. Unless one of your kids is a pain in the butt.
 
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