Used 686

[MrTuffPaws]

I don't know much about S&W 686s, so I thought I would ask here.

Today, I ran into a used 6 inch 686 for $375 in a local shop. The gun is 6 shot with a non fluted cylinder and a square but hard wood handle. The gun looks new with little if any wear, a little discoloration on the cylinder face, smooth action, and not keyed lock. Is $375 a good deal?

 

[P95Carry]

The M686-4 in 1985 saw the start of the 7 shot cyl option - prior to that was IIRC all just 6 shot but - this unfluted has me puzzled right now. I am not tho the resident expert on Smiths. Swing cyl and crane out and look at what is stamped on frame ... should be ''686 dash something'' - the suffix figure will be useful.

The 686 is overall an excellent gun - probably Smith's answer to the ideal 357, without having to go as large as an ''N'' frame. Ruger's equivalent - roughly - is their GP-100. The 6 inch is a great gun - I did all my revo competition shooting in 80's withj my 686. The 4 inch is maybe the most popular.

That price sounds very fair to me thus far. Is the forsight fixed or adjustable? I forget when that started tho. If it is tight - times OK and feels good - sounds like a very worthwhile deal ... good 686's can make way more than that at times.

I await other and more knowledgeable input.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

The fore site is fixed. I can't remember if the rear sight was, but I am leaning to adjustable. One thing that I do remember was that the cylinder release button was different from want is available today. It was not symmetric.

It looked like this one,

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=25920983

But the gun I looked at had a full underlug.

 

[Bullet]

I have a 686-3 that has an unfluted cylinder. I bought it new. $375.00 for a 686 in excellent condition sounds like a good deal to me.

 

[P95Carry]

Hmmm... 6 shot - fixed foresight - and yet the newer shape cyl release. not at all sure. Did you look at frame stamping under crane? That should give model designation.

Whatever - price sounds good all things being up to par.

 

[38Mike]

I just bought a 686-5, 6 inch barrel, with newer cylinder release, round butt; had logo stamped on barrel. I paid $400. out the door......gun prices here seem to be on the high side..

$375. seems ok to me.........enjoy the gun!

Mike

 

[cliffjr]

I've got a 4" 686 and it is a great gun. Smooth action, well balanced. $375 seems like a good price if there are no problems.