How early is this S&W 686?

[57schwada]

Gents - I"m eyeballing a 686 and may purchase it.....

It's a 4" stainless - that has no Hillary Hole and has the firing pin built into the hammer. Would this be the first gen for the L frame??? Any ideas for the year it was purchased?

Action is super sweet too!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sigblitz]

In 1997, the -5 changed to MIM parts and the frame mounted firing pin.

 

[jinks]

The first three letters of the serial number or more, would help narrow the date. On the front of the frame covered by the crane you should find 686 for the first run or a 686-* for the revisions.

 

[ECS686]

Open the cylinder and look below the barrwl/forcing cone area and it will have the serial # and then 686 dash a number. That will tell you the yeara of production. (there's a link on wkipedia with the - numbers)

I have a dash 3 that was my duty gun in the 1990's that I love. Still have it today

Good luck

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_&_Wesson_Model_686

 

[Airtevron1]

whats the sn. maybe its one I traded off years ago?

 

[ECS686]

whats the sn. maybe its one I traded off years ago?

With as many 686's around and almost 40 years of production. Good luck that's be a true needleman a haystack there

 

[Sigblitz]

The serial number is on the butt of the frame. The number on the yoke that looks like a serial number is actually an assembly number. This assembly number would be on all the parts, and once the parts are married together, it gets a serial number.
Newer revolvers may be different, but I only collect the older ones.

 

[yetti462]

The no dash and dash 1's had an issue with the cylinder getting in a bind. If there is an (M) stamped in the yoke then it was factory repaired. I have a couple -3 and they are great shooters. -4 are highly desired.