S&W 686-3

[condor]

Need some info on this one. The only reference to the -3 that I can find is that 5000 were made in '89, and they were black over stainless. I just bought a -3 in natural stainless?? Did they ever come out in a natural finish?? Or did a P.O. have the black removed?? The Blue Book doesn't have a whole lotta info on them, and the best source I found was Wikipedia..... Any ideas??

[Barbarosa]

They made a lot more than 5000 -3's. S&W had numerous variations of the 686-3's; some in natural stainless and some in Midnight Black stainless. You would need the product code off the box to tell you which variation you have, or you could get a factory letter.

[OCEquestrian]

or you could get a factory letter.

OP.. this is what you need to do if you dont have the original box....

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearm-history-request

[keith1911]

They made a lot more than 5000 -3's. S&W had numerous variations of the 686-3's; some in natural stainless and some in Midnight Black stainless. You would need the product code off the box to tell you which variation you have, or you could get a factory letter.

Both my dad and I have 686-3s and they are both natural stainless.

[redteam22003]

Need some info on this one. The only reference to the -3 that I can find is that 5000 were made in '89, and they were black over stainless. I just bought a -3 in natural stainless?? Did they ever come out in a natural finish?? Or did a P.O. have the black removed?? The Blue Book doesn't have a whole lotta info on them, and the best source I found was Wikipedia..... Any ideas??

You are kidding yourself if you believe only 5000pcs were made.....

Are you trying to set yourself up to get ripoff?

[Milsurp Collector]

The Blue Book doesn't have a whole lotta info on them, and the best source I found was Wikipedia..... Any ideas??

[condor]

Get this book. It’s fantastic. It has information about every model and variation of Smith & Wesson firearm ever made, and hundreds of color photos.

I only have a couple of S&W's shooters and don't plan on starting to collect them. So the book is out unless I run into one cheap in an auction somewhere just because...


Thanks for the info...

[Sheldon]

The -3 just indicates what generation 686 it is.

[Fishslayer]

"Product code 104250.... midnight stainless.... 1559 believed manufactured in 1989"

I believe (could be misremembering) the coating was somewhat fragile & any scratch stuck out like a sore thumb.

I saw one in a consignment case once & wasn't overly impressed.

and I'm not looking to be schooled by anyone so you can back off on that account.

Oh crap! Sorry... disregard.

[LaFlamaBlanca]

Schooled = Educated , so you don't what our help? Back to Wikipedia you go.


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[condor]

"Product code 104250.... midnight stainless.... 1559 believed manufactured in 1989"

I believe (could be misremembering) the coating was somewhat fragile & any scratch stuck out like a sore thumb.

I saw one in a consignment case once & wasn't overly impressed.

Thanks for the info. That's about what I found while digging thru the web.