No-Lock 686 question....

[beauregard]

I just purchased a 686 with no lock and a hemmer mounted firing pin. Where and how can I find out what generation it is and if it is also considered a "no dash?" Finally, what makes these more sought after than the later 686's with the frame mounted firing pin?

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere on the internet, but I'd rather get the info from a source I trust.... hence my posting here on CG.

Thanks, Beau

[maxicon]

Open the cylinder, and on the frame where the crane goes when the cylinder's closed will be the - designation (686-3 or whatever).

If you post the SN (you can X out the last 2 digits if you want), we can look up the year made in the Standard Catalog.

Here's a rough description of the changes, up to about 1998:

686-1 - 1986 - Radius stud package, floating hand.
686-M 1987 Product warning by S&W, M overstamp to indicate factory mod for 686 and 686-1.

686-2 1987 Change hammer nose and associated parts - fixed a problem with the firing pin; earlier models were recalled and stamped with an M inside the crane above the model number. Problem was cylinder binding when used with some .357 magnum ammo. The primers in the 40,000 psi/cup 357 magnum round were backing out and/or extruding into the firing pin bushing; mod is to replace the bushing.

686-3 1988 New yoke retention system
1990 2 1/2" barrel intro. Some of these came out in blackened (phosphate?) stainless (Midnight Black) in 1990.

686-4 1994 Drill and tap, synthetic grips, change rear site and extractor.
1995 Intro power port barrel
1995 Intro 7-shot (686 Plus)
1996 Delete square butt
1997 Change to MIM thumb piece

686-5 1998 Change design to eliminate cylinder stop stud. Change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin (hammer mount changed to frame mount), change to MIM trigger, change internal lockworks.

[beauregard]

Awesome.
I'm going to check the SN when I get home, I'll post up shortly thereafter.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

maxicon is much more handy than keeping a copy of the SCSW around.

[Mr. Beretta]

maxicon is much more handy than keeping a copy of the SCSW around.

+10

[maxicon]

The wonders of a Palm Pilot - it eases the load on my overworked brain!