Weird Smith and Wesson 686

[Mickey D]

Are you guessing or do you know this for a fact?

Seen it before. Could also be a police trade-in.

[ar15barrels]

I can't say what agency did this, but those markings covering up the old markings are done by a dot matrix engraver.
It's quite possible that the same agency that dot matrix engraved it initially also obliterated the markings before they sold it off.

[smle-man]

A lot neater than the SW Victory .38 revolver I had once that the Seattle PD department used an etching pen to scribble over the stamped letters on the frame.

The guy I sold it to here on Calguns figured out that it had been a WW2 Civil Defence issue piece that was then passed along to the Seattle PD after the war. The CD stamp was scratched out with the etching pen.

[Mr. Beretta]

No box came with it. The front sight has no pin that i can see. It has the same bead blast finish as the rest of the gun, but has a red insert. It came with a rubber 1 piece grip.

I suggest a call into S&W customer service 1-800-331-0852. Be nice, provide them with the serial # and ask what can they tell you about your gun. Won't cost a dime.

Also FYI...S&W did in fact make a very limited run of 6" barrel, RB 686's in 1998. 30 guns had a unfluted cylinder (product code # 104288) & 30 guns had a fluted cylinder (product code # #104289). Not sure if they were 686-1's or
?

Plus....I've never seen the S&W factory mark their guns in that fashion. I agree with ar15barrells ref the markings. "It's quite possible that the same agency that dot matrix engraved it initially also obliterated the markings before they sold it off."

Good luck & please keep us updated.

[jeffyhog]

I can't say what agency did this, but those markings covering up the old markings are done by a dot matrix engraver.
It's quite possible that the same agency that dot matrix engraved it initially also obliterated the markings before they sold it off.

Thanks for the tip on the dot matrix engraver. I don't think the numbers they covered up were done with the same machine, as the partial letters that can be seen are of a much finer style of marking.