Smith and Wesson model 686 with 4.2" barrel overpriced?

Sean17

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Hey guys I've noticed that a few dealers have gotten the smith and wesson 686 with the Canadian legal barrel. Does anyone know why they're so expensive? All I can find on there value is much lower around 600 to 700 dollars. Why are these 900? Maybe because they're specifically made for us Canadians? Or maybe im looking at U.S values? Someone please explain.
 
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Maybe because they're specifically made for us Canadians? Or maybe im looking at U.S values? Someone please explain.

That's a good start - you want the special gun, you pay the special gun price - non-standard "critical" barrel measurement. That means they can't do what they do with in the US market, where the barrel length is "around 4 inches". In the US if a supposedly 4 inch barrel is actually 3.85" it's no big deal, as long as it's fitted right. In Canada if the barrel length is supposed to be "4.2 inches" and it ends up being 4.12" it's a huge problem. So really there's a whole lot more care involved in producing 4.2" revolvers for the Canadian market. Care costs money.
 
Costs about an extra 200 to get the Firearm into Canada.

Umm and I just bought a Ruger .22LR pistol for less than MRSP posted on the Ruger website. If Ruger dealers can sell the gun in Canada for the same price the US dealers sell the guns for then why not S&W?

Take Care

Bob
 
Umm and I just bought a Ruger .22LR pistol for less than MRSP posted on the Ruger website. If Ruger dealers can sell the gun in Canada for the same price the US dealers sell the guns for then why not S&W?

Take Care

Bob

The price the dealer sets is dependent on the price the distributor charges. Perhaps this question could be answered by North Sylva.

Also, I thought the 4.2 inch barrels were for the California market.
 
Umm and I just bought a Ruger .22LR pistol for less than MRSP posted on the Ruger website. If Ruger dealers can sell the gun in Canada for the same price the US dealers sell the guns for then why not S&W?

Take Care

Bob

If you really need to know the in's and out's of importing Firearms. Contact Prophat River Firearms.
 
Umm and I just bought a Ruger .22LR pistol for less than MRSP posted on the Ruger website. If Ruger dealers can sell the gun in Canada for the same price the US dealers sell the guns for then why not S&W?

Take Care

Bob

That is a very good observation there. Maybe the dealers or the importers can get more for Smith & Wesson's then they can for Rugers. It also maybe that Ruger allows there dealers to make more so they don't have to mark the product up as much. Also maybe Ruger on there website inflaits the costs to make there dealers look better. I wonder.

Graydog
 
Hey guys I've noticed that a few dealers have gotten the smith and wesson 686 with the Canadian legal barrel. Does anyone know why they're so expensive? All I can find on there value is much lower around 600 to 700 dollars. Why are these 900? Maybe because they're specifically made for us Canadians? Or maybe im looking at U.S values? Someone please explain.

Not so long ago, a nice 686 or factory pimped 686P could set you back $800 (in a 5 or 6" I mean).
 
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Umm and I just bought a Ruger .22LR pistol for less than MRSP posted on the Ruger website. If Ruger dealers can sell the gun in Canada for the same price the US dealers sell the guns for then why not S&W?

Take Care

Bob

I have bought a few new Rugers for USA suggested retail or less as well here in Canackastan.

Jimmie
 
Ruger revolvers are sold in the USA with 4.2" barrel as well, so no special costs involved there, plus they are always a bit cheaper in general.
S&W model 686 4.2" is the special Canadian version. Higher cost of production.
 
Ruger revolvers are sold in the USA with 4.2" barrel as well, so no special costs involved there, plus they are always a bit cheaper in general.
S&W model 686 4.2" is the special Canadian version. Higher cost of production.

So S&W couldn't do the same thing? We are only talking a couple of mm here and there have been more than one 4" S&W measure out at over 4.2" from the factory.

I suggest S&W gets away with it based upon their reputation which is in my view higher than their current standard of production.

Take Care

Bob
 
I paid $800 or $850 for my 6" 686...

It's a Smith, you pay a little bit more for the name and the product behind it. I love my Ruger semi's but when I look at a DA revolver it has to be a Smith. Side by side comparison between a Smith and a Ruger the Smith will have a higher price
 
So S&W couldn't do the same thing? We are only talking a couple of mm here and there have been more than one 4" S&W measure out at over 4.2" from the factory.

I suggest S&W gets away with it based upon their reputation which is in my view higher than their current standard of production.

Take Care

Bob

No, Bob, because they care more about US market.
We are talking 0.5 centimeter here. Imagine the holster that was made for the standard 4" barrel. It's not going to work with 4.2" just because a bunch of the Canucks want S&W to make it a new standard with connection to their stupid laws.
This is strictly business decision, as the Canadian market is a joke comparing to US market.
Standard length of the barrel is and always was 4", so it's not going to happen.
You should see the reaction of the Americans on a different forum when they found out that Ruger is making a "special" Canadian Ruger GP 100 now.
That wouldn't be a smart choice for S&W.
 
S&W model 686 4.2" is the special Canadian version. Higher cost of production.

I bought one of the 686 4.2" barrel for the Canadian market. I paid over $900.00 for it, but I badly wanted to replace the 686 4" barrel that I sold years ago and lost my grandfathering. Yeah, I thought it was over-priced, but I am really happy with it. Gorgeous handgun, fits my hand like a glove, worth every penny I spent on it even if it was just to replace the one I sold. :(
 
No, Bob, because they care more about US market.
We are talking 0.5 centimeter here. Imagine the holster that was made for the standard 4" barrel. It's not going to work with 4.2" just because a bunch of the Canucks want S&W to make it a new standard with connection to their stupid laws.
This is strictly business decision, as the Canadian market is a joke comparing to US market.
Standard length of the barrel is and always was 4", so it's not going to happen.
You should see the reaction of the Americans on a different forum when they found out that Ruger is making a "special" Canadian Ruger GP 100 now.
That wouldn't be a smart choice for S&W.

Well the Ruger isn't a "special" Canadian Ruger. All their current production GP-100's are 4.2". The 4.2" incident;ly is the maximum length currently for IDPA revolver division as well in the US.

Considering the fact there are S&W 4" revolvers out there with barrels greater than 4" I doubt 2/10th of an inch is going to make that much difference in holster size. I know my Blade tech kydex seems to work well enough.

I am a member of the Ruger Forum and didn't notice any major rebellion
over Ruger producing a 4.2" gun. I know they sold a bunch of them in Canada and their new 4.2" 8 shot seems to be pretty much sold out up here. Love mine.

Take Care

Bob
 
When you actualy have side by side Ruger vs S&W, the quality of the Smith is superior. Both visualy and physicaly. Also the 4.2" is almost Prohib size and in grater demand in Canada plus it feels just right in your hand, the balance is very very good. Ofcourse its a great shooter too! Got mine from EPPS while back.
 
Be thankful that a US manufacturer chooses to make a firearm that is Canadian Legal. Our Market, compared to theirs - is minuscule and any form of retooling isn't worth it.

I ordered Taurus 24/7 G2s with 10 round mags in January 2011. In January 2012, Taurus told me the reason I didn't get any was because they didn't make a 10 round mag and had no intention of making them this year either; the market is too tiny. (So I brought in the full cap ones and have them permanently pinned to 10) It's just business.

Yes, there are costs to importation that make the overall cost of a firearm more here than in the US. Paperwork for import, Paperwork for Export, Export permit fees, cargo fees (Cargo Companys say "it's guns - so let's charge more!") , bond and storage charges, gambling on the exchange rate, brokerage fees and sometimes NAFTA does not apply (IE Taurus / Rossi) and there's duty.

If a firearm is being sold in Canada at a dealer for less than MSRP in the US, the dealer either got one heck of a bulk deal or the manufacturer is using a really high rate of markup for MSRP calculation to allow dealers to look like heroes (Always a good thing!) when they sell for less.

I still love my 6" S&W 686 that I've had for around 20 years. I imagine that 4.2" one must be really sweet in the hands too.
 
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