686 revision numbers

[phronq]

I was reading about the S&W 686 on Wikipedia.com, and they mention that there are different revisions.. 686-1 through 686-8.

The article didn't have any info on what may have been updated (if anything) in each revision, and I couldn't find any articles of note on the subject on Smith & Wesson's website.

Does anyone know offhand, or is there a resource out there I might have missed that would have the info?

It's not for any particular reason other than my own nosiness/satisfying curiosity.

 

[kbvr6]

http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/

I don't remember where exactly I saw it but they have the info here, just do a search

 

[phronq]

http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/

I don't remember where exactly I saw it but they have the info here, just do a search

Thanks.. I found info for the 686 through 686-5. Nothing on the 6, 7 and 8, but that's ok.. the one I was curious about is the -5

I'll share here, just to save the next curious person the legwork.

This info is out of the standard catalog of S&W:

686 1980 Begin production at serial AAD 4276
686-1 1986 Radius stud package; floating hand
686-M 1897 Recall by smith and overstamped to indicate a modification by the factory or warranty

686-2 1987 Change hammer nose, bushing and associated parts.

686-3 1988 New yoke retention system
1990 2-1/2 barrel introduced

686-4 1994 Change rear sight, drill and tap, change extractor, Hogue grips
1995 Introduce power port barrel

686-4 1995 Introduce seven shot cylinder with seven flutes in 6" barrel length with round-butt frame. Serrated backstrap, smooth trigger, seven point star extractor, RR front sight, service hammer w/o rear sight blade, Hogue grips with S&W logo
1996 Delete square butt, begin shipments in a foam blue plastic case
1997 Change thumb piece; ship with master trigger lock

686-5 1998 change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud; eliminate serrated tangs; change to mim hammer with free floating firing pin; change to mim trigger; change internal lockwork

 

[TheFrenchCanadian]

So where does one find the revision number on the gun?

TFC

 

[SDC]

It'll be marked in the crane cut-out (visible on the frame when you open the cylinder); most of the changes are small things that you wouldn't even notice unless you were specifically looking for them (things like changing the direction of the threads on the ejection rod, or moving the firing-pin from a hammer-mounted version to a frame-mounted version). "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" has a complete list of the changes from dash number to dash number. HTH.

 

[Dragoon]

"The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" has a complete list of the changes from dash number to dash number. HTH.

Available from Amazon.ca

http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/AS...30520/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_0_1/701-4251392-9537124

Excellent reference book. I have one myself.....

 

[TheFrenchCanadian]

It'll be marked in the crane cut-out (visible on the frame when you open the cylinder); most of the changes are small things that you wouldn't even notice unless you were specifically looking for them (things like changing the direction of the threads on the ejection rod, or moving the firing-pin from a hammer-mounted version to a frame-mounted version). "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" has a complete list of the changes from dash number to dash number. HTH.

I see it now! Well doggone it, I guess mine's a three!

Makes sense since I bought in new in '92...

TFC

 

[Boomer686]

Mines a -4 with power ported barrel.

Regards,