Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Dash numbers on S&W 686

I've had a 686 for twenty or so years but never have shot it much. I just got to thinking about maybe trading it for something I will use.

Looking on the internet to get an idea of it's worth, I notice some of them with dash numbers.

What do they signify?

Mine just has mod 686 stamped on it. It is SS with wooden grips and a six round fluted cylinder and six inch barrel.

Mod 686 is the initial release of that model...

subsequent engineering changes are presented with 686-1, 686-2 and so on....

the following was scarfed from another website, dated around 2009...

The 686 was introduced in 1980 as the S&W Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless. It featured flash-chromed, forged hammer and trigger, and had a 6-shot cylinder.

-1 (1986): radius stud package, introduction of the floating hand.

The "M" recall (1987) for the no-dash and -1 guns was to fit a new hammer nose and firing pin bushing to deal with certain brands of ammo causing (potentially fatal) binding when fired.

-2 (1987) incorporated the "M" recall features as standard production.

-3 (1988) floating hand deleted, new yoke retention system

-4 (1993, apparently the most desirable) included a drilled-and-tapped frame, the introduction of the "+" model with 7 shots, flash-chromed hammer/trigger deleted (case-hardened only), new extractor, start shipping with round-butt frame only (no square-butt)

-5 (1997) change to MIM hammer and trigger and frame-mounted firing pin, as well as the frame lug being machined as part of the frame (prior to this it was a separate part, fitted to and pressed into the frame).

-6 (2001, current production) has The Lock

-7 (2002, Performance Center) chambers .38 Super instead of .357 Magnum

and so on..........

I'm obliged for the info but it obviously brings more questions to mind, this time concerning safety issues.

My brother bought this for me sometime n the mid nineties. It was used, but came with the original box and showed practically no wear.

It seems like the factory would have put some identifying mark on those that they fixed in the recall.

Anybody know anything about that?

I'll see if I can find a website for S&W.

Cur, I'm thinking a no dash, original with box, not reworked for the recall may be desirable...

I think the factory stamped an 'M' for the recall work....

check with the S&W crowd before you do anything.... IMHO.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum.php

Thanks, Neighbor...... I'll visit that forum.

I sent my no-dash back to the factory for the update about 2-3 years ago. They made the changes and shipped both ways free of charge. They didn't, however, add an "M" stamp.