Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W 686 4"

A buddy wants to buy one of my safe queens.....what's a fair price to a friend?

S&W 686, 4" SS, 357, 6rd, USA

A 90% revolver that hasn't shot 100 rounds.

I just looked at Gunbroker. Brand new ones are running $900-$1000 and up. If yours is a pre-lock model it would probably sell at that or more. Depends on what you want to do for you friend but at least that's a ball park figure of where things seem to be. Pre-lock 4 inch 686's are very desireable these days.

for a good friend, I'd ask what I paid for it, plus a modest bump

Vern, you're probably being modest on the 90% evaluation, if it hasn't had 100 rds through it. I've got a pristine 686 no dash I bought a few months ago for $850 with holster otd. I sold the holster, since it was RH and I'm left handed. I've seen nice 686 pre-locks go for as much as $1100.

At this point in our transition to a communist state, it all depends on how good a deal you want to give your bud.

Thanks to all.

Yes, it is in beautiful condition with box, tags, cleaning brush etc.

He should be happy at $ 700 or maybe he'll trade me his Husqvarna 4100 ....


Thanks again

I recommend pre lock and MIM 686 with seven shot cylinder. These were made for short time and are desirable, but not old enough for Boomers to buy them from under your noses.

Can you find those in Albania?

I looked up info for you. Model 686-4 made from 1995 to about mid 1997. Seven shots, no MIM, no safety lock (affectionately named "Hillary Hole" by Boomers).

Good call. Doing business with friends can be touchy business. Charge too little and you might feel like he owes you something. Too much and you’ll wish you’d done him better. Sounds like you threaded the needle. He’ll get a solid value and you’ll get $700. Good for you both.

Last year I bought a 686 plus ss with 6 inch brl. $699 at Alaska ammo. Like new, very happy so far. Not apples to apples comparison but something to think about.

Nice gun to let go of…

My friends that have them really like them. Want part with them. Kids will get to sell them after they are gone. Hasbeen

One of those revolvers I always mean to pick up if it's the right price. The problem is that a 66, 28 and pre-27 four inch all live at my house already, so about half what they're selling for right now would be top dollar for me.

I wished I was that buddy lol. Been on a hunt for a 4 inch 686 prelock thats nice. 700 is a steal in the box

I agree, 700 would definitely be a friend price. I think the gun could go easy a grand with the box.

I lucked up and found a prelock 4in for 425 at a local pawn shop a couple years back. Great condition, no box, hogue grips. Those jokers always took care of me, they understood they've made enough money on that gun in and out of pawn and would always cut regulars deals. Their new manager could care less about that anymore.