S&W Model 686
Encyclopedia
The Smith & Wesson
(S & W) Model 686, is a six or seven shot double action revolver
chambered for the .357 Magnum
cartridge
. It will chamber and fire .38 Special
cartridges
, as the .357 Magnum was developed from the .38 Special. The magnum case is slightly longer to prevent magnum rounds from being chambered and fired in handguns chambered for the .38 Special. The 686 has been available with 2-1/2 in. (64 mm); 3 in.(76mm); 4 in. (102 mm); 5 in. (127 mm); 6 in. (153 mm); and 8-3/8" in. (214 mm) barrel lengths as standard models and other barrel lengths either by special order from S & W's Performance Center custom shop, or acquired from or built by after-market gunsmiths. The Performance Center made a limited number of 686 in .38 Super for competitive shooters.
Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 686 in 1980. It is the stainless steel version of the 586, which was a blued steel finish. It was chambered for .357 Magnum and .38 S&W Special +P calibers. They are available ported and unported with a choice of 6 or 7 round cylinders.
The Model 686 is based on S & W's L (medium-large) revolver frame. During the 1980s, Smith & Wesson
developed its L-Frame line of .357 Magnum
s: the Model 581, Model 586
, Model 681 and Model 686.
The weapon has an adjustable rear sight, and until 1992, the 6- and 8.5-inch versions had an adjustable front sight. They had Goncalo alves
hardwood
grips until 1994, when the grip was replaced by a rubber Hogue grip.
Through the years, there have been several variations on the Model 686. The Model 686 Classic Hunter was introduced in 1988 and has a 6-inch barrel and an unfluted cylinder; the Model 686 Black Stainless was introduced in 1989 and has either a 4 or 6 inch barrel with a black finish, with production limited to 5000; the Model 686 National Security Special was introduced in 1992 and has a 3- or 4-inch barrel; the Model 686 Target Champion was introduced in 1992 and has a 6-inch match barrel, adjustable trigger stop, and walnut grips; the Model 686 Power Port was introduced in 1994 and has a ported 6-inch barrel; the Model 686 Plus was introduced in 1996 and has a 2.5-inch, 3 inch, 4-inch, or 6-inch barrel, adjustable sights, 7-shot cylinder, and Hogue rubber grips. As with all current Smith and Wesson revolvers, the 686 Plus now has a key lock integral to the frame of the gun.
hardwood
-grip was used as a sidearm in the alien immigrant-branches of the Norwegian Police Service
by individual plainclothes officers during the early 90's. - Used by U.S. Navy Special Operations during waterborne missions. Used by some small town police departments. - Used by luxemburgish Grand Ducal Police
as duty weapon.
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
(S & W) Model 686, is a six or seven shot double action revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
chambered for the .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
. It will chamber and fire .38 Special
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
cartridges
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
, as the .357 Magnum was developed from the .38 Special. The magnum case is slightly longer to prevent magnum rounds from being chambered and fired in handguns chambered for the .38 Special. The 686 has been available with 2-1/2 in. (64 mm); 3 in.(76mm); 4 in. (102 mm); 5 in. (127 mm); 6 in. (153 mm); and 8-3/8" in. (214 mm) barrel lengths as standard models and other barrel lengths either by special order from S & W's Performance Center custom shop, or acquired from or built by after-market gunsmiths. The Performance Center made a limited number of 686 in .38 Super for competitive shooters.
Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 686 in 1980. It is the stainless steel version of the 586, which was a blued steel finish. It was chambered for .357 Magnum and .38 S&W Special +P calibers. They are available ported and unported with a choice of 6 or 7 round cylinders.
The Model 686 is based on S & W's L (medium-large) revolver frame. During the 1980s, Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
developed its L-Frame line of .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
s: the Model 581, Model 586
S&W Model 586
The Smith and Wesson Model 586, is a six or seven shot double action revolver chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge. It will chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges, as the .357 Magnum was developed from the .38 Special. The magnum case is slightly longer to prevent magnum rounds from being...
, Model 681 and Model 686.
Variants of the 686
- S&W Model 686 (US - Revolver - .357 Magnum & .38 Special: Distinguished Combat Magnum 6 shot cylinder, Stainless)
- S&W Model 686P (US - Revolver - .357 Magnum & .38 Special: Distinguished Combat Magnum 7 shot cylinder, Stainless)
- S&W Model 686PP (US - Revolver - .357 Magnum & .38 Special: Distinguished Combat Magnum Power Port 6 shot cylinder, Stainless)
The weapon has an adjustable rear sight, and until 1992, the 6- and 8.5-inch versions had an adjustable front sight. They had Goncalo alves
Goncalo alves
Goncalo alves is a hardwood . It is sometimes referred to as zebrawood or tigerwood — names that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme, that some compare to rosewood....
hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
grips until 1994, when the grip was replaced by a rubber Hogue grip.
Through the years, there have been several variations on the Model 686. The Model 686 Classic Hunter was introduced in 1988 and has a 6-inch barrel and an unfluted cylinder; the Model 686 Black Stainless was introduced in 1989 and has either a 4 or 6 inch barrel with a black finish, with production limited to 5000; the Model 686 National Security Special was introduced in 1992 and has a 3- or 4-inch barrel; the Model 686 Target Champion was introduced in 1992 and has a 6-inch match barrel, adjustable trigger stop, and walnut grips; the Model 686 Power Port was introduced in 1994 and has a ported 6-inch barrel; the Model 686 Plus was introduced in 1996 and has a 2.5-inch, 3 inch, 4-inch, or 6-inch barrel, adjustable sights, 7-shot cylinder, and Hogue rubber grips. As with all current Smith and Wesson revolvers, the 686 Plus now has a key lock integral to the frame of the gun.
| Variant | Caliber | Weight | Capacity | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&W 686 Classic Hunter 6" (15 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 45.8 oz (1.3 kg) | 6 cyl | 1988 | unfluted cylinder |
| S&W 686 Midnight Black 4" & 6" (10 cm and 15 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 42 oz (1.19 kg) | 6 cyl | 1989 | black finish over stainless, 5000 produced |
| S&W 686 2.5" (64 mm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 40.5 oz (1.15 kg) | 6 cyl | 1988 | |
| S&W 686 4" (10 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 42 oz (1.19 kg) | 6 cyl | 1988 | |
| S&W 686 6" (15 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 45.8 oz (1.3 kg) | 6 cyl | 1988 | |
| S&W 686 8-3/8" (21 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 48.3 oz (1.37 kg) | 6 cyl | 1988 | |
| S&W 686 CS-1 | Made for United States Customs Service United States Customs Service Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S... |
||||
| S&W 686 National Security 3" (7.6 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 41.2 oz (1.17 kg) | 6 cyl | 1992 | black finish |
| S&W 686 National Security 4" (10 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 42 oz (1.19 kg) | 6 cyl | 1992 | black finish |
| S&W 686 Target Champion 6" (15 cm) match-grade barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 46.2 oz (1.31 kg) | 6 cyl | 1992 | Full lug |
| S&W 686 Power Port 6" (15 cm) ported barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 46 oz (1.3 kg) | 6 cyl | 1994 | Ported |
| S&W 686P 2.5" (6.4 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 41 oz (1.16 kg) | 7 cyl | 1996 | lockable with key |
| S&W 686P 4" (10 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 42.3 oz (1.2 kg) | 7 cyl | 1996 | lockable with key |
| S&W 686P 6" (15 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 46.2 oz (1.31 kg) | 7 cyl | 1996 | lockable with key |
| S&W 686P 5" (12.7 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 40.5 oz (1.15 kg) | 7 cyl | 2004 | Half-lug barrel, HiViz front sight |
| S&W 686PP 6" (15 cm) barrel |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 46.2 oz (1.31 kg) | 6 cyl | Integral Compensator, lockable with key | |
| S&W 686 Performance Center 6" (15 cm) barrel (weighted) |
.357 Magnum / .38 Special | 52.9 oz (1.50 kg) | 6 cyl | 2007 | Weighted Barrel, Weaver/Picatinny Rail on Barrel, Adjustable/Removable Weights, Ball-bearing Cylinder Lock, Forged Hammer and Trigger, Traditional Old School Pinned Sear, PC Aluminum Case or Gun Rug, lockable with key |
Users
- Used by GIGN during amphibious operations. - The 3"-barreled version with Goncalo alvesGoncalo alves
Goncalo alves is a hardwood . It is sometimes referred to as zebrawood or tigerwood — names that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme, that some compare to rosewood....
hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
-grip was used as a sidearm in the alien immigrant-branches of the Norwegian Police Service
Norwegian Police Service
The Norwegian Police Service is the official police force in Norway which are run by the Minister of Justice and Police. The department consists of 27 regional areas and seven national special forces. The department has about 11,000 employees....
by individual plainclothes officers during the early 90's. - Used by U.S. Navy Special Operations during waterborne missions. Used by some small town police departments. - Used by luxemburgish Grand Ducal Police
Grand Ducal Police
The Grand Ducal Police is the primary law enforcement agency in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The police is under the control of the Minister for the Interior of Luxembourg, although they operate in the name, and under the ultimate control, of the Grand Duke. Day-to-day executive control is...
as duty weapon.