Smith & Wesson Model 686

The Smith & Wesson Model 686 is a six- or seven-shot double-action revolver manufactured by Smith & Wesson and 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 K/L (medium) revolver frame. During the 1980s, Smith & Wesson developed its K/L-Frame line of .357 Magnums: the Model 581, Model 586, Model 681 and Model 686. The Models 581 and 681 have fixed sights, whereas the 586 and 686 use adjustable sights.

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 Model 686 has an adjustable rear sight, and until 1992, the 6- and 8-3/8-inch versions had the option of 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 & Wesson revolvers, the 686 Plus now has a key lock integral to the frame of the gun.

Dash numbers

 * 686 no dash, introduced model
 * 686-1, 1986, radius stud package, floating hand
 * 686-2, 1987, changed hammer nose, bushing and associated parts
 * 686-3, 1988, new yoke retention system
 * 686-4, 1993, change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, change extractor, Hogue grips
 * 686-5, 1997, change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud, eliminate serrated tangs, change to metal injection molded (MIM) hammer with floating firing pin, change to MIM trigger, change internal lockwork
 * 686-6, 2001, internal lock

Users

 * 🇫🇷 france - Used by GIGN during amphibious operations.
 * 🇳🇴 norway - The 3"-barreled version with Goncalo alves 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.
 * 🇺🇸 united states -Used by U. S. Border Patrol. Used by legacy U.S. Customs Service.  Used by the  legacy U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service  Used by U.S. Navy Special Operations during waterborne missions. Used by some smaller police departments and by individual officers in larger departments, especially in marine environments.
 * 🇱🇺 luxembourg - Used by the Luxemburg Grand Ducal Police as duty weapon.

Recall
In 1987, seven years after the release of the Model 686, there were reports of cylinder binding with some types of standard .357 Magnum ammunition for L-frame revolvers manufactured before August 1987. S&W put out a product warning and authorized a no-charge upgrade to make modifications to the revolver, and as such all recalled and reworked guns were stamped with an M marking signifying they had been recalled and fixed, and thus its known as the M modification for all 686, 686-1 and 586 - 1 and 2 Revolvers in the firearms world