Smith & Wesson Serial Number Lookup

  1. Smith's Food And Drug
  2. S W Serial Numbers Chart
  3. Smith Wesson Serial Number Lookup Model 19
  4. Smith Wesson Serial Number Lookup Model 38
  5. Smith Wesson Ctg Serial Number
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Smith's Food And Drug

  1. Dating a Smith & Wesson Revolver: This list is merely a general guide and not meant to be exact. There is some dispute regarding the dates on some serial numbers. Your gun may actually be a year off from what is listed. The precise shipping date as 'lettered' can be several years off depending on model.
  2. 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 also chamber and fire.38 Special cartridges. Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 686 in 1981. It is the stainless steel version of the Model 586, which featured a blued steel finish.They are available ported and unported with a choice.

Serial Numbers on Smith and Wesson Firearms

Wesson

If you own a Smith and Wesson handgun, you might be interested in finding out some more information on your particular gun. Once you locate the serial number, then you are able to do some research and find out a little history on your gun. Below you will find some visual examples of where to look for the serial number on your S&W handgun. You can then use the serial number to find out the Smith & Wesson date manufactured for your particular gun. Keep in mind that many Smith and Wesson guns produced before 1957 did not have a serial number stamped on them. These older guns will take a little more effort to find out their history. For those Smith Wesson with serial numbers, see the pictures below to find where to look.

Smith Wesson Serial Numbers - Revolvers


Smith Wesson Serial Numbers - Pistols

There are some exceptions to the locations shown above for certain S&W pistols. On the Sigma series and the SW99 models, you will find the serial number in the locations shown in the pictures below.

Smith Wesson Serial Numbers - Sigma Series

Smith & Wesson Serial Number Lookup

Smith Wesson Serial Numbers - SW99

Once you've located the serial number, then you can try to contact Smith and Wesson and see if they can give you an information about your particular gun like date of manufacture or other specific details. You can try to contact their customer support by phone and see if they would be willing to help you that way. If they are unable (or unwilling) to help over the phone, then you can contact them via writing with information on your S&W pistol, and they will research your particular firearm and send you a written report. You can send them a picture and they can find out more of the background on your gun along with the date manufactured. They will charge you for this service ($50 at the time this was written) and it is probably only worthwhile for older collectible guns which have no serial numbers. If you can find the serial number, then you are better off just trying to call S&W customer service first. If that doesn't work, then you could try to contact a gun shop and see if they can help you. Furthermore, some internet forums are filled with helpful and knowledgeable people that would be happy to help try to interpret the serial number on your handgun. In addition, a book such as: Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson written by Jim Supica, Richard Nahas, published 2007, can be used to try to get more information about your gun. This book can be very helpful in finding Smith & Wesson date manufactured information and also general historical information about different S&W firearms. In fact, if you post a message on an internet group asking for help in identifying your particular Smith & Wesson gun, then it is very likely that a member of the group will use this book or something similar when they help. Thankfully, most people will probably have a newer gun with the serial numbers, and it should be relatively easy to get more background information using that number. The old guns without the serial numbers are the ones that can be a little trickier. Regarding old Smith & Wesson guns, below is an interesting video narrated by Jim Supica about an early S&W revolver given to the legendary Teddy Roosevelt.


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Smith & Wesson Model 686
A Smith & Wesson Model 686, with a 100 mm (4 in) barrel.
TypeRevolver
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used bySee Users
Production history
Designed1980
Produced1981–1999, 2012–present
Variants
Specifications
Mass1.25 kg (2.8 lb)
Length305 mm (12.0 in)
Barrel length
  • 64 mm (2.5 in)
  • 76 mm (3 in)
  • 100 mm (4 in)
  • 150 mm (6 in)
  • 211.5 mm (8.325 in)
Cartridge
Caliber.38
ActionDouble action and single action
Feed system6-round (686) or 7-round (686 Plus) cylinder

The Smith & Wesson Model 686 is a six- or seven-shot double-actionrevolver manufactured by Smith & Wesson and chambered for the .357 Magnumcartridge; it will also chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges. Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 686 in 1981. It is the stainless steel version of the Model 586, which featured a blued steel finish. They are available ported and unported with a choice of 6- or 7-round cylinders.[1]

The Model 686 is based on S&W's L (medium) revolver frame. During the 1980s, Smith & Wesson developed its 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.[2]

Variants of the 686[edit]

S W Serial Numbers Chart

The 686 has been available with 64, 76, 102, 127, 152, and 211 mm (2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8.325 in) 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 Model 686s chambered for .38 Super cartridges for competitive shooters.[1]

Smith Wesson Serial Number Lookup Model 19

The 686 features a 6-round cylinder. The 686P variant, marketed as the Model 686 Plus, has a 7-round cylinder. The 686PP variant, with PP designating PowerPort, has an integral compensator (also known as a muzzle brake).

The 686 has been made with pistol grips having a squared or rounded end (colloquially, 'square butt' or 'round butt'). The grips on the pistol can be changed, and multiple after-market options are available.

The Model 686 has an adjustable rear sight, and until 1992, the 152 and 211 mm (6 and 8.325 in) versions had the option of an adjustable front sight. They had Goncalo alveshardwood grips until 1994, when the grip was replaced by a rubber Hogue grip.[1]

Through the years, there have been several variations on the Model 686. The Model 686 Classic Hunter was introduced in 1988 and has a 150 mm (6 in) barrel and a non-fluted cylinder; the Model 686 Black Stainless was introduced in 1989 and has either a 100 or 150 mm (4 or 6 in) barrel with a black finish, with production limited to 5000; the Model 686 National Security Special was introduced in 1992 and has a 76 or 102 mm (3 or 4 in) barrel; the Model 686 Target Champion was introduced in 1992 and has a 150 mm (6 in) match-grade barrel, adjustable trigger stop, and walnut grips; the Model 686 Power Port was introduced in 1994 and has a ported 150 mm (6 in) barrel; the Model 686 Plus was introduced in 1996 and has a 64, 76, 102, or 152 mm (2.5, 3, 4, or 6 in) 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.[1]

VariantCaliberWeightCapacityYearNotes
  • S&W 686 Classic Hunter
  • 150 mm (6 in) barrel
1.30 kg
(45.8 oz)
6 rounds1988Unfluted cylinder
  • S&W 686-3 Midnight Black
  • 100 or 150 mm (4 or 6 in) barrel
1.19 kg
(42 oz)
6 rounds1989Black finish over stainless, 5000 produced
  • S&W 686
  • 64 mm (2.5 in) barrel
1.15 kg
(40.5 oz)
6 rounds1988
  • S&W 686
  • 100 mm (4 in) barrel
1.19 kg
(42 oz)
6 rounds1988
  • S&W 686
  • 150 mm (6 in) barrel
1.30 kg
(45.8 oz)
6 rounds1988
  • S&W 686
  • 211 mm (8.325 in) barrel
1.37 kg
(48.3 oz)
6 rounds1988
S&W 686 CS-1
  • .357 Magnum /
  • .38 Special
Un­knownMade for United States Customs Service
  • .357 Magnum /
  • .38 Special
1.17 kg
(41.2 oz)
6 rounds1992Black finish
  • .357 Magnum /
  • .38 Special
1.19 kg
(42 oz)
6 rounds1992Black finish
  • S&W 686 Target Champion
  • 150 mm (6 in) match-grade barrel
1.31 kg
(46.2 oz)
6 rounds1992Full lug
  • S&W 686 Power Port
  • 150 mm (6 in) ported barrel
1.30 kg
(46 oz)
6 rounds1994Ported
  • S&W 686P
  • 64 mm (2.5 in) barrel
1.16 kg
(41 oz)
7 rounds1996Lockable with key
  • S&W 686P
  • 100 mm (4 in) barrel
1.20 kg
(42.3 oz)
7 rounds1996Lockable with key
  • S&W 686P
  • 150 mm (6 in) barrel
1.31 kg
(46.2 oz)
7 rounds1996Lockable with key
  • S&W 686P
  • 130 mm (5 in) barrel
1.15 kg
(40.5 oz)
7 rounds2004Half-lug barrel, HiViz front sight
  • S&W 686 'The Presidents'
  • 150 mm (6 in) barrel
1.31 kg
(46.2 oz)
6 rounds2003Brushed gold finish with finger hardwood grips
  • S&W 686PP
  • 150 mm (6 in) barrel
1.31 kg
(46.2 oz)
6 roundsIntegral Compensator, lockable with key
  • S&W 686 Performance Center
  • 150 mm (6 in) barrel (weighted)
1.50 kg
(52.9 oz)
6 rounds2007Weighted barrel, Weaver/Picatinny rail on barrel, adjustable/removable weights, ball-bearing cylinder lock, forged Hhmmer and trigger, traditional old school pinned sSear, PC aluminum case or gun rug, lockable with key

Engineering and production changes[edit]

Photo of a Smith & Wesson 686 firing a .38 Special round, taken with an ultra high-speed flash (air-gap flash)
  • 686 (no dash), 1981 Introduction 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, MIM hammer and trigger, change internal lock.
  • 686-6, 2001 internal lock
  • 686-7, 2003 Performance Center .38 Super, 6-Shot unfluted cylinder, 4' barrel, Stainless Steel, 250 Made

Gallery[edit]

Users[edit]

  • France – Used by GIGN during amphibious operations.[3]
  • Norway – The 3'-barreled version with Goncalo alveshardwood-grip was used as a sidearm in the alien immigrant-branches of the Norwegian Police Service by individual plainclothes officers during the early 1990s.[citation needed]
  • United States – Used by U.S. Border Patrol.[citation needed] Used by legacy U.S. Customs Service.[citation needed] Used by the legacy U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service[citation needed] Used by U.S. Navy SEALs during waterborne missions.[4] Used by some smaller police departments and by individual officers in larger departments, especially in marine environments.[5]
  • Luxembourg – Used by the Luxembourg Grand Ducal Police as duty weapon from the 1980s through 2017 when it was replaced by the HK VP9.[6]
  • United States - Used by the Oso Grande 4x4 Posse as an approved weapon for posse members preferring a revolver. Some twenty revolvers were acquired in the early 2000's as issue/approved weapons.

Recall[edit]

Smith Wesson Serial Number Lookup Model 38

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. All recalled and reworked guns were stamped with an M marking, signifying that they had been recalled and fixed; thus it is known as the M modification for all 686, 686-1, 586-1, and 586-2 revolvers.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ abcdSupica, Jim; Richard Nahas (2007). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (3 ed.). F+W Media, Inc. pp. 331–363. ISBN978-0-89689-293-4.
  2. ^Boorman, Dean K. (2002). The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms. Globe Pequot. p. 119. ISBN978-1-58574-721-4.
  3. ^Jim Supica (2011). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd. Iola, wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 343. ISBN978-1-4402-2700-4.
  4. ^Chalker, Denny; Dockery, Kevin (2009). One Perfect Op. New York: Harper Collins. p. 104. ISBN978-0-06-175129-5.
  5. ^Sweeney, Patrick (2011). The Gun Digest Book of Smith & Wesson. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 104. ISBN978-1-4402-2714-1.
  6. ^'So sieht die neue Pistole der Police Grand-Ducale aus'. L'Essentiel. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. ^Product Warning, Popular Mechanics, January 1988, p. 11.

Smith Wesson Ctg Serial Number

External links[edit]

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