Need some help with the manufacture date of a Smith and Wesson 686

**zachomega** · December 5th, 2010, 12:14 AM

I just picked up a S&W 686 (no dash) with an 8 3/8" barrel tonight. Lock up is tight, no end shake to speak of. Barrel has nice well defined grooves.

The serial number is:
APF9337

What year is this from? Any other particulars?

My other 686 is a 686-3 that I believe is from 1988 or 1989.

-Zach

**39flathead** · December 5th, 2010, 02:23 AM

IIRC, 1980 was the first year of the 686 and the first modification was in '86.

Smith does not exactly date their guns, there is a S&W book that has some dates, but with the serial # you posted, I would guesstimate yours at 1984, but for sure sometime between '80 & '86.

There were some early 686's that were recalled due to an oversized firing pin hole that could cause the cylinder to lock up.

You might want to check on that further.

**Dave_n** · December 5th, 2010, 08:19 AM

Checking Jim Supica's "S&W Bible, 3rd Ed". the 8 3/8 barrel was between 1984-6 and the 686-1 was 86. So extrapolating with the serial number, ~1985. Dave_n

PS S Factory Letter would give the full details.

**zachomega** · December 5th, 2010, 10:55 AM

Thanks guys! Interesting about the oversized firing pin hole. I will have to look into that.

-Zach

**Kramer** · December 5th, 2010, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by zachomega

My other 686 is a 686-3 that I believe is from 1988 or 1989.

I bought my 686-3 in mid 1989 so you are real close with that date.

**zachomega** · December 5th, 2010, 11:34 AM

I just looked into the firing pin thing. Doesn't look like anything to worry about. Seems like more of an ammo problem than a gun problem. Soft primers flow back into the firing pin bushing or hold the firing pin into place. Modern ammo shouldn't really have this problem and the problem was most exhibited on hot magnum loads.

I don't plan on shooting lots of hot magnums out of it.

Also, I just looked up information on my 686-3. It was sold to me as a gun that was formerly S&W's Midnight Black stainless. Somebody had apparently removed the finish. I had never seen a Midnight Black stainless smith so I googled it. Wow. I wish they hadn't removed the finish. But from what I understand, the finishes didn't hold up so well.

If you look carefully in the pictures, you can see that the 686-3 isn't very shiny and is slightly darker in color...so I guess it held some traits of the dark finish.

-Zach