Smith & Wesson Model 686 No-Dash .357 Magnum 4" Stainless L-Frame Revolver, 6-Shot (1983–1984)
This early no-dash Smith & Wesson Model 686 stands out as a first-iteration L-frame .357 Magnum from 1983–1984, built in stainless steel with a 4" full-underlug barrel and matte-textured top rib. It features the pinned ramp front sight with orange insert, an adjustable rear sight, a smooth-face trigger, and a hammer-nose firing pin with no internal lock. The revolver wears aftermarket Pachmayr Presentation rubber grips and shows clean, well-kept condition with an excellent bore.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: Minor, superficial scratches and blemishes are present on the exterior surfaces.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson Model 686 no-dash revolver
- Pachmayr Presentation rubber grips (aftermarket, installed)
This no-dash Model 686 represents the first engineering iteration of the platform. It is a six-shot L-frame .357 Magnum with the yoke marked "MOD. 686," produced in the 1983–1984 timeframe. Notably, it uses a hammer-nose firing pin and was manufactured without an internal lock.
The 4" stainless steel barrel has a full underlug and a matte-textured top rib. Sights are the classic setup for this period: a pinned, ramped front sight with an orange insert paired to an adjustable black-blade rear sight.
Stainless steel is used throughout the frame, cylinder, barrel, and receiver, delivering a uniform stainless finish. Capacity is six rounds, and the action is double-action/single-action with a smooth-face trigger. No "M" modification stamp is observed.
The revolver is fitted with aftermarket Pachmayr Presentation rubber grips, providing a durable, hand-filling grip profile appropriate to the full-size L-frame.