Smith & Wesson Model 686-4 .357 Magnum, 6-Inch Stainless L-Frame Revolver — Gunsmith Special
This Smith & Wesson 686-4 is a stainless L-frame .357 Magnum with a 6-inch full-underlug barrel and six-shot fluted cylinder. It is an earlier -4 engineering change that is pre-MIM and pre-lock. Notable features include a serrated top rib, matching topstrap serrations, and a standard topstrap with the single rear sight screw hole and pivot pin (not drilled and tapped beneath the rear sight). Matching serials were observed on the yoke cut and butt (number not disclosed). This example is sold as a stripped Gunsmith Special.
Condition
Overall Condition: Poor condition.
Bore Overall Condition: Poor - Noticeable dirt, stains, significant corrosion or damage.
Bore Rifling: Poor Rifling - Rifling heavily worn or filled with fouling or debris.
Specific Condition Notes: This revolver is almost entirely stripped and is being sold as a Gunsmith Special. Multiple scratches, blemishes, and spots of pitting are present on the stainless surfaces. Sight components are incomplete and will require sourcing. The front sight is the pinned ramp type, but the colored insert is not present. Rifling is present, but the bore shows extensive blemishing.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson Model 686-4 stainless L-frame revolver assembly (frame, 6-inch full-underlug barrel, six-shot fluted cylinder)
The 686-4 is part of Smith & Wesson’s stainless L-frame line and, in this configuration, features a 6-inch barrel with a full underlug for added muzzle weight and a serrated top rib. The satin stainless finish is applied across the frame, cylinder, and barrel.
This -4 engineering change is pre-MIM and has no internal key-lock window, details that appeal to many S&W enthusiasts. The topstrap carries matching serrations and is not drilled and tapped beneath the rear sight; it has the standard single rear sight screw hole and pivot pin.
Factory markings include the S&W monogram crest on the right sideplate and the “MADE IN U.S.A. MARCAS REGISTRADAS SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD, MASS.” legend on the frame. “Model 686-4” is marked on the yoke cut. Matching serials were observed on the yoke cut and the butt (number not disclosed).
The sighting arrangement is a pinned ramp front and an adjustable rear; on this example, sight components are incomplete, and the front sight’s insert is not present. The gun is sold as a stripped Gunsmith Special frame/barrel/cylinder assembly suitable for parts or a project.