AlongCameJones
Moderator
I picked it up at my local FFL. It came in a blue plastic case to my surprise. The new Smith 642-2 I got last fall just came in a cardboard box. My new 686 has 3" barrel and 7 shots. Where it shines over the new-model Colt King Cobra is that the frame is bigger and heavier and made of steel so it should kick less. It has a lock and key in the frame which I don't care to use. The Smith trigger is far superior to Colt. The dull satin stainless helps camouflage minor scratches. The chrome-bumper finishes on Colts are so impractical.
The only place the Colt shines over the Smith is the neat engraved or machined lettering and smoother-machined metal surfaces. Smith & Wesson lettering appears stamped though it appears neater than typical Smith & Wesson lettering of real old. The nicest Smith & Wesson lettering and machining on revolvers I've ever seen was on a Model 619 .357 7-shot back in 2005 as well as large-frame .41 mag. back in the same year. This new Smith set me back $985 with tax, shipping, FLL transfer and credit card fee. I was paying for a quality trigger, a beefier frame, scratch-hiding satin stainless finish and a better cylinder release design with a Smith & Wesson and not precision crisp lettering and smooth surface machining on the metal a la Colt.
It just fits in my large DTOM fanny pack though I have to fold back the top of the retention webbing to clear the tall rear sight. Normally I would not carry this mini-hog-leg in a fanny pack. I normally carry my Smith Airweight 642-2 there as a light city gun. My new 686 is a spare handgun in case something happens to my 642 or it is out of service for some reason.
My 686 is a:
-spare handgun for city concealed carry in large fanny pack
-handgun for outdoors for protection against wild animals (lion, wolf, coyote, black bear) except brown bear
-camping security gun
-sidearm for hunting in areas with no big bear
-bathroom security firearm in medicine cabinet
If you own or carry a handgun for security, it's always prudent to have at least one spare pistol in case the primary one needs work done or something bad happens to it, perish the thought.
The only place the Colt shines over the Smith is the neat engraved or machined lettering and smoother-machined metal surfaces. Smith & Wesson lettering appears stamped though it appears neater than typical Smith & Wesson lettering of real old. The nicest Smith & Wesson lettering and machining on revolvers I've ever seen was on a Model 619 .357 7-shot back in 2005 as well as large-frame .41 mag. back in the same year. This new Smith set me back $985 with tax, shipping, FLL transfer and credit card fee. I was paying for a quality trigger, a beefier frame, scratch-hiding satin stainless finish and a better cylinder release design with a Smith & Wesson and not precision crisp lettering and smooth surface machining on the metal a la Colt.
It just fits in my large DTOM fanny pack though I have to fold back the top of the retention webbing to clear the tall rear sight. Normally I would not carry this mini-hog-leg in a fanny pack. I normally carry my Smith Airweight 642-2 there as a light city gun. My new 686 is a spare handgun in case something happens to my 642 or it is out of service for some reason.
My 686 is a:
-spare handgun for city concealed carry in large fanny pack
-handgun for outdoors for protection against wild animals (lion, wolf, coyote, black bear) except brown bear
-camping security gun
-sidearm for hunting in areas with no big bear
-bathroom security firearm in medicine cabinet
If you own or carry a handgun for security, it's always prudent to have at least one spare pistol in case the primary one needs work done or something bad happens to it, perish the thought.
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