In my area....any early gun in a 4" or 6" model 686 ( up thru the dash 4's ) ...is about a $ 700 - $ 800 gun, if its clean and timing is good - even without box and papers.../ but the 4" guns are in higher demand, and tougher to find and will demand prices at the upper end -- the 6" guns will typically be at the lower end. If you find an early 2 1/2" barrel in a 686 ( they introduced them in 1990 in the dash 3's and it will usually demand another $100 in my area --- they're very hard to find too ). The 8 3/8" barrels are not very popular in my area...and are selling for about $ 100 less than the 6" versions in the same shape.
Don't be afraid of the overstamped "M" on the 686 or 686-1's if you find one...it just means the gun was recalled by the factory, repaired, and put back in circulation with the "M" stamp on it...( I have a 6" 686-1 that has the M and its a very nice gun).
The 6" 686's in my area are less popular ...and they're selling in the $ 600 - $700 price range - again if they're clean and timing is good.
The 686 dash 5's is when the MIM parts and the internal frame lock start showing up ...and they are typically $ 100 under the pre lock and older dash models in the same barrel length.
My favorite 686 is a dash 2, in a 4"...(although I have a dash 3 in 2 1/2", I prefer the N frame in the shorter barrels --- 627 in a 2 5/8" ).. / I like the 686-1 in a 6" as a woods gun, or a nightstand gun but I find it a little clumsy in and out of a holster at the range - compared to either the 686 in a 4" or the older model 27's or 28's in a 4". The 627 perf center gun in a 5" is a nice compromise..heavy, longer sight plane, easy to shoot, 8 shot...
( the newer model 627's ..N frames, 6 or 8 shot / the standard versions are still in the $1,000 - $ 1,100 price range / the Performance Center models are about $100 - $ 150 more ...depending on what stocks are on them / and all of the model 627's are Round Butt frames ....vs the older model 27's ( blued or Nickel were all 6 shot, Square Butt frames ).
Don't be afraid of the overstamped "M" on the 686 or 686-1's if you find one...it just means the gun was recalled by the factory, repaired, and put back in circulation with the "M" stamp on it...( I have a 6" 686-1 that has the M and its a very nice gun).
The 6" 686's in my area are less popular ...and they're selling in the $ 600 - $700 price range - again if they're clean and timing is good.
The 686 dash 5's is when the MIM parts and the internal frame lock start showing up ...and they are typically $ 100 under the pre lock and older dash models in the same barrel length.
My favorite 686 is a dash 2, in a 4"...(although I have a dash 3 in 2 1/2", I prefer the N frame in the shorter barrels --- 627 in a 2 5/8" ).. / I like the 686-1 in a 6" as a woods gun, or a nightstand gun but I find it a little clumsy in and out of a holster at the range - compared to either the 686 in a 4" or the older model 27's or 28's in a 4". The 627 perf center gun in a 5" is a nice compromise..heavy, longer sight plane, easy to shoot, 8 shot...
( the newer model 627's ..N frames, 6 or 8 shot / the standard versions are still in the $1,000 - $ 1,100 price range / the Performance Center models are about $100 - $ 150 more ...depending on what stocks are on them / and all of the model 627's are Round Butt frames ....vs the older model 27's ( blued or Nickel were all 6 shot, Square Butt frames ).
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