Picked Up a CS-1

S

Stephen A. Camp

Staff In Memoriam
Hello. I recently purchased an S&W M686 3" bbl. .357 revolver that is reportedly made for the Customs Service in 1988. These are marked on the frame beneath the yoke with "CS-1". Supposedly, a total of 3281 such revolvers were made before they went to 4" guns. They have a round butt rather than the usual square; at least this one does.

SWCS-1left1.jpg

The gun was not new and had Pachmayr grips on it. I replaced them with these Eagle Secret Service Grips. The gun was almost like NIB. I'd estimate very few rounds having been fired through it. The front sight is narrower than the usual 1/8". It appears to be about 1/10".

I would appreciate any information on this model or personal experiences that members might have.

Thank you in advance.

Best.
 
That's a fine piece of hardware. A CS-1 is very high up on my handgun wishlist. The only one I've seen in the last three years looked like it had been dragged behind an Indy pace car, and they wanted $500 for it.
 
Mr Camp;
I believe that a man named Duane Thomas published an article about the CS1 in one of the gun rags. I don't know Mr Thomas personally and I don't remember the name of the magazine. I am sure that some of TFL's better organized magazine readers will remember and find the article for you.Thank you for all the gun tests you have done. They are both informative and interesting to read.
 
Hello. Not a full range report to be sure, but I did shoot the gun a bit last evening, but didn't get to the range until late and light was fading fast.

CS1hideoutgrips1.jpg

Initial shots with the revolver were using the inexpensive black nylon "Hide Out" grips I recently purchased from Brownells.

CS1RP125targ1.jpg

I did no sight adjustments and all groups were fired at 15 yards from a seated position and in slow-fire, single-action, and using a 2-hand hold. This one was fired using Remington 125-gr. SJHP .357 magnums.

CS1targets1.jpg

These two groups were fired the same way as for the magnums above. The group on the left was fired using a mild handload (Rainier 158-gr. plated flat point over 6.0 grains Unique. WSP primers set it off and the .357 cases were Winchester. This is about a thousand feet per second load in most 3 and 4" revolvers.) The group on the right was with Federal 147-gr. +P+ .38 Specials.

Again, I got to the range pretty late so this is not a very detailed report, but it does appear that the gun will shoot and that any sight adjustments will be very minimal.

Best.
 
brings back memories

The 3" version of CS-1 brings back pleasant memories. I was a brand new USCS inspector at FLETC in 1989 when I was issued one. Strong leather gear with HKS speedloaders were issued with it. Qualified expert with it too. In 1992, we switched over to the S&W model 6946 (9mm). Unfortunately, the Clinton administration changed the "buy back" program that prevented federal law enforcement officers from buying their service guns. We were told that many CS-1's (3" and 4") guns went into a smelter somewhere north of Atlanta. They didn't want former fed guns to find their way back to the streets of America where untold and horrrible carnage would ensue.
 
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