I just picked up my new S&W 686+ this past week and was giving it a close look. On the right side of the revolver's frame, I noticed a very faint line that starts adjacent to the top of the trigger, moves down the frame close to the cylinder, then curves and moves forward below the cylinder. What is this line? (It is definitly not a scratch.) Thanks for any assistance.
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question on new 686+
- Thread starter rmz1
- Start date
Guy B. Meredith
New member
Right off hand I would say that is the side plate. This can be taken off by people who have experience to clean or customize the innards.
You normally do not need to take this plate off.
If you must try this (not a good idea if you do not have at least some mechanical savvy and that probably excludes anyone under age 50 living in the East or West coast metro areas) take off the grip, take out the three screws (one behind the grip). Carefully tap the frame on the grip area with something relatively soft--screwdriver handle, wood mallet--and as the side plate lifts peek under it to see the lay of the land. There is one piece that has to do with locking out hammer movement that will be laying loose on top, but most of the other pieces will stay in place. Note that when replacing the loose piece it has a peg that travels in a channel on the inside of the side plate. Jiggle things around until everything seems to have a place and the sideplate EASILY goes back on. If you have to force it then the aforementioned piece is not in place. Try again.
You normally do not need to take this plate off.
If you must try this (not a good idea if you do not have at least some mechanical savvy and that probably excludes anyone under age 50 living in the East or West coast metro areas) take off the grip, take out the three screws (one behind the grip). Carefully tap the frame on the grip area with something relatively soft--screwdriver handle, wood mallet--and as the side plate lifts peek under it to see the lay of the land. There is one piece that has to do with locking out hammer movement that will be laying loose on top, but most of the other pieces will stay in place. Note that when replacing the loose piece it has a peg that travels in a channel on the inside of the side plate. Jiggle things around until everything seems to have a place and the sideplate EASILY goes back on. If you have to force it then the aforementioned piece is not in place. Try again.